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9552239 tn?1404989880

L -Tyronene supplement

has anyone tried experimenting with L-tyrosine supplement? Do you mind sharing your experience?
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9552239 tn?1404989880
Thank you everyone for your posts - some really useful information!
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1237757 tn?1323143119
I also take 5-hydroxytrytophan as well from time to time. The other main one for me as well is melatonin to help get the right sleep patterns. When stressed my body manages to make 7 times the normal amount of cortisol and basically no melatonin (which makes you sleepy). It's like trying to go to sleep after taking speed. I think a lot of bipolar people should get their cortisol and melatonin levels checked to see how it affects them. As it's all about getting regular sleep patterns. But sadly often our mind won't feel tired, yet our bodies are. We don't notice it until we crash into exhaustion that leads to depression.
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1237757 tn?1323143119
Hi I'm also using advanced nutrient therapy as well. Have been for about 4 years now after I had a very bad reaction to meds (launched me into hypomania for 4 mths). I was lucky enough to get onto the right type of doctor that actually practiced it. He tested me for everything and basically just aimed to bring the deficiencies in to line. Before you get into aminos check you are hitting the basics first. For me it was b6, Zn and Magnesium all really low from pyrroles. So take additional to top it up. When I've had really bad turns I've taken them as an IV. The difference as an IV is staggering, it made a massive difference pulling me out of depression. I'd feel awful and the 2 hours after an IV I felt the best I'd felt in my life. That's when I knew I was onto the right thing. Also when I run out of money and can't afford the supplements I go back to feeling crap again and have trouble with anxiety. Don't forget to exercise as well, when you go this route you need multiple coping strategies. For me it's managing cortisol and adrenalin. So exercising a lot helps burn that off. Also helps with endorphins.  Good luck, definitely worth exploring, they are doing a double blind study on the effects of SAME for patients with mono depression (not bipolar) at Melbourne University. They are also doing a double blind study on other sups for bipolar patients as well. So looks like it's finally getting the attention it deserves.
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Avatar universal
DLPA put me into a pretty intense manic state, L-Phenylalanine works more on pain than mood, so it would be safer, but it still works on epinephrine, it is an upper. I avoid both of those and tyrosine. Amphetamine addicts are helped a lot my Phenylalanine, they find motivation difficult after they quit taking uppers.

SAMe is more of a stabilizer, research indicates that those who crave meat or do well eating a lot usually have low methylation and can tolerate and are often helped by SAMe. Those who do better on a vegetarian diet are often over methylated and SAMe could cause adverse effects. I have not experimented with Methionine, the amino acid SAMe is derived from. That may be another option.

Tryptophan seems to be safe across the board. I have heard nor read any adverse effects with this amino. I find it calming.

There is actually more evidence based research to show how amino acids and nutrition work on improving mood and mental functions than there is for drugs. That is not to say some people don't need meds still, but nutrients have proven to make lower doses effective for the majority of clients in clinical studies. That book I suggested has 60 years of research backing it, that's longer than almost every med invented or discovered for bipolar, accept lithium. That book will give more details. Copper and folate imbalance is another issue for most mental issues, it really comes down to the individual needs, that's why meds or nutrients are different for everyone. Glutton reduction shows vast improvement for autism, but it helps in most mental conditions.

I am doing pretty will on the SAMe/Tryptophan. I am likely more stable than I have been since I quit opiate 2 years ago. I think it has reduced my rapid cycling, but I doubt it will help for my full blown manic episodes. I feel better than I did on Lamotregene or Lithium. I went manic on Lithium, so that makes me think nothing will stop the severe cycles. I have my shed though, for those times. I almost have the kitchen finished. I am going to make it so I could live in there if I have to for awhile. So far I haven't had to. I started going through David D. Burns Book, "The Feeling Good Handbook," as well. He is the first person to apply CBT to a client population with amazing results. I don't think nutrition alone will make me able to manage, I have to have some training in my thinking as well. I am going for feeling as good as I can with nutrient, my plan is to take a very small dose and slowly increase lamotregene, if I can't get fully stable without meds. I have back up plans for my back up plans. I believe that has taken some of the fear out of it for me.

I also am studying shamanism, which I know is controversial. "bipolarORwakingUP" is a fascinating web site with lots of good short videos. By viewing bipolar cross culturally and seeing how villages and primative societies treat bipolar, I have gained a whole new perspective. People hear I am bipolar and look at me as if I have AIDS in 1980, back when the stigma and lack of information was running wild. Tribal societies are far more supportive of bipolar and they find a place in their world for people who are bipolar. I don't buy all of what I read, but I can see how we blow things out of preportion when we don't understand them in the West. Perhaps, just maybe there is a reason we are made this way. When I think of the bipolar people who lived before meds, they changed our culture, knowledge, our very way of life and expressing ourselves. Maybe bipolar isn't ALL bad. I may be delusional, but I am sick of thinking I am diseased or have a major malfunction. These ideas have reduced my fear and anxiety, so that helps, even if it is all a fantasy.

