Any luck with non-prescription anti-depressants?

Tiki Bar · Post by **Tiki Bar** » March 1, 2008 8:30 am

And no, I'm not talking about alcoholic beverages!

Do drug stores sell over-the-counter anti-depressants or mood enhancers? Or are there herbal or wholistic formulas that anyone has had luck with?

Thanks in advance.

dnw · Post by **dnw** » March 1, 2008 8:45 am

No luck here.

FunkHouse9 · Post by **FunkHouse9** » March 1, 2008 10:09 am

I don't know of any, but I'd definitely be interested if anyone else does.

horseyparrot · Post by **horseyparrot** » March 1, 2008 10:13 am

People have talked about St. John's Wort........but it really can interact with other medicines you take and also just plain cause some health problems. So I don't know about that one.

I have taken Ginseng and Ginko........ginseng is supposed to give energy and ginko memory help, and 'other' kind of energy...

.....I can't really say that i've ever noticed a difference.

I have tried a Shaklee product that seemed to help w/ stress/cortisol blunting. I liked it quite a bit, but it's REALLY expensive. My doctor actually endorsed the Shaklee stuff, and she's a tough sell.

Echinacea, however, DOES certainly help against the common cold, IMO. Beyond that, I haven't tried much. So I'd be interested in hearing what people say, too.

We were jus talking at work (i work at a doc's office) about a study that was talking about how people are cropping up who are very Vitamin B deficient......WHich you mainly get from the sun. Kids are even getting Ricketts again (where the bones curve) due to lack of this vitamin. Soooo, lack of Vitamin B can also make you feel pretty down.

Me, it's just a lack of sunshine and warm weather. VERY tired of winter.

sunseeker · Post by **sunseeker** » March 1, 2008 10:13 am

LOL!

Tiki...I almost deleted this...thought it was spam when I saw "non prescriptive"

blackjack · Post by **blackjack** » March 1, 2008 10:18 am

A good long swim or run on the treadmill used to make me feel better. But it's been a while since I've done that.

Also, laying on a sunny beach does wonders.

BrianM · Post by **BrianM** » March 1, 2008 10:19 am

Stick to the alcololic types, there's quite a variety and you can get them anywhere.

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » March 1, 2008 10:47 am

I've used St. John's Wort.

It seems to help me, but I don't use it for long---maybe a few weeks at a time.

Good Luck!

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » March 1, 2008 11:01 am

I don't know much about OTC anti-depressents per se, but on my gluten-free mommy board there are a number of parents who treat their children's add/adhd/autism/rage disorders/bipolar disorder with a gluten-free (and sometimes also dairy-free) diet. A year ago if I'd have heard someone say that, I'd think I was nuts (and I probably am a little). However, there are proven links between relief of schizophrenic symptoms with a gluten-free diet.

However, many of these parents swear the change in their child's personality is like night and day when gluten and dairy are removed.

Aside from that, taking vitamin B12 sublingually is a lifesaver for us. It helps with mental astuteness and several other things.

I'm just going off what I know I've read the last year or so, if you want I can try and find some links to be more specific (still haven't had my morning coffee yet).

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » March 1, 2008 11:02 am

As not to be too vague, here is one story about the benefits of gluten-free and treating depression: http://neurologicalillness.suite101.com ... limination.

Cubbie Bear · Post by **Cubbie Bear** » March 1, 2008 12:33 pm

DON"T

-Don't try and diagnos yourself

-Don't try and treat yourself

If you feel you need some help and everything is just getting to complicated, talk with someone. There are plenty of ways from not for profit groups to your local clergy. Hell, I was a psychology major for a semester (true it was the semester I had the 1.2 GPA), talk to me

You are too important to us, and especially your loved ones that depend on you.

Dr Cub prescribes a Hackney Burger, an onion loaf all to yourself and a cold frosty beverage of choice, then call me in the morning

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » March 1, 2008 12:43 pm

horseyparrot wrote:We were jus talking at work (i work at a doc's office) about a study that was talking about how people are cropping up who are very Vitamin B deficient......WHich you mainly get from the sun. Kids are even getting Ricketts again (where the bones curve) due to lack of this vitamin. Soooo, lack of Vitamin B can also make you feel pretty down.

a serious Vitamin B deficiency can be life-threatening. Vit B feeds your entire nervous system, including the nerves that cause your heart to beat. And lack of B can cause mood issues anywhere from crankiness to dementia, depending how bad it is. B doesn't come from the sun, however. That's Vit D. Vit B comes mostly from meat. Sublingual B is great for most people but in some the body doesn't absorb it correctly and you need injections (monthy, weekly, depending).

