Anti-depressants and supplements

[wine no more]

Has anyone taken L-Glutamine or Evening Primrose Oil while on a SSRI? (Zoloft, Paxil, etc.)

I am terribly afraid of a seratonin overload and don't need anymore mind problems!

[startingover]

Anti-depressants and supplements

Hi there Wine, I take Lglut and have taken EPO with prozac, those are both fine as far as I am aware.
The supps that you should avoid are 5HTP, LTryptophan, St Johns wort and SAME. Those are the ones I know about, but its always best to check before you start on a supp.
Apparently Lglut is an absolute must for folk on SSRIs. There is more info on another thread called Amino Acids. Hang on I will find it for you.

[agapanthus]

Anti-depressants and supplements

I am taking Effexor, and have been taking 5-HTP, too. Haven't noticed anything weird, but maybe I should stop. What is the risk of this combination?

[agapanthus]

Anti-depressants and supplements

Yikes, I just looked up seratonin syndrome on Wikipedia. I was taking 5-HTP to improve the efficacy of GABA. I am on a low dose of Effexor (75mg/day) and have been taking 500-750mg of GABA and 50mg of 5-HTP 2 or 3 times a day. Maybe I just should avoid taking them at the same time.

[startingover]

Anti-depressants and supplements

Hiya Aga, I really think you shouldnt mix 5HTP and your ADs.
I take most supplements but avoid the ones that have an effect on seratonin levels e.g. 5HTP, LTryptophan and St Johns Wort. Oh and SAMe.

[jessie]

Anti-depressants and supplements

Hi everyone and especially binge drinkers, I just had a big shock. Following Starts post re AD's and 5HTP I did some research and got a big fright! I came across a syndrome they call kindling, which means that repeated detoxes causes more harm and increased severity with each detox. Especially to the brain. Us bingers are thus very vulnerable, because we binge, then stop for a couple of days, which effectively means a detox, and then binge again. This has scared me as I really did not know it. Hope someone else learns from this post.

[beatle]

Anti-depressants and supplements

wine no more, Everything startingover says is right, as far as my own research goes. I have tried "mixing and matching" with medications and supplements, but never without doing the research first. Most supps are ok (or important) to take with SSRIs, except for exactly the ones startingover mentioned.

jessie, I have not heard about that "kindling" syndrome, but I'm not sure I understand why binge drinkers would be more vulnerable. As I understand it, detox is really a withdrawal process when the body has a severe reaction to eliminating alcohol from the body after years of drinking daily. Are drinkers who consistently and repeatedly become sober between drinking episodes really undergoing what most people refer to as alcohol detox? I don't know, but I'm thinking maybe not. I haven't researched this, though, since I don't really fall under that category.

[jessie]

Anti-depressants and supplements

Hi Beatle, as I said, I got a big fright and bingers must be warned. Google " withdrawal from alcohol kindling" and follow the Wikipedia link. It is a huge eye opener.

[Housefull]

Anti-depressants and supplements

The link won't work for me, but it has been proven time and again that walking has amazing benefits. Prevention Magazine has always been a huge proponent of walking programs. Walking and water.

[beatle]

Anti-depressants and supplements

Not a very subtle ploy, Housefull (if you ever return here, which I doubt).