Friday, November 18, 2011

How much dosage of Omega-3 to fight depression/anxiety?

My daughter is 17 and is trying alternative methods to fight depression. She started taking 5-HTP a week ago and I've seen some slight improvement already. If she also takes Omega-3 Fish Oil, does she need to take more than the average serving listed on the bottle?|||No, one cap a day is all you need. You also need to consider a healthy vegetable based diet with whole grains. Minimize the fats from meat and dairy. Exercise a lot. Enjoy lots of leisure activities... try to have fun even if she doesn't want to. Joke a lot. Talk to her... have her email me. Keep her mind active. Get plenty of sunlight. If sunlight isn't available, get plenty of artificial light and surround her with happy colors like yellow, for example. Have her read the book I talk about here:


http://www.geocities.com/seabulls69/Anti…|||You're welcome.

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|||Hey! Based on research 3000 mg is good for depression treatment. 1000 mg in the morning, 1000 mg during the afternoon and 1000 mg before going to bed.

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|||Alternative medication tends to be all in your head, same as why placebos show some improvement. In other words, the dose don't matter. If she thinks it will work, chances are it will, especially since depression is all in your head.





Now before you knock me, I've been on real anti-whatever meds *anti-depressants/psychotics/sezier* and I learned pretty quick that if I expect it to fail, it does. I then started to expect it to work, and sure enough it did, at least a little. It's why cutters cut, they expect it to make them feel better, so it does.|||Your question intrigued me so I did a bit of research using 2 well-respected, authoritative instruments: (1) the National Library of Medicine's database on nutritional supplements/herbs and (2) the "PDR" (Physician's Desk Reference).





Specific to your question regarding dosage of Omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid "...does she need to take more than the average serving listed on the bottle?" I would suggest that given a grade of "C" it doesn't matter because it is probable that this supplement won't make any difference to her depression anyway. Here's the information. I would implore you to take her to a proper doctor for evaluation instead of playing around with "Do-it-Yourself" strategies. Recent research overwhelmingly indicates that if left untreated CLINICAL depression worsens with time due to the adverse neurological effects. Depressive episodes increase in duration and severity in the absence of treatment.





- I just checked my own Omega-3 supplements- 1000mg. This is a high dosage capsule and the stuff correspondingly costs more. Although I don't believe Omega-3 does anything to support depression, I know for sure this stuff has immune-system boosting properties and is healthy for the heart. I take mine along with vitamin E (an anti-oxidant) because our oceans are so polluted in this day and age: read: mercury in the fish you eat and in the fish-oil supplements you take (for their EPA and DHA content).





http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/drugi…





Omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid was assigned a score of “C” a 4-point scale (A-D) as evaluated for the treatment of “depression”.





Uses based on scientific evidence


*Key to grades


A: Strong scientific evidence for this use;


B: Good scientific evidence for this use;


C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use;


D: Fair scientific evidence against this use;


F: Strong scientific evidence against this use.





http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdru…





High doses of 5-HTP are metabolized peripherally to serotonin and this can result in elevated serum levels of serotonin, with consequent adverse reactions related to the elevated levels (see Adverse Reactions). In Europe, where 5-HTP isused for the treatment of depression, it is used in combination with carbidopa, which inhibits the peripheral conversion of 5-HTPto serotonin.





MECHANISM OF ACTION


The mechanism of the possible antidepressant activity of 5-HTPis accounted for by its conversion to the neurotransmitter serotonin which plays a central role in the affective state. Antidepressants may work by either binding to one or more of the family of serotonin 5-HT receptors (5-HT1 -5-HT7) or by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin. Thetricyclic antidepressants may work, in part, by binding to the serotonin 5-HT6 receptor, a member of the G protein superfamily which is positively coupled to an adenylate cyclase second-messenger system. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) selectively inhibit the reuptake of serotonin. 5-HTP most likely binds to one or more of the 5-HT receptors, although which one(s) in not known for sure….





RESEARCH SUMMARY


Scattered studies have shown that supplemental 5-HTP has significant anti-depressant effects in some. In one double-blind, multi-center study, 5-HTP was said to have antidepressant effects slightly better than the SSRI fluvoxamine. Other studies have been more equivocal. One study indicated that 5-HTP is not effective in those whose depression is not responsive to serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). More rigorous, longer term studies are needed.





PRECAUTIONS


Large doses of 5-HTP can trigger excess serotonin formation in tissues other than the target organ and cause significant adverse reactions…





ADVERSE REACTIONS


Eosinophilia and eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS) have been reported in those taking 5-HTP…


Other reported side effects, include nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, vomiting and difficult breathing. Neurological side effects, including dilation of the pupils, abnormally sensitive reflexes, loss of muscle coordination and blurring of vision, have been reported in those taking large doses of 5-HTP. Cardiac dysrhythmias have also been reported.





DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION


Supplemental 5-HTP is not recommended. In Europe, a combination of 5-HTP with carbidopa is available, and this combination appears to have a safer profile. However, those who wish to use this combination product, must do so only under medical supervision and prescription. It has been found that doses of 100 milligrams to 2 grams daily are required to observe any desired effect. These doses, without concomitant carbidopa, can be dangerous in some (see Precautions). Lower doses, which are available as dietary supplements, are unlikely to have any desirable effect.

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