[bizi]

The Role of Amino Acids in Bipolar Disorder and Mental Health

by Actress Margot Kidder

(Actress Margot Kidder, well-known for her extensive screen career, including her performance as Lois Lane in Superman, has been a powerful spokesperson for alternative mental health treatments after a personal recovery from mood swings that are commonly referred to as bipolar disorder. Ms. Kidder sent AlternativeMentalHealth.com the following information, based on her successful experience with nutrient therapy.)
In discussing remedies for manic depression, the amino acids tryptohphan, L-taurine and GABA should be recommended right off the bat.


The Role of Amino Acids in Bipolar Disorder and Mental Health | Alternative Mental Health

GABA- 500mg-2,000mg at nite
L-tryptophan- 1000mg at nite (need a prescription for this)
l-taurine-500mg-1000mg at nite

[bizi]

I have not been sleeping that well.
I am hoping this helps my sleep.
starting tonight.
bizi

[Tucson]

Dangerous article. She found something that worked for her. Now she is a technical expert on the subject. In actuality, she is probaby clueless in why it worked for her. Heck, even pdocs do not know why a cocktail works for their patients.

She has been known to have psychotic episodes, where she is clueless as to where she is, and what she is doing.

[LucyG]

Originally Posted by Tucson

Dangerous article. She found something that worked for her. Now she is a technical expert on the subject. In actuality, she is probaby clueless in why it worked for her. Heck, even pdocs do not know why a cocktail works for their patients.

Give me a break!!! And the meds for bipolar AREN'T dangerous??? In case people aren't aware, psych meds actually cause anxiety and depression along with a host of other terrible side-effects. My sister has fugue like states where she comes to while threatening to kill someone. But to hear her tell, she's never had so much as one single side-effect from all her meds. It's enough to make me want to tear my hair out.

[LucyG]

Originally Posted by bizi

The Role of Amino Acids in Bipolar Disorder and Mental Health

by Actress Margot Kidder

(Actress Margot Kidder, well-known for her extensive screen career, including her performance as Lois Lane in Superman, has been a powerful spokesperson for alternative mental health treatments after a personal recovery from mood swings that are commonly referred to as bipolar disorder. Ms. Kidder sent AlternativeMentalHealth.com the following information, based on her successful experience with nutrient therapy.)
In discussing remedies for manic depression, the amino acids tryptohphan, L-taurine and GABA should be recommended right off the bat.

The Role of Amino Acids in Bipolar Disorder and Mental Health | Alternative Mental Health

GABA- 500mg-2,000mg at nite
L-tryptophan- 1000mg at nite (need a prescription for this)
l-taurine-500mg-1000mg at nite

Yes, I use amino acids to control my bipolar 2. I'm 60 years old, and started experiencing depression as a teen, and hypomania as in my early 20s. I was diagnosed almost 23 years ago, and went on meds for 13+ years. The depression was almost constant, and I had a host of horrific side-effects that made me so sick I was almost bedridden. I finally ended up with such severe anxiety that I was afraid to close my eyes, and I developed a receding hairline so I went off the meds.

I didn't know what I was going to do, but suprisingly enough, I actually felt 90% better! Even without meds, my mood was more stable and I was happy for the first time in years. Within a few months I came across info on amino acids, and since I knew that ADs work on serotonin and norepinephrine, I decided to take 5-htp, tyrosine and DLPA as they are used by the body to produce those neurotransmitters. I took GABA as it's used in the body to calm the brain. Later I added the mineral supplement lithium orotate to my regime to control hypomania. I don't take tyrosine these days unless I'm super stressed out as it impacts my sleep. If my mood starts to shift, I just go take another supplement to bring it back in line. Assuming I catch the shift soon enough, and the issue is just a mood shift, not an issue I need to deal with that is upsetting me, my mood is usually stable again within a couple of days. The GABA and lithium seem to prevent the racing thoughts I always had when I became hypomanic before. Now I'm just wound up and can't sleep. Lots of times I'll have to say to myself 'maybe I'm hypomanic' and take more lithium, and usually get some sleep after that. When I was on meds, I was doing good to get 1 hour of light sleep, and that could last for 6 to 10 days to the point I was physically exhausted.

