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Posted 9/5/2006 6:45 AM (GMT -8)

Hi All-

I am new here.  I recently started a program for my depression and anxiety with amino acid therapy.  I was taking some SSRI's and developed a tolerence, suddenly it just wasn't working as well as before.  So I looked up this program for natural neurotransmitter balancing where they find you neurotransmitter levels through a urine test and then the CN suggests a protocol of amino acids to "naturally" balance your levels. I did this online with a CN. I was in shock when I saw how low my levels were- no wonder I was feeling so down.  I have slowly gotten off the drugs and am feeling so much better.  My depression has defenenlty subsided greatly.

I am wondering if anyone else has had success with natural therapies such as this?

I am always looking for alternitive ways to help myself and my family.

eyes  Annie

Posted 9/5/2006 3:18 PM (GMT -8)

Hi HealthlyAnnie, First welcome to healing well forum.

Neurotransmitter levels are broken down into two types excitatory and inhibitory which Serotonin can be both of.  When you are discussing "Natural Neurotransmitter Balancing" I am assuming that you are referring to the taking of vitamins that are "supposedly" mixed for just this reason…such as amino acids, Vitamin C, Folic acids, B1 and so on.  I am glad that your feeling better but vitamins of this nature very seldom have a long lasting effect of helping with chronic depression.  Please do be careful when taking these kinds of things.  Take care.... 

Posted 9/8/2006 7:40 AM (GMT -8)
Hello,

I am new here but I had to find another place to ask questions.  I have sufferered from depression on and off my whole life -- however, I think therapy helped me get through some of the dysunction relationships that just aggregated it.  I had been on prozac for a long time and  I functioned well but seemed to eventually grow a tolerance.  My doctor changed me to Effexor and this was much better and I have been very stable on it.  However, all the meds I have been on have totally prevented me from enjoying sexual expereinces -- its blocks every feeling and makes satisfaction impossible.  I recently wanted to do something that would help me now that I am in a healthy and loving relationship.  He changed me to Wellbutrin and overnight the side effects threw me for a scarry loop.  So dizzy I could not drive, I ran into walls and the world seemed to move around me, no concentration, no sleep (3 hrs max), I am still dizzy to the point where people at work thought yesterday I was having a stroke.  Understanding conversation was nearly impossible.

I have decided I'd rather go off antidepressants completly than go through this.  I am not sure any of them can help keep me up and out of the dark hole and also allow me to have a good sex life.  Can anyone give me some ideas?  Thank you.

Posted 9/8/2006 7:50 AM (GMT -8)
My CN told me that the effects of the amino acids (inhibitory and excitatory) are long lasting since they rebuild neurotransmitters and many drugs depelete them.  I have been retested several times since the inital test and my levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, gaba, ect... Have improved greatly, I still have some depression but no where near the sadness I felt prior to the program and being on the SSRI's. 

I hope others can benifit from this.  I was on many different anti depressants for years and I never really felt GREAT on any of them.  Even with therapy I was doing. 

Take care,

Annie

 

Posted 9/8/2006 8:51 AM (GMT -8)
Healthy Annie (love the name) you said that you did this online? What site were you on?  My email is available and I would appreciate you sending the link to me.  I want to investigate.  Thank you and welcome.

Posted 9/9/2006 2:41 AM (GMT -8)

I have some very strong concerns of continuing this thread here.  One of them, is that there is no solid evidence anywhere that through a simple UA test can a physician find if your neurotransmitter levels are low.  If this was the case then all of us would of been having this done before being treated and during continuing treatment for depression to check the levels.  It doesn’t make any sense.  The only factual way to find if a person is low in serotonin is to do a Lumbar Puncture (5-HIAA) which looks for the breakdown of serotonin in the cerebral spinal fluid.  This is not done is most cases as it is considered an invasive procedure.  The DSM-IV has criteria for diagnosing depression without having to do this type of procedure.  Lastly, if you have done all this online I am curious as to how you were able to get your urine to them?  You have to have a prescription and go to a laboratory to do a UA test, which performs the testing on it.

I am happy for you if this type of treatment has worked for you...but I am very uncomfortable with the possibility that someone could become influenced to try this type of "treatment" inlew of what their own physicians have recommended.
Posted 9/9/2006 7:11 AM (GMT -8)
You have a point, Elisha, several points actually.  Just because a particular theory, or treatment, works for one does not mean it is appropriate for all - or that it is approved by the medical community, much less standard practice.

However .. many of us are willing to try most anything, grasp at any straw, and consider all alternatives when convential treatments aren't working well for us. 

