Supplements to help depression?

I am told that st.Johns wort and 5-htp help with depression, and since my mom disapproves of prescribed medicines, i thought it would be nice to check out. i looked around about it and the rating on this site, but i'm still a bit skeptical about the side effects. i already have headaches all the time and i dont want anything else to add onto that...does anyone have any input or extra advice?

I don't know that either diagnosing yourself or "prescribing" even herbs/vitamins for yourself is a good idea. I would go see my doctor and tell him my symptoms and problems and see what he suggests. If you mom disapproves of doctors, then I would try to go see a nutritionist or nurse practitioner and see if I couldn't get some help with what I eat and supplements that might be right for my individual issues. You shouldn't have headaches all the time, I would start with those and how you might help them and perhaps your feeling of depression might be lessened too?

well i am diagnosed, and i have taken celexa in the past, but my mom made me stop taking it even though it helped.

Please inform your doctor/psychiatrist (who ever prescribed the celexa) that your mother has intervened and told you to stop taking celexa even though it was alleviating your depression. Perhaps your MD can persuade her it was not a good idea to stop. All medications have risks and should be supervised by a medical professional - even herbs. So, if your mom will not listen to the advice of your doctor /psychiatrist, ask them to recommend a herb and to monitor its effects to ensure it treats your depression.

I don't really like medicine either. I tried antidepressants and mood stabilizers (for bipolar), but eventually got off of all of them. The side effects didn't seem worth it to me, but then, I have a mild case. I have had better luck with a combination of a B complex vitamin, magnesium, melatonin and a multi, honestly. They have helped with the general depression, but I still have issues with mood swings and anxiety. If the celexa works for you though, don't be afraid to have a serious discussion with your mom about it. Especially if you suffer from a serious depression and you know it's what works. I know that discussion may be hard... maybe it would help if the doctor backed you up?

Omega-3s have also had promising research, as well as inositol, if you're interested. The University of Maryland Medical Center has a good website if you'd like to research. Can't post the link because I am a new poster, but it'll come up if you Google it.

If you do purchase any of these supplements, make sure to buy them from a reputable brand, and don't buy any "super pills" that have something like 500% or 1000% of what your body needs in them. Too much can be a bad thing. Look for around 100% of the DV.

And a side note, if you do look into St. John's wort, it can decrease the effectiveness of the birth control pill. Don't know if that will affect you or not, but I try to tell everyone who is thinking about it!

Good luck!

(((Lxegirl))) I'm so sorry to hear this.
My own mom has told me "medication is a crutch"
I know she is very misinformed and living in her own little world... But I don't live there with her anymore...
I don't know what to say - I wish you could continue with the medical therapy that was helping you. I'm sorry that you are having to go through this *nonsense* from your mom.
I can say that I took St. John's Wort for several years and I do think it helped. In Europe it is prescribed for mild depression. But I wouldn't trust just any brand... There is a good German company called Kira that you can get on iherb.com for about $8.
It doesn't work for everybody and I have since switched to pharmaceuticals because it just wasn't enough for me... But I did spend 2 years on it.
Anyway... Yes, I did get headaches and dizziness when I first started it, they lasted for about a week but then went away. You also never want to take it with any other anti-depressants or with contraceptives (it decreases their effectiveness).

E.

Hey lxegirl. I am sorry you are feeling depressed. I sure do know what depression feels like. I agree with unhappyguy. Is it possible for you to let your doctor know that your mom will not let you take the rx meds? I use alternative meds. But I also use rx. AND I go to a naturopath doctor who knows what she is doing re the alterantive stuff. Also, i have other resources so I know about other things to take. Its not always that easy to stabalize oneself using alterative stuff. The quality of the suppliments widely varies. I will tell you that a very respected herbalist has said that the primary use for st johns wort is not for depression unless its very mild depression. 5-HTP can help if the serotinin levels in your body are low. But you honestly do not know if they are. I know mine are. Because a naturopath tests for it. Even then, I also take an anti anxiety rx medication. Do you mind telling me how old you are? Its okay if you do not want to.

Again, would you be able to let your doc know that the celexa helped. But your mom made you stop taking it? One more question. Does your mom let you go to a therapist?

i'm 16 years old. my doc knows that it helped, and she knows my mom made me stop taking it. i went to a therapist until like february this year, and stopped because my mom didnt want me to go anymore or pay for it because she didnt think it was helping. so now i see my church pastor- counseling is his day job, so i guess he has a decent amount of experience....but its not the same. sigh.

Hey Lxegirl, I am really sorry things are happening this way. would your mom pay for a naturopathit doctor ( ND) who knows how to diagnose and prescribe natural suppliments? Because if you get stuff on your own, its sort of a "shot in the dark" . I understand if she is not willing to do it. But I though it might be worth asking. In many states they are covered my most insurance. Just have to pay for the suppliments.

Also, one other thing I wanted to ask. Is there a school counseller you could also see. In addition to the pastor? So you can have more of a support team? Again, I am sorry that you cant get the meds you need. You deserve to feel better

yes, i've seen the school counselor...he isnt of much help. i'll look into the ND

Hello Ixegirl,

I would suggest differently. First, make sure you're truly diagnosed, so oyu know what you're dealing with. I suggest you to read the best book I've ever red about healing depression naturally which is Unstuck by Dr. Gordon, he gave me a solution which is working amazingly for my depression, with supplements and many other things for your journey out of depression. I would also recommend the book "The Mood Cure".

After gaining 100 pounds with med in the last 9 years and finally quitting and going natural and been losing weight, I do support your mom's views.

Good luck!

Arie

Hi Ixygirl !

You could try a combo of magnesium/calcium/zinc. Many women crave chocolate when they are down . Why ? because of the magnesium !

But maybe you might also be suffering from some lacks of antioxydants or vitamins too..Iron deficiency makes you feel tired and depressed.

A good look at what your body lacks or is in surplus might help ! I am no professional but I think some naturopaths take blood tests and analyse what you lack of. It might not be only one vitamin but several of them..

Vit C is great and so is vit D ! but be careful..some do not interact well with others and some are stored in the body and might be dangerous : iron for ex.

I wish you the best !

I am on a product called Relive. It is a nutritional shake that you do twice a day. It comes in 2 cans, Classic and Innergize. The Innergize brings all the nutrients to your cells.

Antidepressants do not kick in on me anymore, so it is my antidepressant.

The only thing is is that it costs a little bit over $80 a month, but to me it is well worth it because it makes me feel so awesome.