My husband is amazed at how stable my moods are using the amino acids and lithium. I'm not saying I don't have some ups and downs, but they're nothing, and I do mean NOTHING like it was before I started using the amino acids.

The other thing I love about them is that I'm not tied to a Pdoc who runs my life.

I buy plain amino acids from Vitacost.com who does private labeling of major brands. I pay $28 for 120 200 mg capsules of 5-hpt, $20 for 300 capsule of 500 mg of DLPA, $15 for 200 capsules of 500 mg of GABA, and around $18 for lithium orotate 200 caplets of 5 mg through Amazon.com. Assuming my mood is stable, my cost is about $1.75 a day. I started on the lithium about 4 years ago, and it's made a huge difference in controlling the hypomania--knocks it right out.

The only side-effect I've experienced is a slight increase in my blood pressure from the DLPA. I have low blood pressure so it isn't an issue. DLPA and tyrosine are both excitatory amino acids meaning they stimulate the brain so they need to be taken early in the day. When I first started using amino acids I didn't know this so I was taking them at night. I couldn't sleep, but I was in a fabulous mood! A lot of people have stomach upset from 5-htp, but it's never bothered me. My husband took some once and it bothered him.

Here's a great book on the general uses of amino acids.
Heal with Amino Acids and Nutrients book | Dr. Billie Sahley-painstress

Here's a brain function questionnaire that I came across in a book I had that helped me figure out what to take when I was getting started.

http://drjolee.com/Brain-Function-Questionnaire.pdf

[bizi]

because you are taking lithum lucy, do you have an md to monitor your thyroid levels?
I am bipolar 1 and tend to run hypomanic and am drinking too much.
I am afraid to take 5htp or other stimulants.
Yours is a good story, I am glad that you have found something that works for you.
bizi

[LucyG]

Originally Posted by bizi

because you are taking lithum lucy, do you have an md to monitor your thyroid levels?
I am bipolar 1 and tend to run hypomanic and am drinking too much.
I am afraid to take 5htp or other stimulants.
Yours is a good story, I am glad that you have found something that works for you.
bizi

This lithium isn't the same as lithium carbonate. It's a natural mineral supplement that I've never read has to be monitored. Nor did my naturopath ever mention the need for blood tests for it as it's not a drug.

5-htp isn't a stimulate that I know of. I take it at night, and if I can't sleep, I take extra. The DLPA stimulates the brain, but I've never noticed it to cause any problems other than if I take too much, I have insomnia. From what I've read about it in years past, it stimulates the brain but it's more of making you feel happy and like life has meaning and purpose. I find that if I don't take DLPA I do end up feeling hopeless.

[bizi]

from web md:

5-HTP alone is not an acceptable alternative to your bipolar medications. At least in theory, increased brain serotonin levels from 5-HTP could cause or worsen mania.

[LucyG]

Originally Posted by bizi

from web md:

...........

[bizi]

?????
bizi

[bizi]

Well I have taken the the Amino acids for 6 weeks and have not seen any improvement in my sleeping.
I still take .5mg of klonipin. and also 240mg of lithium oratate.
I take 1000mg of taurine, 1000mg of trytophan, 750mg of gaba.
Do you think I should add 5htp?
I am not like you in that I am bipolar one and don't suffer with depression.
I have been reading my mood cure book and it is confusing what to gather from it...so many different routes to take.
Thank you for your input/advice/guidance.
bizi

[junkDNA]

L-tyrosine and L-phenylalanine are known to increase dopamine which can increase mania and psychosis

[bizi]

Originally Posted by junkDNA

L-tyrosine and L-phenylalanine are known to increase dopamine which can increase mania and psychosis

I don't take those.
bizi

My brother, who has had clinical depression most of his life, reduced then quit his antidepressant and unsuccessfully witched to L. Tryptophan, under the care of a general medicine M.D. He was happy and believed the L. T. was working great -- till he crashed. He went back to the antidepressant. Now, his antidepressant does not work anymore, even when he finally went to a psychiatrist and raised the dosage several times. He told me yesterday that he has been experiencing for the past two years, the worst depression of his life.