Is it a scam?  A get rich quick for some quack, preying on the desperate consumer?  Is it a "magic pill" mind over matter placebo effect?  Does it matter - Annie feels better!

While I know Healing Well cannot advocate unsound practices, I'm glad to know one person found something that works for her, at least for the time being.

Is it for me?  Probably not, but still interesting.   :-)

Posted 9/9/2006 3:12 PM (GMT -8)
I hope this thread has not been banned and I am able to post on it..I remember reading an article about this in a Womans magazine...where it was written by a Gynecologist..she stated that she puts people on an "Amino Acid" mix for depression and she is able to monitor their neurotransmitter levels..but I can't remember what test she said she used. It all sounded too good to be true. Anyway, she gave these women Amino Acid protocol for their depression..and it sounded like one can only get these amino acids through her..instead of a health food store, etc. That made me a bit concerned, as I felt she was trying to sell amino acids to make money...by saying that this can cure or help with depression. I am wondering if she meant people with mild or situational depression?

I used to take SAM-e (an over the counter supplement - Amino Acid)..took it for three years and was doing great on it..and depression free..then one day..my depression came back worse then ever..where I had to be hospitalized. I was told by the Doctors/Psychiatrists there..that Amino Acids and other supplements (used alone for depression) were not very good for people with serious or chronic depression. I also went in to the health food store..and the clerk/owner there told me that amino acids were not meant to be taken for long periods of time..that many were taken by body builders. It is all very confusing, which is why I suggest research..research..research..ask questions..not only with your medical doctor..but Psychiatrists and reputable online clinics such as Mayo clinic, etc.
Posted 9/10/2006 7:41 AM (GMT -8)
Hi Rianna, this thread hasnt been banned (or locked) as you know now since you were able to post to it.  Thank you for your input to this subject as you have made some very good points.  I hope that it can be of some help to others when considering alternative threatments.  Take care
Posted 9/11/2006 2:21 AM (GMT -8)
i'm glad this isn't banned...we need to see the hope too, thank you for the caution...i'll keep it in mind, my mother tried alot of natural approaches as cures without success. it doesn't work for everyone i'm glad it worked for annie, i wonder if it would work for me i'll ask my dr

32 years
Posted 9/11/2006 11:58 AM (GMT -8)
I would simply like to suggest to srw98444 that you should start you own thread. You have issues that can be better addressed if not burried in another non-realted thread. Just my$.02
Posted 9/13/2006 2:23 AM (GMT -8)
Hi ya tase, that is a wonderful suggest for srw...I did cross post a new thread for them a few days ago so their questions wouldnt get buried in this one...as you know it is so easy to do.  Thank you for caring... :-)
Posted 9/14/2006 12:09 PM (GMT -8)
Your right certin things work for certin people, I did not like being on drugs and this worked for me as well as many other people. It is FDA approved and a simple urine test can test for serotonin levels, norepinephrine, epinephrine, gluatmate, PEA, GABA, dopamine, creatine, and histamine. In my opinion, I would rather see my ranges from a lab then just what the psychiatrist thinks I have. In order to get the normative range for these levels there have been over 60,000 tests generated to gather normative data (I was told by my CN). There are particular programs in which Clinicans become ceritfied to balance neurotransmitters. You can purchase amino acids at health food stores, but you may not know your levels and some of them I am told are not recommended for people with paritcular disorders.
I am not advocating that meds dont help, they just didn't work well for me. I have friends who have had great results with SSRI's and so forth. There is a lot of research (medical) out there that supports amino acid therapy, and that a urnie test does test for these amino acids.
The urine test was sent to me then sent to a lab in Germany. The results came via email and I was able to get a consult with the CN.

Some of the research I have found is as follows:
https://neurorelief.com/newsletterarchive.php?issue=493
and number 1 and 5. I am not affiliated with this company in anyway but it has some interesting studies.
I am not sure if this is okay to put please let me know if I cannot post this.
Posted 9/14/2006 2:11 PM (GMT -8)
Elisha, I understand your concerns but no one is saying that you endorse this research but I think that this is a valid bit of research. There is still so much that medical science does not know about how we work. Like antidepressants, neurotransmitter therapy is not going to be for everyone but those of us that are interested should have access to the resources brough here. I would hate to think that this is a place where new ideas are squashed. There are just too many of us that have not benefitted from "traditional" therapies to scoff at new ones. Never forget, they laughed at the idea of using mold to fight infections and now we call it Penicillin. It was the miracle cure of it's time.
Posted 9/15/2006 2:56 AM (GMT -8)

stronglady4me said...
Elisha, I understand your concerns but no one is saying that you endorse this research but I think that this is a valid bit of research. There is still so much that medical science does not know about how we work. Like antidepressants, neurotransmitter therapy is not going to be for everyone but those of us that are interested should have access to the resources brough here. I would hate to think that this is a place where new ideas are squashed. There are just too many of us that have not benefitted from "traditional" therapies to scoff at new ones. Never forget, they laughed at the idea of using mold to fight infections and now we call it Penicillin. It was the miracle cure of it's time.

