Cycling Your Supplements
jdog 28 Apr 2007
The supplements I'm most interested in knowing cycling rules for (if there are any) are R-ALA, ALCAR, Piracetam, lecithin/choline, and a multi-vitamin. If someone wants to post a more comprehensive list of substances with their associated cycling methods, I certainly wouldn't be against that either.
Also, are there any criteria one can use to determine whether a supplement should be cycled in the first place? For example, direct neurotransmitter precursors should always be cycled.
Brainbox 28 Apr 2007
After having some issues with carnosine (quite severe histamine reactions that did develop slowly and undetected) I decided to generally cycle all the supps.
Wise to do? I don't know really. Not much information found on this, specifically the fact that people can have very individually determined reactions.
xanadu 28 Apr 2007
Shepard 28 Apr 2007
Brainbox 28 Apr 2007
Probably a general applicable frequency does not exist anyway...
Shepard 28 Apr 2007
Athanasios 28 Apr 2007
What would be a good general cycle frequency? Order of day's (like I'm doing now) or weeks maybe?
Probably a general applicable frequency does not exist anyway...
If I were to do it, I would base it off the research of the different substances. Some things have good long term evidence, which I would continue taking, others have had only 3 month duration studies and whatnot. I am going to do bloodtests twice a year. One, I will be taking the supplements until the fasting period before the test. The other, I will stop supplement use for a week before the test. That way I can make sure no obvious problems are being masked by the supplements.
stephen_b 29 Apr 2007
Can you describe your symptoms? I'm wondering if the same isn't happening to me.I'm generally taking supps on a 5 day's on, 2 day's of cycle as a precaution.
After having some issues with carnosine (quite severe histamine reactions that did develop slowly and undetected)
Do you still take carnosine?
Stephen
Brainbox 04 May 2007
It got acute the moment I did start taking Wobenzym again after about a year of not taking. The wobenzym was tolerated without problem before. After stopping the Carnosine also some other minor itchy issues did disappear.
(Sorry for late reaction, forgot about this thread)
ikaros 08 May 2007
08 May 2007
I find I will sneeze several times after I take my enzymes. I think the enzymes I take cause my histamine levels to rise, and that is why I end up sneezing multiple times. I am not sure how the enzymes would do that exactly but I do know that amalyse lowers histamine levels. I have taken amalyse by itself and experienced my histamine levels getting lower.
I don't cycle anything. I will stop all supplements sometimes when a problem arises. Usually if I stop all supplements for a couple of days and the problem goes away that is a good indication that something is out of balance. That might mean that I am taking too much of one b vitamin relative to another b vitamin and that causes the symptoms or the problem. I try to make adjustments when I start taking the supplements again. If the symptom doesn't go away when I stop all supplements then I know it is not related to my supplements.
The only thing I have ever heard about cycling, that is not a hormone, is methionine. But I don't know why anyone would find a benefit from cycling their nutritional supplements.
kenj 09 May 2007
I take a low dose (50mg) twice/day on empty stomach (VRP for example got a 50mg carnosine product), so far with no problems.
Cannot miss out on this one.
ageless 09 May 2007
Taking substances in amounts greater than diet offers or alongside diet can impact positively, but still the same, it doesn't seem natural or normal for the body to be continually hit with large amounts of certain substances... to look at it more scientifically we know alpha-tocopherol was for a long time considered a great supplement to take even large doses of safely. Given GRAS and recommended by doctors, etc..., but little was talked about the other tocopherols or tocotrienols for many years and now we know too much alpha can impact negatively the ideal ratio of all 8 E isomers.
I think there are many examples of nutrients when taken in larger amounts affecting other nutrients negatively and thus the optimum health of the human body. While I love reading of the benefits of something as wonderful as R-lipoic acid, I also question the logic of taking megadoses of it every single day... it is only found in negligable amounts in food and thus this is more of a drug like effect that while relatively safe and potentially beneficial for various disorders, may be negative to levels of bodily biotin. There are many other examples.
This is just one small example, but I think caution is always warranted and cycling may offer insurance from the unknown.
PWAIN 18 May 2007
The result was night and day!!! I had a headache most of the weekend, developed a head cold, felt exhasuted, lethargic, weak and tired, I had a poor mood and basically felt absolutely miserable. By Monday evening (back on supps) I was feeling 100% again.
The first thing I realised from this is just how much the supps help me. The other thing is that I think I will now do this fortnightly.
ikaros 18 May 2007
I had a headache most of the weekend, developed a head cold, felt exhasuted, lethargic, weak and tired, I had a poor mood and basically felt absolutely miserable. By Monday evening (back on supps) I was feeling 100% again.
The first thing I realised from this is just how much the supps help me.
That sounds rather like physical addiction to supplements.
Brainbox 18 May 2007
But I'm taking some extra vit. E (all the isomers, euhm vitamer), C, Calcium+Mag+Zinc+silicium and TMG to try to lower histamine. Apparently this works. Ortho, I will try your test as soon as I got my hold on a dose of niacin, thanks.
Anyway, the hay fever symptoms did increase only a little while I was using the high dose carnosine.
Edit: I'm still looking for a European source of beta-alanine to replace the carnosine. I'm a bit hesitant in ordering strange white powders from oversees.
Edited by brainbox, 18 May 2007 - 05:00 PM.
kenj 18 May 2007
I've stopped carnosine supplementation for now, until I know more what the *'s going on, - with my respiratory airways clearing up subsequently.
A few case reports suggest this is a respiratory allergy, but I'm still puzzled (at 100mg!), - and I do not have hay fever.........
Brainbox 18 May 2007
krillin 18 May 2007
vit. E (all the isomers)
[pedant mode]
The tocopherols have different molecular weights (owing to different numbers of methyl groups) so it's more correct to say vitamer than isomer.
[/pedant mode]
Brainbox 18 May 2007
shifter 18 May 2007
I take it with my r lipioc acid as I heard it has good synergistic effects
PWAIN 20 May 2007
I had a headache most of the weekend, developed a head cold, felt exhasuted, lethargic, weak and tired, I had a poor mood and basically felt absolutely miserable. By Monday evening (back on supps) I was feeling 100% again.
The first thing I realised from this is just how much the supps help me.
That sounds rather like physical addiction to supplements.
Actually before starting on supplements, headaches were quite a regualr thing for me. I just got used to having them. Now I have just got used to not having them. It is rather nice.
meatwad 21 May 2007
It felt great to not having to take anything.
It is strange when you can feel fish oil 'working' acutely...