Mood-enhancing supplements:

Although you can get these supplements over the counter, I always recommend doing this under the care of a physician, since supplements can have side effects and risks and can interact with other medications.)

5-HTP 50-300 mg up to three times/day — start at 50mg in the morning. Converts directly into serotonin. If you are taking too much, you will feel sleepy or have runny stools. Also usually helps with anxiety, although sometimes it can paradoxically cause anxiety. Must use with great caution if you’re taking an anti-depressant.

St. John’s Wort 300mg three times/day. If you don’t feel better within a week, slowly increase your dose to a max of 600mg three times/day. May decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills.

SAMe 200mg on an empty stomach twice/day. Increase your dose every two weeks to a maximum dose of 600mg twice daily. This can be a very effective antidepressant, but it can also be expensive. Side effects at higher doses include GI upset, nausea, agitation, and insomnia.

L-Theanine 100-600mg daily. Reduce if you feel sleepy. Found in green tea.

Fish oil (DHA/EPA) 1-3 g/day with food.

Exercise is the best thing that I've discovered that improves my mood. I feel relaxed and focused after I swim 1/2 hr. 4-5x a week. If I could feel like that 24/7 I would be a very productive and content person.

Hey cool, I love exercise as well, but the endorphin high for me is very short lived.

If you're already taking an antidepressant that inhibits the reuptake of serotonin, taking 5-HTP could induce serotonin toxicity. Be sure you do due diligence with this supplement.

A veritable cornucopia of treatment options are available without a prescription. Most of these are antioxidants, the major mental disorders have been strongly linked to excessive oxidative stress from free radical species:

• NAC (N-Acetyl-Cysteine) <-- Definitely worth a try.
• Coenzyme Q10 <-- Fat soluble antioxidant. Recycles vitamin E.
• Alpha-Lipoic Acid <-- Helps recycle a multitude of antioxidants.
• Ginkgo Biloba <-- Active on many neurotransmitter sites.
• Aspirin <-- COX2 anti-inflamatory, take 325mg morning and noon.
• Sarcosine (N-Methly Glycine) <-- great add-on for schizophrenia.
• Glycine <-- NMDA receptor glycine site antagonist.
• D-Serine <-- NMDA receptor glycine site antagonist.
• D-Cycloserine <-- NMDA receptor glycine site antagonist.
• Phosphotidyl-Serine <-- NMDA receptor glycine site antagonist. ADHD pilot study.
• D-Alanine <-- Weak NMDA receptor glycine site antagonist. doi:10.3390/ph3103240
• Taurine <-- Weak NMDA receptor glycine site antagonist.
• Piracetam, Noopept, Aniracetam <-- Racetams, nootropic cognitive enhancers.
• Adrafinil <-- Eugeroic, metabolized in vivo to modafinil (Provigil), OTC status in USA.
• Pregnenolone <-- Endogenous neurosteroid precursor. marked effects.
• Phenibut <-- phenyl derivative of GABA, anxiolytic effects.
• DMAE, Centrophenoxine <-- Choline precursor, increase in vigilance and positive mood.
• Dark Chocolate <-- Yummy!
• Coffee, Caffeine <-- My weakness.
• Hard Boiled Yolks <-- Totally works, an ideal blend of amino and fatty acids.
• Lithium Orotate <-- Can substitute for lithium carbonate in a pinch.
  
• Astaxanthin <-- Very powerful antioxidant, two thumbs up.
• Zeaxanthin, Lutein <-- Less powerful, carotenoid based, antioxidants.
• Vitamin C <-- Works best with little doses taken multiple times a day.
• Vitamin D3 <-- Definitely worth a try, but takes months to reach peak levels.
• Vitamin E <-- But stay away from the tocopheryl acetate form, that one is junk.
• Vitamin B, i.g. B12, Folate <-- Memory, energy. However, only helpful if deficient.
• Magnesium Glycinate <-- The glycinate form supplies glycine. NMDA.
• Iodine (if iodine deficient, i.g. high TSH, hypothyroidism) many are mildly deficient.
• Iron (if iron deficient, i.g. anemia) Menstruating women are at high risk of deficiency.

Thanks nbritton! I'll have to look into Adrafinil! What's your take on ephedra or synephrine products at a low dose?