I myself tried natural remedies for a zillion years. I recommend psych meds and having a really good pdoc and regular therapy. Process type Art Therapy -- including working with dreams and the methods of Carl Jung -- helped me tremendously. I got over PDSD b/c of over 2 years of Art Therapy, but now I can't afford it b/c it is no longer in a clinic where I can go.

[bizi]

I am sorry you can't do the art therapy any more. Maybe just do it on your own.
I slept better last night because I took black cohosh for hot flashes. yeah!
bizi

[PamPote65]

Amino Acids seem like the would work for someone with a deficiency of neurotransmitters since they are precursors of serotonin and the catecholamines. But I don't know, it sound like many bipolar patients have an overload of neurotransmitters, or a sensitivity to them. They could end up doing more harm than good. Too bad we don't have reliable testing a this point in science.

[ComfortablyNumb5]

Damn reading all of this is making me question my supplements. I take 5htp and I'm BP1. I also take tyrosine.

[bizi]

I am going to see a natureopathic doctor as soon as I can find one.
bizi

[Wander]

Originally Posted by bizi

I am going to see a natureopathic doctor as soon as I can find one.
bizi

Cool. Let us know how you go.

Have you tried Baclofan? It is a muscle relaxant often used to treat anxiety and alcoholism. When I was on it my desire to drink decreased significantly. I stopped it as it exacerbated a shoulder injury.

[bizi]

Originally Posted by Wander

Cool. Let us know how you go.

Have you tried Baclofan? It is a muscle relaxant often used to treat anxiety and alcoholism. When I was on it my desire to drink decreased significantly. I stopped it as it exacerbated a shoulder injury.

How did it exacerbate a shoulder injury??????
I am starting glutamine today....it is supposed to help with cravings.
bizi
I was a mess last night from hot flashes, kept waking me up....maybe the black cohosh is not helping after all.

but then maybe 4 beers interfered.....
sigh
bizi

[bizi]

Well it may be the placebo effect but I tried an amino acid glutamine.
It is supposed to decrease your cravings for alcohol.
For quick release open up a capsule and put the powder under you tongue and let it dissolve, more rapidly than just thru your stomach.
I think it worked! I was able to pass by whole foods and not stop for a beer.
So I went home amazed!
Hubby cooked some pork chops and mixed veggies. Had a couple pieces of cheese and a handful of almonds prior to dinner.
Hopefully the hot flashes will let me sleep tonight, they did not last night.
crossing fingers
bizi

[Wander]

Originally Posted by bizi

How did it exacerbate a shoulder injury??????
I am starting glutamine today....it is supposed to help with cravings.
bizi
I was a mess last night from hot flashes, kept waking me up....maybe the black cohosh is not helping after all.

but then maybe 4 beers interfered.....
sigh
bizi

Physic said that as a muscle relaxant it relaxed my shoulder muscles around the injury too much which created more problems as we were trying to strengthen them.

Still working on my injury, taking forever to heal but improvement is being made. Now I don't have a drinking problem my pdoc is fine with me not talking them.

[bizi]

Do you remember what the dose of the baclofan was? The dosing and frequency?
Will consider this. Thanks for the recommendation.
((((HUGS))))
bizi

[Wander]

Originally Posted by bizi

Do you remember what the dose of the baclofan was? The dosing and frequency?
Will consider this. Thanks for the recommendation.
((((HUGS))))
bizi

I started on 10mg 3x a day then git up to 25mg 3x day. It really takes away the urge to drink. I will warn you though that after even a few drinks I threw up. so it also takes away the ability to drink much. one beer seemed ok tho after food. no side effects that i noticed except the extra shoulder pain.