Glad to hear you got off Cymbalta.

I was on meds for BP2 for over 13 years until some nasty side-effects forced me off them. I was also fired by my Pdoc, and the only other Pdoc that was taking patients within the area I wanted to commute to was such a control freak, after the initial consultation, I called and told them I just needed meds, wasn't on probation or parole and felt her obsession to run my life was more than I was willing to submit to.

Shortly thereafter I learned about how amino acids are used by the body to produce the same neurotransmitters in the brain that ADs, and other pysch meds work on. I bought some books on the subject, read up on it and ordered some amino acids. I was truly amazed at how much better I felt!! And if my mood shifted [being that I have BP2], I just took whatever was needed to bring it back under control, and it was usually fine within 18 hours, unlike the 6 days it would take on meds as I waited on my Pdoc to call with any changes in meds, etc., etc. That was over 5 years ago, and the only other change has been adding natural lithium orotate for the hypomania. I'm ten times more stable than I ever was on meds.

Here are some links to books that you might find helpful:

This is a book on treating depression naturally using vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other nutrients:

http://www.amazon.com/What-Your-Doct...r+*+depression

This is a book on healing with amino acids:

http://www.painstresscenter.com/Heal...oductinfo/AA4/

This is a link to an orothomolecular medicine site. Orothomolecular medicine simply means giving the body the nutrients it needs to function. There is an article on orothomolecular pyschiatry that is worth checking out:

http://www.orthomed.org/

If you decide to try supplements, and are looking for reasonably priced ones, check out Vitacost.com. They sell most major brands at a decent discount. Their housebrand seems very good--I use it for most things. If you buy more than $50, the shipping is free. Otherwise it's something like $5, no matter how much you buy. They also sell organic foods, natural beauty products, and a host of other stuff at very reasonable rates.