NAC helped my OCD a lot, but never got rid of it completely. I also suffer from anhedonia and emotional highs and lows.
I'm testing out a theory of mine that this is all down to a parasite in the brain called T.Gondii. It been estimated to effect 60% of the world population, some studies saying 10-33% of the US Population and 10-20% of the UK population. It originally comes from cats, enters into our food supply, and you can get it from all types of food.
The parasite lays cysts in the brain and effects the amygdala neurons. But it also sends tyrosine hydroxylase into overdrive causing excessive dopamine in the brain and screwing up the pleasure/reward system (anhedonia?). Also OCD has been linked to low serotonin (hence why SSRI's can sometimes be effective), so by becoming dopamine dominant due to this parasite, I would imagine could exacerbate OCD symptoms.
But there are studies if you look for them, where T .Gondii has been linked to bipolar, schizophrenia, OCD, and anxiety. So I think it may be the root of my problems, and the fact that it effects such a high proportion of the population, I'll just assume it could be a cause. So I've not just started experimenting getting rid of it using a combination of fenbendazole, resveratrol, and hydroxychloroquine. It's actually been my first day after treatment, and my mind is clear, and I was just now talking to my neighbour without anxiety. But way too early to tell.
Here are some studies for anyone interested:
https://www.scienced...889159114004188
Toxoplasma gondii and anxiety disorders in a community-based sample
Abstract
A growing body of literature suggests that exposure to the neurotropic parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is associated with increased risk of mental disorders, particularly schizophrenia. However, a potential association between T. gondii exposure and anxiety disorders has not been rigorously explored. Here, we examine the association of T. gondii infection with both anxiety and mood disorders. Participants (n = 484) were drawn from the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study, a population-representative sample of Detroit residents. Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between T. gondii exposure (defined by seropositivity and IgG antibody levels) and three mental disorders: generalized anxiety disorder(GAD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. We found that T. gondii seropositivity was associated with a 2 times greater odds of GAD (odds ratio (OR), 2.25; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11–4.53) after adjusting for age, gender, race, income, marital status, and medication. Individuals in the highest antibody level category had more than 3 times higher odds of GAD (OR, 3.35; 95% CI, 1.41–7.97). Neither T. gondiiseropositivity nor IgG antibody levels was significantly associated with PTSD or depression. Our findings indicate that T. gondii infection is strongly and significantly associated with GAD. While prospective confirmation is needed, T. gondii infection may play a role in the development of GAD.
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC6457543/
Relationship between toxoplasmosis and obsessive compulsive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract
Background
A few studies investigated the relationship between toxoplasmosis and mental disorders, such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). However, the specific nature of the association between Toxoplasma gondii(T. gondii) infection and OCD is not yet clear. The aim of this study was to collect information on the relationship between OCD and toxoplasmosis and assess whether patients with toxoplasmosis are prone to OCD.
Methods
For the purpose of this study, 6 major electronic databases and the Internet search engine Google Scholar were searched for the published articles up to July 30th, 2018 with no restriction of language. The inverse variance method and the random effect model were used to combine the data. The values of odds ratio (OR) were estimated at 95% confidence interval (CI).
Results
A total of 9 case-control and 3 cross-sectional studies were included in our systematic review. However, 11 of these 12 articles were entered into the meta-analysis containing 9873 participants, out of whom 389 were with OCD (25.96% positive for toxoplasmosis) and 9484 were without OCD (17.12% positive for toxoplasmosis). The estimation of the random effect model indicated a significant common OR of 1.96 [95% CI: 1.32–2.90].
Conclusion
This systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that toxoplasmosis could be as an associated factor for OCD (OR = 1.96). However, further prospective investigations are highly recommended to illuminate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of T. gondii infection in OCD and to better investigate the relationship between OCD and T. gondii infection.
https://brainblogger...oplasma-gondii/
A considerable amount of schizophrenia susceptibility genes are implicated in the life cycle of pathogens such as Toxoplasma gondii, with these genes having a role not only in immunity, but also in influencing signaling pathways that regulate dopamine-dependent behavior, for example.
Therefore, another hypothesis explaining the link between Toxoplasma infection and schizophrenia establishes a role for dopamine in these mechanisms. An effect of Toxoplasma infection on increasing the dopamine levels has been experimentally demonstrated in vitro and in mice. Accordingly, dopamine-blocking agents have shown some efficacy in the treatment of this pathology.
However, dopamine and immunological disturbances are not unique to schizophrenia, within the realm of psychiatric disorders. Both have been reported in other pathologies, namely in bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). On the other hand, no link has so far been found with major depression. Although evidence linking Toxoplasma gondii infection with bipolar disorder and OCD is still less striking, there are indeed indications that it may also be a risk factor in the development of these disorders.
https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC6747942/
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, which affects more than a billion people worldwide, is a common parasitic infection caused by the obligate intracellular parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. Current treatment strategies have several limitations, including unwanted side effects and poor efficacy. Therefore, newer therapies are needed for toxoplasmosis. Drug repurposing and screening of a vast array of natural and/or synthetic compounds is a viable option for antiparasitic drug discovery. In this study, we screened 62 compounds comprising natural products (NPs) and FDA-approved (FDA) drugs, to identify the hit compounds that suppress the growth of T. gondii. To determine the parasite inhibitory potential of the compounds, host mammalian cells were infected with a transgenic T. gondii strain, and the viability of the parasite was evaluated by luminescence. Of the 62 compounds, tubericidin, sulfuretin, peruvoside, resveratrol, narasin and diacetoxyscirpenol of the natural product isolates, as well as bortezonib, 10-Hydroxycamtothecin, mebendazole, niflumic acid, clindamycin HCl, mecamylamine, chloroquine, mitomycin C, fenbendazole, daunorubicin, atropine, and cerivastatin of FDA molecules were identified as “hits” with ≥ 40 percent anti-parasite action. Additionally, mitomycin C, radicicol, naringenin, gitoxigenin, menadione, botulin, genistin, homobutein, and gelsemin HCl of the natural product isolates, as well as lomofungin, cyclocytidine, prazosin HCl, cerivastatin, camptothecin, flufenamic acid, atropine, daunorubicin, and fenbendazole of the FDA compounds exhibited cytotoxic activity, reducing the host viability by ≥ 30 percent. Our findings not only support the prospects of drug repurposing, but also indicate that screening a vast array of molecules may provide viable sources of alternative therapies for parasitic infection.
This last study shows whats effective at combatting it.
Anyway there's some evidence it could be related or a cause of mental illnesses. I'm not saying it is the cause of my OCD or getting rid of the parasite will cure it. But I'm experimenting down this route as I've pretty much tried most things.
Edited by Jesus is King, 10 September 2020 - 01:23 PM.