7 replies to this topic

[Seeker of Truth]

Hello, I've been taking the drug cymbalta for a while and have recently decided to wean off of it due to unwanted side effects, and the realization that I didn't really need it in the first place and don't want to be dependent on a drug.

 

Anyway, before I did have some minor problems with rumination and worry, but I feel they're even worse than they were before I started the drug now that I've started lowering the dosage. I'm looking for natural and cost-effective supplements to take to combat this. I'm becoming a complainer and I'm afraid of alienating people. Also, it's just annoying to let things bother me so much (a lot of my worry has to do with other people...however it's different than social anxiety as far as I understand because I have no problems interacting).

 

Anyway, I've been trying 5-htp and it's definitely not helping enough. I'm also diagnosed with ADD-inattentive so I wonder if part of what was helping me was the norepinephrine effects of the Cymbalta which can help with focusing on the present moment. I have some NAC which I took yesterday, but that didn't help with the OCD-ish ruminations either (however, it may be the effects of NAC are cumulative). Reason I mention NAC is that they've been researching it for OCD.

 

Anyway, I'm not sure what to try now. 5-htp should have helped fairly quickly and I've been taking it the last several days. I don't know what to try...I just don't like how I'm thinking/acting because it's making my job miserable for me and possibly bothering those close to me.

 

Should I keep trying the NAC long term? Mine is from vitamin shoppe and it's pretty cost-effective for what you get so I'd be willing to try it for an extended period. I know this isn't caused by any other supplement, because nothing changed except for lowering the Cymbalta.

 

Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks! 

[Gorthaur]

5-HTP is not safe to combine with an SNRI or SSRI. You can take one or the other, but taking both puts you at risk for serotonin syndrome. 5-HTP is not an effective long-term solution for depression and anxiety, because you will develop tolerance in a matter of months.

 

Your symptoms sound a lot like SSRI discontinuation syndrome. Given your history of anxiety and depression, I'm confused as to why you would want to stop taking your medication. Do you have a psychiatrist who can work with you to find a better medication? For example, there's a new SSRI called Viibryd which doesn't cause erectile dysfunction. Your depression also might be helped by a low dose of bupropion. My strongest recommendation, however, is to try the antidepressant Tianeptine, which you can get online without a prescription. 

 

As for NAC, its effects are only a drop in the ocean when it comes to treating OCD. Natural supplements like Bacopa or Ashwagandha will work a lot better, but in my experience there's no substitute for a prescription-strength drug like Tianeptine. 

[EfeitoPlacebo]

Lithium Orotate 5 mg a day worked for me. You can take up to 6 tablets a day, 4 tablets/day works well for me. 

[Anewlife]

Why no therapy? Your not gonna cure ocd with only some supplement.

[Seeker of Truth]

Hmmm, well thanks for reminding me about tianeptine. I've heard of it and it sounded like it could be helpful...how much does it cost? My friend was suggesting I take Saint John's Wort as I'm weaning off. Also, has anyone heard of Berberine helping with mental health issues? I'll post back later to address why not therapy.

[Seeker of Truth]

The reason I asked not to suggest therapy...was that my problem is more of an overfocused/ruminative ADD. I don't have OCD, really. My stream of consciousness is cyclical...it's like I have little control over my thoughts and I'm worrying about the same things over and over again.

 

I've tried therapy and it's never been able to help me. I probably have some kind of ADD or high functioning autism (I actually was diagnosed with inattentive ADHD as a child). To give some perspective I've spent the last 15 minutes typing this post because my thinking is so muddy and I'm overthinking the way I'm phrasing things.

[Anewlife]

That sounds like ptsd. You need cbt and exercise.
Have you done a lot of drugs?
Does anyone in your immediate family have schizophrenia?

[Babychris]

Tianeptine didn't help in any way concerning the treatment of OCD, it could but I had a strange feeling in my head lettin me feel a bit tired/unmotivated/not natural that I didn't like. 

 

 

Ashwagandha makes me weird and tired too.