[Beana77]

I don't take a mood stabilizer because I haven't responded well to any of them (tried Lamictal, Depakote, Tegretol, Trileptal, Neurontin, Topamax). I've been reading up on fish oil being used as a mood stabilizer in high doses. Is anyone doing this and how is it working for them? What dose do you take?

I've taken fish oil in the past but never at high doses and not consistently. I am careful to only buy the highest quality mercury-free oil. In the past, I always thought of it as something extra to take that's good for my general health, but I want to start thinking of it as part of my med cocktail.

This article is pretty compelling: Omega-3 Fatty Acids | PsychEducation

[Sunflower123]

My pdoc put me on 1,000 mg of fish oil (DHA/EPA) a while back and I saw a decrease in my depression and an increase in my stability.

I hope it works for you as well.

I took the highest dose recommended on a high quality brand of fish oil (a higher dose version) while taking bipolar meds. I took it more to lower my triglycerides than as a moodstabilizer medication. It neither lowered my triglycerides nor seemed to make a huge difference with my moods. It was more just a pain in the butt.

I think one would usually need prescription fish oil to possibly see a difference. If someone took more than the recommended highest dose of OTC stuff, I'd talk to a pharmacist or doctor about that. I, personally, think that if fish oil worked sufficiently for people with bipolar disorder that it would be frequently prescribed for it, but it isn't.

[BipolaRNurse]

I don't think it does much for my bipolar but it's sure helped with my triglycerides, which have dropped from 500-something to 175. It's still too high but only a little. I take two 1000mg capsules twice a day per my PCP and pharmacist.

[liveforsummer]

I tried a small dose of fish oil for a few weeks a few years ago .....let’s just say I couldn’t tolerate it, it went right through me. Heard lots of good benefits to it though.

[winter loneliness]

I am a vegetarian. Sorry.

[Beana77]

Thanks everyone. My acupuncturist recommended 2000 mg twice a day. I'm sure my pdoc would say it's a waste of money.

[glennk]

Originally Posted by winter loneliness

I am a vegetarian. Sorry.

Flax seed oil then... Anything high in Omega 3, 6, 9

[winter loneliness]

I buy vegetarian multi vitamins and take them. I just haven't tried a mega-dose of anything.

I actually tried fish oil a few years ago, and it didn't agree with me either. Very upset stomach.

I also couldn't tolerate lithium, on a side note. I think I have a sensitive stomach.

[Carmina]

Originally Posted by glennk

Flax seed oil then... Anything high in Omega 3, 6, 9

Flax seed oil isn't really a great source of EPA and DHA though (which are the most important chemicals in Omega 3 oils) as the body has to convert it from ALA, which is an inefficient process. Better to use one of the Algal Oil products available, which are much higher in those chemicals. After all that's actually where fish like salmon get it in the first place (i.e. by eating algae - that's also why farmed salmon tends to have lower amounts than wild caught incidentally).

[Carmina]

Then again I've been taking high doses of fish oils for over 18 months and while they probably are good for my brain and heart they have had zero impact on my mood, which has got worse over this time (for unrelated reasons). But then I question whether any medication - regardless of how natural - is really able to resolve things that are ultimately part of my history as a person, ultimately these are things I have to deal with through therapy and lifestyle changes.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by glennk

Flax seed oil then... Anything high in Omega 3, 6, 9

Yes! I should get more of that

[~Christina]

I use to take it faithfully then I moved and my whole routine got off course, need to start back once I move back home.

I don’t know if it helps my Bipolar or not , I do have to buy top shelf stuff, I don’t wanna taste it lol

[Unrigged64072835]

I've been taking 2400 for a long time. Didn't do anything, though.

[Moose72]

This reminded me to get more flax seed oil! I'd been off it for months. I'm allergic to fish and other seafood.

[Beana77]

I've been taking two grams twice a day for the past three days but I'm sure it will take time to notice a change. I had insomnia the past couple nights and I hope it's not related. I talked to someone who said fish oil made her hyper. She doesn't have a mental health issue that I know of.

I guess I missed this thread. I just bought some krill oil. It is supposed to be easier to digest and better preserved than fish oil.

I’m not having stability problems now, but I can’t afford another hypomanic event on my career.

[Guiness187055]

I take 2400 mg a day of fish oil. Maybe it's the placebo effect but I feel different if I don't take it.