Stonglady, I don’t believe that you do entirely understand my concerns here...

For one thing, with Annie's last post she has cleared up some "grey" areas for me especially as to how the UA test was performed.  Secondly, I did my research before posting to ensure that my understanding of urine testing was correct.

My intent was not to "squash" new ideas and treatments but simply to insure that this thread stayed within the forum rules and guidelines. 

Posted 9/16/2006 3:07 PM (GMT -8)
I think my only hesitation in going to a clinician to have my urine tested and going on "amino acid therapy"..is the high "mark-up" they may have on Amino Acids and only having to go on the ones they have ..then what happens when the Amino Acids stop working? Are these clinicians really experts in Amino Acids and how much to take for people with depression? Do they really understand depression and its complexities? What about people who are bi-polar..or are the Amino Acids only for depression? I may have to look further in to this and do some research.
Posted 9/20/2006 8:56 AM (GMT -8)
The CN I went to was certified in neurotransmitter balancing and has been involved in many clinical studies that validate the findings of amino acid therapy. She also has a degree in mental health there for I felt that she understood my depression and anxiety. I was extreemly hesitent and understand your concern regarding the specialization of this field, thats why I did a ton of research before starting the program. The reason the amino acids helped with my depression is that they rebuild neurotransmitters; although drugs help, when you go off they depelete the neurotransmitters they are attempting to reuptake. I am not saying that drugs dont work at all, for me I just didn't want to be on them for the rest of my life. And after being on three different ones and having three plateau periods I was fed up. I am just giving another option for people who were/are like me and fed up with the drugs. I beleive in meds-absolutly- but some are not for me.
Posted 9/26/2006 8:17 PM (GMT -8)

Hello srw98444,

I've been on SSRI for 15 years and probably tried them all! Prozac took the depression away but also the orgasms. On Paxil I was bumping into doorframes for 2 or 3 weeks and gained 25 pounds. Wellbutrin affect the norepinephrine (fight or flight response) so I was not depressed but very active and *****y! The one with the least side effects is Celexa for me. (No sexual problems) The doctor tried me on Lexapro saying it's the same thing but it didn't feel the same at all. So I was back on Celexa. It's a frustrating time while you try to find your best choice but it's worth it in the end when you can enjoy life again. Best of luck, Lilibug

srw98444 said...
Hello,

I am new here but I had to find another place to ask questions.  I have sufferered from depression on and off my whole life -- however, I think therapy helped me get through some of the dysunction relationships that just aggregated it.  I had been on prozac for a long time and  I functioned well but seemed to eventually grow a tolerance.  My doctor changed me to Effexor and this was much better and I have been very stable on it.  However, all the meds I have been on have totally prevented me from enjoying sexual expereinces -- its blocks every feeling and makes satisfaction impossible.  I recently wanted to do something that would help me now that I am in a healthy and loving relationship.  He changed me to Wellbutrin and overnight the side effects threw me for a scarry loop.  So dizzy I could not drive, I ran into walls and the world seemed to move around me, no concentration, no sleep (3 hrs max), I am still dizzy to the point where people at work thought yesterday I was having a stroke.  Understanding conversation was nearly impossible.

I have decided I'd rather go off antidepressants completly than go through this.  I am not sure any of them can help keep me up and out of the dark hole and also allow me to have a good sex life.  Can anyone give me some ideas?  Thank you.

Posted 9/29/2006 9:47 AM (GMT -8)
Hi Lilbug,

I am reallly glad you found something that works for you.  I know about the stuggles of finding the right drug or program.

Take Care,

Annie :-)

Posted 9/29/2006 1:44 PM (GMT -8)
Wow! What a forum. Now with that said I'm glad HealthyAnnie, that you found something that might be working for you. At the same time I agree with Els that this type of treatment (Amino Acid) needs more investigation. We all have hopes for cures and that maybe someday one will be found.
This is kinda like when St. John's Wort first came out it was also, supposed to be a cure all. I would ask everyone reading this forum to do some fact finding and talking with their doctors before trying anything.
Good luck and hope this keeps working for you HealthyAnnie
yeah
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