[bewise93]

I have been researching alternative treatments for bipolar as the appointment with my new pdoc (it was a first time appointment) was cancelled and moved to January. I'm not talking about coming off all my meds, just looking for something more. I take fish oil and NAC. But I'm wondering if there is more, like st johns wort or SAM-e. Also if folate would help or a b vitamin complex. I need answers. I feel like this is getting out of hand with waiting for this pdoc and I need help quick. I'm not suicidal or even that depressed, just lethargic. Would ginseng help with that? or rhodiola? does anyone know of any good alternative therapies? Thanks.

[99fairies]

I used ginseng when I was a teenager and it totally woke me up. There is also kava but it make me lazy more than anything.

[99fairies]

my parents keep trying to cram 'truehope' down my throat. i dont see the reason behind it. i dont do natural paths. and it would cost hundreds of dollars a month. which we cannot afford.

[Northchild]

Over the counter pills never worked for me. Also, I've heard that the risks for stuff like SAM and St. John's Wort are similar to the risks of prescription medications. Plus, if for some reason things don't go the way that you expected or the way that you want them to, who would you call for assistance? It's not like there's usually a local expert on vitamins and OTC pills and their usage with whatever flavor of bipolar disorder you have.

If you're hurting enough to play the role of being your own researcher, diagnotisician, doctor, and pharmacist, I guess you have little to lose... good luck to you.

[Wild Coyote]

Your med list looks like it could be sedating, especially if you are feeling "lethargic." Are any of the meds which can be cut back, as in PRNs?

I would seek making contact with the pdoc by phone to review meds and to see if the pdoc will authorize adjusting meds now, while you await your appt in January.


WC

[Carmina]

Originally Posted by 99fairies

my parents keep trying to cram 'truehope' down my throat.

I looked this up as not heard of it before - this is the ingredients list

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/t...l-2016-web.pdf

As you can see you can get all of these from much cheaper multi vitamins (all the marketing claims look evidence lite)

[bioChE]

Look into amino acids. I take L-Tyrosine, L-Glutamine, and DLPA. They’re precursors to neurotransmitters and some (including me) have found them to be helpful.

[glennk]

Have you had your thyroid checked lately? Lithium destroys it.

Also, check with a pharmacist about using OTC medications. Many of them can increase sedation and can possibly be fatal. Atypicals do not play well...

[CherryGlazer]

Idk about alternative therapy but I stick true to three things when meds aren't enough

1) go to sleep the same time every day. I notice this gets messed up when I experience symptoms and SOMETIMES the sleep problems start even before the mood symptoms begin, I believe they play a role in how the episodes develop.

2) I maintain a strong routine game when it comes to anything that disrupts sleep. This includes avoiding alcohol and caffeine in the afternoon, but also extends to healthy and reasonable social activity levels and stress, which also can have an effect on sleeping patterns. I don't really travel much, but I would like to, the jet lag alone would kill me. Also daylight savings time is a big disruptor, but not much can be done about that.

3) Whenever things get weird, i take a look at wether or not I've had disruptions in things related to sleep, and I try to get back to my usual routine as fast as possible. If I take action at the start of those issues developing, I tend to stabilize back a lot sooner.

Unfortunately, symptoms themselves can really **** with being able to self-manage and follow a routine, and it could reach a critical point where it makes no difference. So identifying (i wouldn't call them triggers) the risk factors at play as soon as they come into the picture, and before the symptoms reach that critical point, is key.

Hope this helps

[~Christina]

You are on a pretty long list of meds. I would be leery of adding over the counter stuff. I do Super B's and Vitamin D.

I agree get your Thyroid checked Lithium can blast that and you could need replacement med the rest of your life, It kinda of common with Lithium.