Hopefully doctors will start taking a closer look at Vitamin deficiencies and the cause... (For instance, if you don't absorb B, you can take it all day, but it won't work without injections.)

IMHO anyone with depression issues, major or minor, should be tested for B levels....

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » March 1, 2008 1:09 pm

I strongly suggest that anyone taking ANY medicine google the medicine name and the word sides. You'll find tons of info, some you doctor may not be aware of. My doc and I discussed the stop smoking drug chantix and I told her I had already heard too many negative sides from it and would not take it, she was unaware of any negative sides. At the beginning of Feb the FDA but out an advisory about it, almost 2 years after it was released to the public.

I found this site to be helpful on St John's wart http://www.personalhealthzone.com/stjohnswort.html

Things jumped out at me first was the list of things to avoid - Amphetamines; asthma inhalants; beer, coffee, wine; chocolate, fava beans, salami, smoked or pickled foods, and yogurt; cold or hay fever medicines; diet pills; narcotics; nasal decongestants. They all contain chemicals that react adversely to hypericin, causing high blood pressure and nausea.

Some of the sides listed were High blood pressure, headaches, stiff neck, nausea, and vomiting. In the fair-skinned, it can exacerbate sunburn and cause blistering after sun exposure.

These aren't the only sides to considered listed on that site anyone considering taking this should do so under the direction of a Naturopathic doctor or herbalist.

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » March 1, 2008 1:13 pm

Essential fatty acids found in fish oil, evening primrose oil, flaxseed oil, etc can do a world of good. Our grandmothers were right... Cod liver oil is good for you....

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » March 1, 2008 1:15 pm

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:Essential fatty acids found in fish oil, evening primrose oil, flaxseed oil, etc can do a world of good. Our grandmothers were right... Cod liver oil is good for you....

yea but Grandma didn't have it in pill form either

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » March 1, 2008 1:16 pm

ph4ever wrote:I strongly suggest that anyone taking ANY medicine google the medicine name and the word sides. You'll find tons of info, some you doctor may not be aware of. My doc and I discussed the stop smoking drug chantix and I told her I had already heard too many negative sides from it and would not take it, she was unaware of any negative sides. At the beginning of Feb the FDA but out an advisory about it, almost 2 years after it was released to the public.

I found this site to be helpful on St John's wart http://www.personalhealthzone.com/stjohnswort.html

Things jumped out at me first was the list of things to avoid - Amphetamines; asthma inhalants; beer, coffee, wine; chocolate, fava beans, salami, smoked or pickled foods, and yogurt; cold or hay fever medicines; diet pills; narcotics; nasal decongestants. They all contain chemicals that react adversely to hypericin, causing high blood pressure and nausea.

Some of the sides listed were High blood pressure, headaches, stiff neck, nausea, and vomiting. In the fair-skinned, it can exacerbate sunburn and cause blistering after sun exposure.

These aren't the only sides to considered listed on that site anyone considering taking this should do so under the direction of a Naturopathic doctor or herbalist.

WOW Connie---I had no idea.
I had looked about St John's wort before, but didn't see any of these---especially ASTHMA INHALERS.

Mine in my life line

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » March 1, 2008 1:28 pm

springparrot wrote:
ph4ever wrote:I strongly suggest that anyone taking ANY medicine google the medicine name and the word sides. You'll find tons of info, some you doctor may not be aware of. My doc and I discussed the stop smoking drug chantix and I told her I had already heard too many negative sides from it and would not take it, she was unaware of any negative sides. At the beginning of Feb the FDA but out an advisory about it, almost 2 years after it was released to the public.

I found this site to be helpful on St John's wart http://www.personalhealthzone.com/stjohnswort.html

Things jumped out at me first was the list of things to avoid - Amphetamines; asthma inhalants; beer, coffee, wine; chocolate, fava beans, salami, smoked or pickled foods, and yogurt; cold or hay fever medicines; diet pills; narcotics; nasal decongestants. They all contain chemicals that react adversely to hypericin, causing high blood pressure and nausea.

Some of the sides listed were High blood pressure, headaches, stiff neck, nausea, and vomiting. In the fair-skinned, it can exacerbate sunburn and cause blistering after sun exposure.

These aren't the only sides to considered listed on that site anyone considering taking this should do so under the direction of a Naturopathic doctor or herbalist.
WOW Connie---I had no idea.
I had looked about St John's wort before, but didn't see any of these---especially ASTHMA INHALERS.
Mine in my life line

I thought about you when I read that. I was also shocked by the fact it can affect anesthesia as well. If I'm getting cut on I want to be dadgum sure I'm OUT.