Adrafinil - BioScience Nutraceuticals... $140 for 100 grams. My educated guess is dosing should be similar to racemic modafinil, i.g. 200 mg of adrafinil is equivalent to 200 mg modifinal. So 100 grams is equivalent to 500 200 mg tablets, it works out to $9 per month. It's worth noting that 500 200 mg tablets of modifinal would cost your insurance company $6,750, so I think that's a great deal.

From what I've researched really only the principal difference is it takes longer to kick in then modafinil, this is due to the extra step of the body converting adrafinil in vivo to modafinil... the end product that the body produces is modafinil.

Quoting Wikipedia:

"Adrafinil is a prodrug; it is primarily metabolized in vivo to modafinil, resulting in nearly identical pharmacological effects. Unlike modafinil, however, it takes time for the metabolite to accumulate to active levels in the bloodstream. Effects usually are apparent within 45–60 minutes when taken orally on an empty stomach."

"In the United States, adrafinil is currently unregulated. It has not been approved for any clinical uses by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Unlike modafinil, adrafinil is not classified as a controlled substance and does not fall under DEA jurisdiction; in particular, it is not illegal to possess without a prescription and can be imported privately by citizens."

Have you looked into the Nuvigil / Provigil Patient Assistance Program? Apparently they provide free medications for low incomes, all the way up to $32,670 a year! I just filled out an application myself, here is the link to the PDF application: http://www.cephaloncares.com/PDF/Fou...ithNuvigil.pdf

Normally what I do to save money is have the doctor write the prescription precisely as follows:

Rx: one half to one 200 mg tablet modafinil every morning by mouth.

Typically I take 100 mg daily, but writing the prescription this way requires the pharmacy to fill 30 200 mg tablets. Since the price of 200 mg tablets is usually the same as 100 mg tablets my insurance company doesn't care, essentially it's a buy one get one free deal!

Based on the cost analysis I did above, I'll be switching to adrafinil if I can't get on Cephalon's Patient Assistance Program, simply due to the fact that paying for adrafinil out of pocket is significantly cheaper then my copay for prescription Provigil or Nuvigil.

Hey, well thank you for the info...sorry I already take Provigil, but was wondering what you think about ephedra supplements?

Quoting Wikipedia:

"In response to accumulating evidence of adverse effects and deaths related to ephedra, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale of ephedra-containing supplements on April 12, 2004. The sale of ephedra-containing dietary supplements is currently illegal in the United States because of the high risk of ephedra-related adverse events."

Thanks this I know- google black widow supplements and look at the ingredients

My psychiatrist recently recommended this. Do you find it really helps with anxiety?

It's unlawful. If the supplement's manufacture is willing to break the law then who knows what's actually in the supplement! I would never consume a supplement that was intentionally produced in violation of the law.

I have never tried Ephedra, nor do I have any reason to believe it's worth trying. Moreover, recommending it to others, with the full knowledge that it's illegal, could result in a claim of negligence and/or malfeasance.

Ephedra is used to produce methamphetamine. I'm not having any part of that.

I don't know if ephedra is ephedrine but that and psuedoephedrine is used to make meth but it's also sold in nasal decongestants and.. Tylenol Cough And Cold? Here in canada anyways. But I don't take tylenol ever. bad for the liver.

Phynlepherine is a substitute that they put in drinks for colds as a substitute for psuedoephedrine because they thought people make meth from it but it turns out that meth production increased because psuedoephedrine was not the source. I have tried it for hey fever and it is good for my eyes and throat but most people online say that it does nothing for a blocked nose so its useless basically.

Adranifil is unregulated in Canada but you can't buy it at any pharmacy just a research chemical. And it's really really bad for you apparently.

From what I've read, ephedrine is better than psuedoephedrine because it causes less jetters and anxiety. The next best would be caffeine and they are all basically the same with effects.

I saw that beta-phenylethylamine is a supplement and was surprised because I think that is used to make amphetamine and meth. But it's used by body builders and others because it helps you lose appetite (stimulant effects) to lose weight and causes a euphoric effect. I wouldn't call it a supplement but a drug.. but apparently it occurs naturally in the body.

I'm just guessing from little things I have read i could be wrong.

I've read that Adranifil is very tough on the liver and shouldn't be taken for more than three months consecutively.

Yeah, my guess is ephedra isn't ephedrine since I can purchase it anywhere!

