15 replies to this topic

[KieranA001]

Hi,

 

Can someone please explain what's going on with my Neurotransmitter levels. I suffer from brain fog / poor concentration, memory, social phobia, low self-esteem, depression and am very pessimistic about life and myself.

 

I have brought various supplements in the past but have always thought Norepinephrine has a role in my symptoms. I brought some dl-phenylalanine three days ago because I've heard about the wonderful reviews about it. For me, it just makes me really depressed, sad to the point I'd be really emotional and cry.

 

I remember having the same effects I used to have when I brought a stimulant that increases Norepinephrine. Apart from I don't get the heart palpitations with the dl-phenylalanine.

 

I have brought some 5-HTP online which seems to really work wonders for the depression, after a couple days on 5-HTP my moods are so much better. Despite the sleepiness. My question though mainly is what do you think is causing my symptoms and how do I treat my concentration levels ? I really want my image sharpness levels and mental clarity back again.

[jack black]

from your description it sounds like high NE, low 5HT state indeed. if the question is what causes it, then it's not easy to answer. you can always check for common offenders, like poor diet (including gluten sensitivity), excessive stress, substance abuse, genetics, etc.

[KieranA001]

from your description it sounds like high NE, low 5HT state indeed. if the question is what causes it, then it's not easy to answer. you can always check for common offenders, like poor diet (including gluten sensitivity), excessive stress, substance abuse, genetics, etc.

 

The thing that confuses me is that I thought low NE causes brain fog. If I "somehow" decrease my NE levels do you think it will help with my brain fog / concentration levels.

 

I have noticed that once before when my brain fog did go away, I felt very anxious the day before. It seems a neurotransmitter involved in causing anxiety also fixes my brain fog. This brain fog doesn't go away often, went away last time was four years ago! Felt clearheaded for about two days before my clouded judgment / concentration came back. 

 

Do you think it would still be beneficial to keep taking the dl-phenylalanine despite the negative side effects. Maybe it's just the starting effects of taking it?

 

Thanks

[Heisok]

KieranA001, It is unfortunate what you are going through. I can not speak to the science or your other choices.

 

My personal experience with periodically using DL-Phenylalanine over the last 30 plus years is that it acts quickly to help relieve depression. It tends toward the activating side of mood as opposed to what you seem to have experienced. I do not know if it is right for whatever issue you are having. What dosing were you using? The usual steady dose I end up with was 500 mg per day, once in the A.M. By experiment, I found that 1 day at 1.5 grams, 1 day at 1 gram, and then 500 mg's per day from there seems to work best for me.

 

Good luck!

 

I want to add that I quickly had a poor response to 5-HTP perhaps due to excess serotonin.

Edited by Heisok, 05 October 2016 - 11:16 PM.

[Heisok]

KieranA001, I want to be sure to emphasize that the main point of my post above was that the DL-Phenylalanine might simply not be right for you.

Going back a little on the forum, I think that you have been trying various substances. Maybe for years now?  Is it possible that you are causing some of your symptoms to be worse either by side effects from substances or interactions between substances ? (some have reported  anxiety from NSI-189) Alcohol or other mood altering drugs? The daylight hours are getting shorter. Looking back is there some seasonality to your mood?  If you are close to a crisis situation maybe it is time to step back from trying to do this your way? Get off of "supplements",  eat healthier, exercise and get professional help soon.  Have you seen a specialist or is it a General Practitioner who you have gotten help from in the past? If you have not seen a specialist, perhaps it is time. I am not saying that they have the ultimate answer, but starting at square one might help you to figure out what the underlying issue or chemical imbalance is, and go from there.

 

 

 

[jack black]

 

 

The thing that confuses me is that I thought low NE causes brain fog. If I "somehow" decrease my NE levels do you think it will help with my brain fog / concentration levels.

 

 

my understanding is a lot of receptors show inverted bathtub reactivity, ie too much of the good thing is often as bad as too little.
 

[oolongmonkey]

 

from your description it sounds like high NE, low 5HT state indeed. if the question is what causes it, then it's not easy to answer. you can always check for common offenders, like poor diet (including gluten sensitivity), excessive stress, substance abuse, genetics, etc.

 

The thing that confuses me is that I thought low NE causes brain fog. If I "somehow" decrease my NE levels do you think it will help with my brain fog / concentration levels.

 

I have noticed that once before when my brain fog did go away, I felt very anxious the day before. It seems a neurotransmitter involved in causing anxiety also fixes my brain fog. This brain fog doesn't go away often, went away last time was four years ago! Felt clearheaded for about two days before my clouded judgment / concentration came back. 

 

Do you think it would still be beneficial to keep taking the dl-phenylalanine despite the negative side effects. Maybe it's just the starting effects of taking it?

 

Thanks

 

I am going through something similar. I've had one moment relief in 5 years. It seems to get worse with stress and anxiety which leads me to believe its tied to the HPA axis.

[KieranA001]

 

 

from your description it sounds like high NE, low 5HT state indeed. if the question is what causes it, then it's not easy to answer. you can always check for common offenders, like poor diet (including gluten sensitivity), excessive stress, substance abuse, genetics, etc.

 

The thing that confuses me is that I thought low NE causes brain fog. If I "somehow" decrease my NE levels do you think it will help with my brain fog / concentration levels.

 

I have noticed that once before when my brain fog did go away, I felt very anxious the day before. It seems a neurotransmitter involved in causing anxiety also fixes my brain fog. This brain fog doesn't go away often, went away last time was four years ago! Felt clearheaded for about two days before my clouded judgment / concentration came back. 