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » March 1, 2008 1:31 pm

ph4ever wrote:
springparrot wrote:
ph4ever wrote:I strongly suggest that anyone taking ANY medicine google the medicine name and the word sides. You'll find tons of info, some you doctor may not be aware of. My doc and I discussed the stop smoking drug chantix and I told her I had already heard too many negative sides from it and would not take it, she was unaware of any negative sides. At the beginning of Feb the FDA but out an advisory about it, almost 2 years after it was released to the public.

I found this site to be helpful on St John's wart http://www.personalhealthzone.com/stjohnswort.html

Things jumped out at me first was the list of things to avoid - Amphetamines; asthma inhalants; beer, coffee, wine; chocolate, fava beans, salami, smoked or pickled foods, and yogurt; cold or hay fever medicines; diet pills; narcotics; nasal decongestants. They all contain chemicals that react adversely to hypericin, causing high blood pressure and nausea.

Some of the sides listed were High blood pressure, headaches, stiff neck, nausea, and vomiting. In the fair-skinned, it can exacerbate sunburn and cause blistering after sun exposure.

These aren't the only sides to considered listed on that site anyone considering taking this should do so under the direction of a Naturopathic doctor or herbalist.
WOW Connie---I had no idea.
I had looked about St John's wort before, but didn't see any of these---especially ASTHMA INHALERS.
Mine in my life line
I thought about you when I read that. I was also shocked by the fact it can affect anesthesia as well. If I'm getting cut on I want to be dadgum sure I'm OUT.

e-yup!!!!

parrothead216 · Post by **parrothead216** » March 1, 2008 1:46 pm

horseyparrot wrote:People have talked about St. John's Wort........but it really can interact with other medicines you take and also just plain cause some health problems. So I don't know about that one.

St. Johns Wort is a natural herbal supplement that can help with depression, but usually takes about 2 weeks or so to see a difference. It works in the system like a MAO inhibitor, so you should avoid taking it with any prescription medication that restricts there use with MAO inhibitors. It can be very safe, but you need to use a quality product and follow directons. It SHOULD NOT be taken with other anti-depressents.

I have taken Ginseng and Ginko........ginseng is supposed to give energy and ginko memory help, and 'other' kind of energy... .....I can't really say that i've ever noticed a difference. I have tried a Shaklee product that seemed to help w/ stress/cortisol blunting. I liked it quite a bit, but it's REALLY expensive. My doctor actually endorsed the Shaklee stuff, and she's a tough sell.

Herbal supplements do not work like prescription medicines. They take longer to see the results. A good rule of thumb is to take a herbal supplement for, 1 day for each year of our age, so if your 30, you take it 30 days. If you are going to try different herbal products......READ and become knowledgable. DO NOT just take them, you need to know what you are doing.

As for Shakelee product....they are good products, but tend to be more expensive because the products are sold through multi-levels distributors.
You probably can replicate their product, fairly closely, in a good quality health food store.

Echinacea, however, DOES certainly help against the common cold, IMO. Beyond that, I haven't tried much. So I'd be interested in hearing what people say, too.

Echinacea, doesn't help with the common cold, it helps to strengthen the immune system, Vitamin C is important against colds.

BTW, Judy and I have worked in the nutritional health industry in the past (over 10 years)and have supplemented most of our lives.

We were jus talking at work (i work at a doc's office) about a study that was talking about how people are cropping up who are very Vitamin B deficient......WHich you mainly get from the sun. Kids are even getting Ricketts again (where the bones curve) due to lack of this vitamin. Soooo, lack of Vitamin B can also make you feel pretty down.

First of all there is NOT just one B vitamin. There are about 11 different types. B vitamins are NOT derived from the Sun, that is Vitamin D. When a person is under stress, the first thing that you lose are your water soluble vitamins, those include the B vitamins. Also, B vitamins are not stored in the body, so they must be replenished everyday. All the B vitamins work together in the body, so you should take a B Complex and then additional amounts of the appropiate B vitamins to address your particular difficencies .

If there is a study about being Vitamin B deficient, it is probably because of the level of stress we live with daily.

Here is a link to some info about B vitamins:

http://www.pbraunmd.org/why.htm

The Lack of VITAMIN D causes Rickets, that is the condition that causes a softening and weaking of the bones.

Here is a link to a description of Rickets:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency ... 000344.htm

If you want to know about that condition.

Me, it's just a lack of sunshine and warm weather. VERY tired of winter.

12vmanRick · Post by **12vmanRick** » March 1, 2008 2:00 pm

Try marijuana, it works for me