Does5-HTP 50-300 enter act to increase uptake with Cymbalta?

These natural supplements are very similar to so many prescription meds. I'm curious what the advantage is to using CNS stimulants like ephedra as opposed to scripted one? in the us at least, the prescription stimulants are cheaper if you have insurance and at least a little safer because the FDA regulates them. So I'm wondering why you'd rather go with ephedra when the side effects can be harsh, especially the heart related ones.I took it a few times and I felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest. The anxiety was intense too.

Here is the chemical structure of Adranifil and Modafinil:



As you can see, the only difference is the NH-OH vs NH2 group. If Adranifil is tough on the liver, then so is Modafinil, but according to NIH's LiverTox Site Modifinal has not been implicated in cases of clinically apparent acute liver injury. Do you have any references for Adranifil?

Hey amee, for me I seldom take Provigil, since it puts me in an agitated mixed state, and causes insomnia...but ephedra is IR, suppresses my appetite, causes more euphoric mania, and I don't get insomnia with it! Btw, at a low dose my heart rate doesn't get elevated either.

What I read stated that Adanifril metabolizes, and essentially turns into modafinil in the liver which is why its implicated in more liver damage. Modafinil skips this process and is therefore easier on the liver. I will find some of the articles and post them.

Couldn't help but to chime in here....
I noticed one of you concerned about paying for the provigil
or nuvigil.
For me, my insurance cost was over $100.00 which I couldn't afford.

I went to the Nuvigil website (nuvigil.com) and they have a coupon that
is good for a year so you can get it for free the first time and $5.00 copay
there after.
I hope it works for you.
My body does very well on amphetamines--I also take 40 mg Dexedrine a day, besides
the nuvigil. It's the greatest anti-depressant my doctor and I could find for me. I was basically treatment resistant before this. And no, I am not flying all day either. In fact, it makes me feel at a very even keel (perhaps some of my other psych meds balance this out as they are sedating).
Good luck and let us know.

I would also like to add zinc mono-L-methionine sulfate. I have four reasons why this should be helpful in treating major depression and bipolar depression:

• Zinc has a good history of having positive effects on depression.[1][2]
• Methionine (i.g. SAMe) also has a history of positive effects on depression.[3]
• This compound has greater antioxidant abilities then other zinc supplements.[4][5]
• This compound contains sulfur, and low sulfur status is associated with depression.[6]
• Zinc is also helpful with acne, acne is often a stressor.[7]
• It's very low cost, a months supply is less than $2.

Therefore, if you decide to try a zinc supplement to alleviate depression, zinc mono-L-monomethionine (a/k/a L-OptiZinc, zinc L-methionine, et al.) is your best bet.

The recommend dose is 30mg/daily for adults. However, zinc has an extremely long biological half life in the body (often quoted at 9 months). So in order to see immediate effects you will likely need to take a loading dose. In theory, I would start with 90mg/daily for one week, then 60mg/daily for one month, and then 30mg/daily thereafter.

Zinc mono-l-methionine can be found under the brand name L-OptiZinc, various manufacturers sell this "L-OptiZinc" formulation. Please take note that the bottle needs to say L-OptiZinc, and not OptiZinc, as "OptiZinc" is a racemic mixture of d/l-methionine; d-methionine cannot be utilized by the body.

Here is a link to the stuff on amazon: Amazon.com: l-optizinc - Zinc / Minerals: Health & Personal Care

References:
[0]: L-OptiZinc Research Overview
[1]: Zinc! An Antidepressant? | Psychology Today
[2]: Effects of Zinc Supplementation in Patients with Major Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial
[3]: Role of S-adenosyl-l-methionine in the treatment of depression: a review of the evidence
[4]: Oxidation of Methionine in Proteins: Roles in Antioxidant Defense and Cellular Regulation
[5]: Oxidative stress markers in affective disorders
[6]: Sulfur in Human Nutrition and Applications in Medicine
[7]: Zinc Treatment for Acne

SAME made me manic. I prefer Lamictal.

Guarana is natural stimulant that gets one out of the lows and gets you the kick. It is quite powerful for a herb.

you can overdose on it though, especially in the extract/pill form and it has abuse potential.

I know that it has a high concentration of caffeine. Otherwise is it any different from coffee and/or caffeine pills?