 

Do you think it would still be beneficial to keep taking the dl-phenylalanine despite the negative side effects. Maybe it's just the starting effects of taking it?

 

Thanks

 

I am going through something similar. I've had one moment relief in 5 years. It seems to get worse with stress and anxiety which leads me to believe its tied to the HPA axis.

 

 

Well fingers crossed we can find a treatment for this in the near future as it's driving me mad. It really gets me down, I just cannot think and my vision/brain feels drunk or like a perminant hangover without the headache. 
 

[psychejunkie]

seems like you're suffering from major depression with self-harm potential. 

Please visit an psychiatrist, you need a professional help.

[KieranA001]

seems like you're suffering from major depression with self-harm potential.
Please visit an psychiatrist, you need a professional help.

At what point in my messages did I say I wanted to self-harm... If you're not here to help then don't comment at all

[psychejunkie]

 

seems like you're suffering from major depression with self-harm potential.
Please visit an psychiatrist, you need a professional help.

At what point in my messages did I say I wanted to self-harm... If you're not here to help then don't comment at all

 

 

first of all I said "potential".

 

second:

 

 

depression and am very pessimistic about life and myself

 

 

third, I actually feel like I am the only one that really want to help, instead of throwing supplements and drugs blindly at you without any professional education or experience.

open your eyes bro, you should visit an psychiatrist for solving your problem, not here.

 

 

Edited by psychejunkie, 03 December 2016 - 08:29 AM.

[KieranA001]

seems like you're suffering from major depression with self-harm potential.
Please visit an psychiatrist, you need a professional help.

At what point in my messages did I say I wanted to self-harm... If you're not here to help then don't comment at all

first of all I said "potential".

second:

depression and am very pessimistic about life and myself

third, I actually feel like I am the only one that really want to help, instead of throwing supplements and drugs blindly at you without any professional education or experience.
open your eyes bro, you should visit an psychiatrist for solving your problem, not here.

Okay I guess it's probably just me taking it the wrong way slightly, but I'm never a fan on any form of "talk" therapy, because I don't see how it could be of any benefit. I could just be suffering a symptom of a deficiency or imbalance somewhere.

Just because I'm depressed, doesn't mean I'd ever think of self harming. It's more of an apathy that I have. Just no enjoyment out of life, it feels pointless but I still feel something might become out of it.

Thank you for your help I appreciate your insights.

[psychejunkie]

seems like you're suffering from major depression with self-harm potential.
Please visit an psychiatrist, you need a professional help.

At what point in my messages did I say I wanted to self-harm... If you're not here to help then don't comment at all

first of all I said "potential".

second:

depression and am very pessimistic about life and myself

third, I actually feel like I am the only one that really want to help, instead of throwing supplements and drugs blindly at you without any professional education or experience.
open your eyes bro, you should visit an psychiatrist for solving your problem, not here.

Okay I guess it's probably just me taking it the wrong way slightly, but I'm never a fan on any form of "talk" therapy, because I don't see how it could be of any benefit. I could just be suffering a symptom of a deficiency or imbalance somewhere.

Just because I'm depressed, doesn't mean I'd ever think of self harming. It's more of an apathy that I have. Just no enjoyment out of life, it feels pointless but I still feel something might become out of it.

Thank you for your help I appreciate your insights.

Hey,

this is called Blunt Emotions, usually the symptom of not enough Dopamine or high levels of Acetylcholine. you can try something dopaminergic like mucuna

I didnt mean talk therapy but professionally prescribed medicine. though psychiatrists usually prescribe SSRIs first, then they move on with other options (some patients dont have SSRI responding depression)


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[jack black]

I'm never a fan on any form of "talk" therapy, because I don't see how it could be of any benefit.

 

 

LOL, once i went to psychologist who did the "talk" therapy, huge waste of time and money. i can talk as much as i want to my family and friends and that helps only a little bit. talking to a stranger who does it for money and lacks empathy makes things worse in my case.
 

[KieranA001]

Hey,

this is called Blunt Emotions, usually the symptom of not enough Dopamine or high levels of Acetylcholine. you can try something dopaminergic like mucuna

I didnt mean talk therapy but professionally prescribed medicine. though psychiatrists usually prescribe SSRIs first, then they move on with other options (some patients dont have SSRI responding depression)

I have already tried mucuna, it is very good with my mood, although I stopped taking it as it really made me spacey, kinda like what I'm feeling with my brain fog issues. The best two "drugs" I've used, would have to be buspirone for my whole anxiety / coming out my shell again. (As most of the time I'm in a walking daze).

Also, ginkgo biloba, used to help me well with my mental clarity / brain fog. It didn't get rid of it but helped like 10% of it.

Thank you

[psychejunkie]

 

Hey,

this is called Blunt Emotions, usually the symptom of not enough Dopamine or high levels of Acetylcholine. you can try something dopaminergic like mucuna

I didnt mean talk therapy but professionally prescribed medicine. though psychiatrists usually prescribe SSRIs first, then they move on with other options (some patients dont have SSRI responding depression)

I have already tried mucuna, it is very good with my mood, although I stopped taking it as it really made me spacey, kinda like what I'm feeling with my brain fog issues. The best two "drugs" I've used, would have to be buspirone for my whole anxiety / coming out my shell again. (As most of the time I'm in a walking daze).

Also, ginkgo biloba, used to help me well with my mental clarity / brain fog. It didn't get rid of it but helped like 10% of it.

Thank you

 

 

Buspirone is the best kind of drug for your problems, it decreases Serotonin activity while increasing Dopamine.

you can also try Bacopa along with Buspirone.

 

Good luck