posted
Hi everyone, a friend has been prescribed amitriptyline but she is currently on a lot of supplements that affect serotonin, and I understand they don't go together. Is there any kind of guidelines for transitioning? There are other reasons besides mental health for the prescription, which may be kind of pressing..
Posts: 15 | From California | Registered: Nov 2015
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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posted
- Is there some reason to transition to a drug that has so many side effects?
amitriptyline - and all its "cousins" caused me disaster in my life for months on end, maybe years on end -- just before I was dx with lyme / TBD.
With not the least of the bad effects, the dry mouth it causes can interfere with sleep and lead to tooth decay very fast. Vertigo, muscle weakness / falls and deep depression (as well as severe suicidal tendencies) also came from this family of drugs for me.
And my experience is not at all unusual. I could never wake up or think clearly during the day even with very tiny doses of the various cousins at different times. It was zombie time, all the time.
If the supplements she is taking are not serving her, she may need different ones - or to address possible root causes.
If she can see a naturopathic doctor or acupuncturist, they could best guide her. If she might have lyme, a LL ND would be best. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
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posted
- While she considers a ND or L.Ac. there are some things that might help if this inquiry is about mood.
Adrenal support is important for anyone dealing with mood issues. So often, depression or anxiety can come from deficiencies in the adrenal system.
Thyroid, too, should be assessed. In case she may be on some thyroid meds, a caution: The T-3 drug, Cytomel nearly cost me my life more than once from the sudden drop late afternoon when it wore off.
A combination T-3 & T4 in a natural thyroid Rx like NatureThroid helped me get out of that disaster.
A gluten-free diet can help, as can avoiding all processed foods. Getting enough protein and lots of good veggies, dark fruits in moderation - and good fats.
A dinner with wild salmon, greens, a bright veggie . . . and blueberries for dessert -- or that as a breakfast is excellent for the brain / mood.
Avoiding all scents at home, in car and where ever else possible.
Get rid of vinyl shower curtains, if they are there. A fabric type is best, polyester that dries fast.
Mold in home / car should be considered.
Glues that can be toxic in particle board furniture / cabinets . . . new carpet or paint.
An air flush 2 x a day of all rooms in the home is a good idea regardless.
Sunlight into the eyes first thing in the morning for 20 minutes. Rather DAY LIGHT (not the direct sun rays) directly into the eyes with no glass in between.
DARK chocolate - 80% or higher - about one ounce a day.
Being sure key nutrients are balanced and MAGNESIUM is on board.
Magnesium may be the best anti-depressant in the world. -
[ 02-25-2016, 06:40 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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posted
- One more thought. You say she's taking a lot of supplements. If some of those are to boost mood, they can be very wrong for many folks.
Some out there are just rocket fuel with promises that will turn around and clobber big time . . . while some are excellent functional support. The functional support, the quiet nutritional food bases supplements are often best.
You don't say if she has lyme or chronic illness, still, of particular concern to those with weak constitutions:
See post: Caution: Aspartate; Glutamine; and Phenylalanine (3 excitatory amino acids that can be wrong for us when added as supplements, beyond a normal dietary level)
Seaweed has its own natural MSG (monosodium glutamate) and can be very excitatory -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
It's for low motility and bloating, sorry to be short at work right now..
Posts: 15 | From California | Registered: Nov 2015
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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posted
- Gut motility & bloating issues. Never heard of taking an antidepressant for that (other than it may relax muscles but magnesium would work far better in that regard) and I still urge avoidance of the Rx in question for the side effects can be terrible and it would do zero to address the cause.
There are many other things to first consider with gut. But my energy just flew away. Others will surely chime in.
Candida . . . gluten . . . diary . . . etc. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Thanks Keebler. I did ask her to wait until we have a chance to discuss, and yes she does have Lyme, I'm trying to help. She has seen a ND but not LL, and the LLMD IS too expensive for her right now.
Posts: 15 | From California | Registered: Nov 2015
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posted
BTW she is paleo, gluten free, no sugar incl. Fruit, I was looking into a kiwi extract for her.. And she does do mag.
Posts: 15 | From California | Registered: Nov 2015
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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posted
- Of course, getting lyme properly addressed (however that is to be done) is key. In the meantime, Some detail here may be of help even if it's not quite the exact diagnosis:
posted
Silver took Amy long before her dx of LD and she had a huge need for chocolate which, since then, we found that AMY can increase your chocolate cravings - heard that even folks who didn't like chocolate (say what?!?!!!? ) craved it.
-------------------- I have a good time wherever I go! Posts: 665 | From Lost Wages, NV | Registered: May 2006
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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posted
- My theory is that amyltprln causes depression because is so blasted sedating. And when the brain is too sedated, it has the body reaching for anything to wake that up and feel good.
For me, sedation Rx also caused dizziness and a feeling of being just out of sorts.
Cocoa has some good antidepressant action. The trick is going so high in the number for dark (over 80%) as to have barely any sugar [Equal Exchange has a new bar out at 88%]. . .
or inviting one's own recipes with cocoa powder, stevia, etc.
Cocoa also has the "love" chemical and even one ounce a day can be a wonderful help.
As to why a doctor suggested amtrypln. for gut problems has me scratching my head - although so many doctors think all that is just IN someone's head and they read for antidepressants to just shut them up and wind them down.
Many doctors along the way with my colon / gut issues reached for various antidepressants. Only one - way late in the game - had the right way to search out celiac.
With lyme, I think, too that the severe adrenal exhaustion that goes with lyme can spark that intense requirement for chocolate - the "just get out of my way, now" kind of grasping for a life floatl. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Thanks everyone. It just so happens I've been looking at phenylethylamine. What got me interested was not chocolate but rather the BrainON product by the E3Live people, which is concentrated for PEA. I noticed you can get it by itself, and thought why not just get some spirulina for the pigment and take a cap or two of the PEA since those are the two things the concentrate for?
Posts: 15 | From California | Registered: Nov 2015
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