Bipolar Support Group

I would call and make another appointment.

I tried St John's and for me personally it did nothing at all.

St. John's Wort can interact with some medications so you shouldn't take it without checking first with your pharmacist. Seriously. I don't know about Sam-E, but I would check it, too. Set up another appointment with your pdoc right away. It sounds like you need a medication adjustment.

First of all I wouldn't touch St John's Wort because it has a tendency to put us bipolar people into mania. I think you might be able to use it if you are on a mood stabilizer, but why chance it???

There are other vitamins that are more effective.

NAC (N-Acetylcysteine)is a really good antioxdant that lowers stress and helps bipolar depression. From one of the studies I've seen it takes 8 weeks of taking it to really see an effect. After 20 weeks, you should have a response. It's not a take one and feel better in two hours type med.

Also fish oil and B vitamins can help.

I tried SAm-E. It was really expensive and I didn't see a benefit. It might be that I didn't take it long enough, but I like the vitamins that I'm on now and they work for me. (They also only cost me like $30 a month.)

Best of luck, Maria

Thank you for your replies and advice. I am actually waiting for my app I have with him in a wk and a half. He's only there on thursdays, so I'm going to try to see him this thurs if their is any cancellations because I really need to talk to him soon. I did something so stupid while I've been depressed and took some dbl doses of my medicine for a week and am now a week short. So stupid...I think I do stupidier things while I'm depressed rather than manic sometimes. I was planning on asking my doc to add on an antidepressant for my treatment plan on the last app I missed. The one before that I lied to him saying I felt fine because I didn't want to switch meds and was coming down from a slightly manic phase and thought that I was temporarily depressed. I now know that was not the cause and really should of said something then. I've noticed Lamictal has helped me with my mood swings and insomnia, but feel I've been stuck in depression more than anything and that's where the mood stops it seems. I really hope I can get in on Thursday, but know it takes up to a month or more for the anti-depressant to kick in, so I guess I'm gonna have to wait for this phase to pass over and just hold on. This is why I turned to the herbal remedies. I read that Sam-e doesn't mess with other meds, but St. John's Wort can.. so I think I'm gonna hold off on that one until my appointment. Thank you guys for your support! Your awesome. I hope something good comes outta these supplements. I spent 55 bucks so they better!!!! lol..but really

Jess

Thank you Maria for the advice. i will have to check those out. I have a B-complex I take for energy and I was actually thinking about getting some Omega-3 or something while I was at the health food store today. I read about how it can help people with bipolar disorder reduce mania and stress in a case study earlier today. I believe herbal supplements can help people greatly and feel I have some balancing and cleansing I need to do. I will definitely take your recommendation.

I just looked on the St. John's Wort bottle and their is a warning for people with bipolar! It said it shouldn't be taken without supervision. Well, that's great. Money well spent...!

Jess