Deplin

This week my psychiatrist prescribed DEPLIN to augment Wellbutrin XL. We have not been able to find a combination of drugs that adequately treats my depression. I told her maybe she couldn't "drug away" my depression. I have done some research on Deplin and would like to know if anyone here as used it and if it helped. It requires a prescription but since it is not a DRUG (it is an activated vitamin), insurance does not pay for it.

My current meds: Klonopin, lithium, Wellbutrin XL, Deplin

Previous recent combos:
Klonopin, Lamictal, Wellbutrin, Celexa
Klonopin, lithium, Celexa, Wellbutrin
Klonopin, lithium, Effexor

I have been on Deplin for several months as a result if a genetic screening and to treat 14 years of treatment resistant depression. Although it does not take the depression away, it is the only thing I found in 14 years to have a noticeable effect. Good luck!

I took it for six months and I didn't notice any difference. Its L Methyfolate.

I believe because some people do not metabolize folate efficiently or have a genetic polymorphism that causes problems with folate metabolism, it causes problems.

They don't test for this gene or your folate levels. If you get enough B vitamins, folate, folic acid and can metabolize them so they can do there thing then probably deplin won't make any difference.

CNS Spectrums: Novel Therapeutics for Depression: L-methylfolate as a Trimonoamine Modulator and Antidepressant-Augmenting Agent

I haven't heard of genetic screening being done. That is good. What did it find?

They are at least 13 different known genetic polymorphisms involving in MTHFR gene. Depending on what mutation or combination of mutations you have and whether you are heterozygous or homozygous for the the defect, you will either be unable to transform folate or synthetic folic acid to the active form, L Methylfolate, or have limited ability to make L Methylfolate. L Methylfolate is required to produce the precursor BHT that produces seritonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Go to MTHFR Mutation | MTHFR Gene Mutation | What is MTHFR? - MTHFR.net to find out all about it. You can also have your blood tested for MTHFR mutations for $195 at MTHFR Genotyping Laboratory Genetic Test | Seeking Health

Interesting. Did you have the genetic test done?

When I say "They don't test for this gene or your folate levels" I mean as a normal part of psychiatric practice. At least in my experience. The one psychiatrist I had who prescribed it for me didn't mention a thing about polymorphisms or testing folate levels. Just a shot in the dark I guess. I don't imagine it can hurt you. I don't see why it is prescription.

DEPLIN is a prescription at dosage levels 7.5 mg and 15 mg. You can get OTC L Methylfolate 1 mg on AMAZON, 100 capsules for $18. The only reason that DEPLIN requires prescription, in my opinion, is to protect PamLabs patent. You would have to take 15 of those 1mg capsules every day to get the dosage of DEPLIN. (A lot like Nexium now. You can get 20mg Nexium OTC but requires prescription for 40mg. Makes no sense. Buy OTC 20mg and take two. No doctor or prescription needed)

My doctor that just prescribed it for me didn't tell me anything about it except that it was a "vitamin". That was it. She knew I would go research it on the internet so didn't take the time to explain anything.

Why no blood test for folate? Because people with MTHFR will have normal levels of folate in the blood. There is no way to measure the amount of L Methylfolate available to produce seritonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.

In medical practice, it seems the only patients that get genetic testing ordered are women with multiple miscarriages. MTHFR is known to be associated with high fetal loss.

Some mutations of MTHFR can cause some pretty serious medical problems. Blood clots in legs, early coronary artery disease and stroke. So in limited cases, it might be important to know your MTHFR status.

The studies that have shown positive results with DEPLIN have been done without ever determining whether participants have the genetic mutation.

Read the results from this Fox News Report: Deplin: A 'medical food' that treats depression | Fox News

Since it is estimated that up to 70% of US population has at least one of the mutations, why bother with testing? Just give DEPLIN a try. I can't hurt anyone. There are no known side effects. No drug interactions. Can't overdose on it. If it helps, it helps. If it doesn't, just quit taking it. No withdrawal or tapering necessary.

Scientists and medical doctors do not agree whether the mechanism of MTHFR has anything to do with why DEPLIN works. Some studies say DEPLIN does nothing. But the sellers of DEPLIN say those studies are flawed because they didn't give enough L Methylfolate to participants. So the scientific basis of DEPLIN is in question. But the fact that is really does help depression when combined with an SSRI in some resistant depressions is not.

Hey. I have tried many obnoxious drugs that didn't work. Why not try an activated vitamin? I'm game.

The article I posted a link to mentions a polymorphism that reduces folate formation and thus a deficiency.

Then the polymorphism in an enzyme that turns folate into L Methylfolate.

Two separate issues it seems. Both solved by Deplin though.

Damn pharma and patents. I can't remember what I was paying for it. Maybe I will try it again. Like you say can't hurt. I don't remember it helping but there was a lot going on. I was getting TMS and the doc at the same time took me off meds and put me on supplements. I was really bad and only got worse. TMS didn't work.

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70% is a big part of the population.

So many possible factors at play. It is not really even known what role mono amines and their receptors even play. There was a recent experiment with knock out mice genetically modified so that there brains had no 5HT and didn't show signs of depression. I think the ways they emulate depression in mice is not very good. Other studies with knock out mice show 5HT does play a role.

I think mono amines and their receptors are involved for sure. But by what mechanism is not known. The mechanism of an AD if it works is not known. Why do they work for some and not another.

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DEPLIN can cost up to $120 a month but you can get coupons from PamLabs website to bring that down to $45 a month.

My doc says the company rep brings crates of samples to her office regularly so I will have a free supply until I know if it works for me.

Sorry for the old posts but what exactly is DEPLIN?? is it supposed to help the anti-depressants? the anxiety?

I've tried it twice for a few months each time. Couldn't feel any improvement.

It has worked very well for me. I went from sleeping 10+ hours a night and still feeling tired to sleeping 7.5 hours a night and feeling rested. That was in under a week, mood improvement took a bit longer.