So you can see, recovery is a huge part of my life. For about a year now I have been trying different things to improve my life. My doctor said I shouldn't have to think about it so much, she just wants me to take the meds. I was experimenting with meds, just like I am with nutrition, I don't really see the difference. It seems to always be trial and error of total guesses with bipolar. There are some tests that show specific deficiencies, and most bipolar have several of them in common. I think we could find better treatment if all the money spent on drug research was given to nutrition research. I only try evidence based therapies now, if I run out of those, I will work with trying meds more.

I want to be clear, I am not against meds and truly believe they have thier place. I also think that there is little evidence backing their prescription and too many and too much is being given to the masses. Over half AMericans are on anti depressants, that makes me think the culture is the problem, not the chemical balance of the majority is off. In 10 years bipolar diagnosis went up 4000%, depression, anxiety, autism, OCD, BPD, all the mental illness seem to be on the rise, even though more and more drugs have come out to deal with these problems. Obviously our focus on meds is not working. Not say meds are bad or a wrong choice for people, I just think most people on these meds don't necesarrily need them.

Being you have been in remission for so long, nutrition may be enough to keep you balanced. It would be awesome if you could get a doctor to help with finding what your body and brain need. I live in a rural area, so my options are limited. I found a doctor, but can't afford him. I am still hoping to go to him eventually. He uses a hair sample to check for deficiency. We can actually change our genetic expressions with nutrition. Okay, keep me posted. I seem to meet more BP2 than 1, so it's good to have another nature enthusiast to walk this path with.

Helpful - 0
9552239 tn?1404989880
Thanks so much for your answer, I was diagnosed with bipolar 1 when I was young and was heavily medicated and frequently hospitalised for about a decade. Thankfully I eventually stabilised and I have been in remission and med free for years now but in the past few months have become increasingly unstable - I don't want to go back and am looking to try and self medicate naturally, I am reading up a lot and finding a lot of conflicting opinions, I guess I should experiment with low doses and see how it goes. I read about SAMe but like you said I was scared off by the warnings, ( I also read up on L-phenylalanine which looks interesting but again I am a bit nervous to try it, do you think that the DPLA version is safer?) so, I was thinking to try L-tyrosine with vitamin B6. Maybe start with a low dose?
I will look up that book you recommended.
I will keep you posted. I would be interested to hear how you get on too. All the best...
Thank you again for taking the time to reply.
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Avatar universal
Tyrosine made me manic, so did DLPA. My research and response to amino acids made me think there is something to it. 'Nutrition Power,' by William J Walsh is the best book I have found on the subject. after researching further, I take SAMe and Tryptophan now, I and my wife have noticed a mild difference in my ability to reel in my moods. It's only been a few weeks and it can take 6 months to get the full effect. I found it odd, SAMe has a warning not to use if Bipolar, yet Tyrosine bottles don't. I think it has to do with 2 out of 11 people going manic in a clinical study, though the majority of the patients were helped by it. I thought about it and chose not to question my research. Based on that kind if evidence, we could say psych meds don't work and not to take them. I went manic on Lithium, that doesn't mean Lithium won't work for others or that they will go manic on it. Anyway, be careful with Tyrosine or any amino acids or supplements. They can have a powerful effect. My doctor knows little about nutritional therapy or biochemical treatment, as the scientists call it. I am looking for a doctor who knows more before I raise my dosage, my last experience with DLPA taught me my lesson. Natural doesn't always mean safe. If you try it, let us know how it goes. My take on it, Tyrosine may work better for BP2, as it is a stimulant and can promote mania. It is fantastic for recovering amphetamine addicts, because they have motivation issues after quiting drugs. SAMe has some upper effects, but balances methylation and mood in healthy individuals. I added the downer Tryptophan to counter any stimulant effect I may experience. So far so good. I was experimenting with the meds, my doctor admitted that is how it's done, so I don't know why experimenting with natural products is so scary to her. Fear of the unknown I guess. My research also revealed that only 5% of bipolar and schizophrenic clients were able to go med free, which I am trying to do. I also discovered that with nutrition over 70% of bipolar could reduce meds to low or no side effect levels. My goal is to get as stable as possible with nutrients  and slowly add meds, if I am not in that 5%. I was over medicated before and am not going there again. Hope this helps, and hope you keep us posted. Good luck.
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