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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lao Tzu on January 21, 2011, at 10:05:10
Lately, I've been experimenting with varying dosages of Calcium, Magnesium, and B6 for my depression. So far, I've had some good results. Right now, I am taking 500mg of Calcium and 650mg of Magnesium Citrate at bedtime. I seem to sleep better and the depression is better. For the past 3 weeks I was using 750mg of Calcium and Magnesium, but I discovered that the Calcium dosage was too high as it interfered with my sleep, so I lowered it back down to 500mg, but raised the Magnesium slightly higher, and now my sleep is better. So what I take from this is that you can be sensitive to the dosages you use. One dosage will work, while another will be ineffective or cause side effects. I'm also working with B6 as I believe I have a deficiency in this vitamin. I'm not sure yet, but I think the effective optimum dosage for me for B6 is somewhere between 150-200mg per day, and I'm trying to pinpoint the exact effective dosage. I believe if you can balance out your Calcium and Magnesium levels (especially good for sleep) and take enough B6, this may go a long way in helping some people with depression.
Lao
Posted by Lao Tzu on January 21, 2011, at 13:47:34
In reply to Calcium/Magnesium and B6 for Depression, posted by Lao Tzu on January 21, 2011, at 10:05:10
I read on this website about a book called 'The Miracle of Magnesium' by Carolyn Dean. She recommends a magnesium dosage of 3 to 4.5mg per pound of body weight. I calculated this for myself, 3 X 220lbs. and got a value of 660mg. I am currently taking 650mg of magnesium per day, and it seems to be helping so maybe there is something relevant to this formula. I just hope I don't start gaining anymore weight!!
Lao
Posted by Lao Tzu on February 11, 2011, at 15:39:31
In reply to Calcium/Magnesium and B6 for Depression, posted by Lao Tzu on January 21, 2011, at 10:05:10
I just want to update that it is not necessarily true that if you raise your calcium and/or magnesium that the depression will improve. I'm finding this out. You can actually take too much of these minerals, and too much may adversely affect your depression. So be careful. Incorporate them into your regimen if you feel the need to, but I would start at lower dosages and gradually work up to what you can tolerate. Some people think that simply taking large doses of magnesium will miraculously cure your depression. In my opinion, I think this statement is too short-sighted. There are so many other factors at work in depression. It's not as simple as taking one mineral. It may help, but it's not the entire picture.
Lao
Posted by Hombre on February 12, 2011, at 19:14:18
In reply to Re: Calcium/Magnesium and B6 for Depression, posted by Lao Tzu on February 11, 2011, at 15:39:31
What symptoms did you experience from taking too much calcium or magnesium?
Posted by Lao Tzu on February 18, 2011, at 23:22:10
In reply to Calcium/Magnesium and B6 for Depression, posted by Lao Tzu on January 21, 2011, at 10:05:10
I think that maybe I was wrong to suggest that increasing my calcium and magnesium improved my depression. Actually, increasing the B6 and zinc have done more in this regard for myself. You can actually take too much calcium and magnesium, so just want to let people know that calcium and magnesium may be needed to help people with depression, but that taking more is not necessarily going to improve the depression. I take what I can tolerate and then I realized that my B6 and zinc levels weren't optimum. That was the key for myself.
Lao
This is the end of the thread.
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