13 replies to this topic

[snowbell]

I recently got some Rhodiola from Nature's Way, which is a 250 mg extract. I was taking it to help me with energy and focus as caffeine doesn't seem to help me much. The first few days I noticed a little increase in physical energy but nothing much with moods or focus. I have been taking two capsules a day. One in the morning and another one in the afternoon. It's almost been a week and now I feel as if it's slightly sedating. Has anyone else experience this with Rhodiola ? or could it be this particular brand ? The whole purpose of my taking Rhodiola is defeated if it's going to make me sleepy :(

Does anyone else have any other suggestions for something that helps with mental alertness without the drowsiness. I have tried Gotu Kola as well and that one seems to have some sedative effect as well.

[kassem23]

Quick-fix: Take it pre-bed.

[christianbber]

When I first started taking it ... it was AMAZING. But typically my body became accustomed to it within a week and it made me very tired.

I started Gotu today and I enjoy it. But Im probably going to have the same U - Shaped result again.

[Thorsten3]

Same. Rhodiola was the answer to everything at first but then it poops. If all you notice is sedation you're lucky because after a while it doesn't do much at all (or it has lready done what it was supposed to do and once that happens it's a sign you no longer need it - hence adaptogenic). Take something like schizandra instead.

[snowbell]

Same. Rhodiola was the answer to everything at first but then it poops. If all you notice is sedation you're lucky because after a while it doesn't do much at all (or it has lready done what it was supposed to do and once that happens it's a sign you no longer need it - hence adaptogenic). Take something like schizandra instead.

christianbber - That happens with me as well. Things work at first and then they either stop working or I get a sedating feeling. This happens with Gotu Kola as well. I have tried Bacopa also. The first few days it works great for attention and focus but then it starts making me lethargic in the sense that I am too relaxed to want to do anything.

Thorsten2 - Thanks for your input. I have noticed Rhodiola sometimes gives me a headache too...a weird feeling at the back of my head. It has never helped me with mood lifting like some other people notice. Does Schizandra give you a more wakeful feeling ? That's what I am looking for...something that could be used as an alternative to caffeine.

[nupi]

How much of that effect is simply placebo / an initial high coming from "hey I am trying this cool new thing?" as opposed for stuff stopping to work?

[Lion_25]

Hi,

I started taking Rhodiola yesterday (Gaia Herbs brand) and also experienced the slightly sedating effect. Same thing as you, I feel very relaxed to want to do anything. I took it today and same thing happened.

Well snowbell, it has been almost a month since you started this topic. Did you finish your bottle of Rhodiola? Are you still feeling the sedative effect?

Be well.

[longevitynow]

I have heard that Rhodiola can be more stimulating or calming, depending on dosage. If memory serves correct, I think I remember that higher doses should be more calming. It makes sense. It is an adaptogen working on HPA axis. Low dosessupport the adrenals by preventing an excess release of cortisol? adrenalin? etc?; therefore allowing a person to have energy for longer periods ("stimulating"). Higher doses probably lower cortisol more, which could be more sedating.

[JChief]

Hey all! This is my first post as a new member. I hope to contribute a lot here.. the Rhodiola post caught my eye as I hold it in very high regard. Here's how I felt on it. I took the Rosavin brand (which was the same product used in various studies etc) and suffered from panic attacks for several years. Took a couple trips to the ER almost certain I was gonna die.. extreme worry and shortness of breath and heart pounding etc. Hard to really describe. I'd get sent home by the doctor each time saying it was just a panic attack and to take Klonopin (benzo).. oddly this is what I abused in during my rebellious years and the fallout from that I think resulted in those panic attacks. Klonopin would resolve the symptoms about 30 min after an attack would set in but I have been in a much different frame of mind since the days of drug abuse. I am focused on improved health and at the time was looking for ways to cure the panic attacks without resorting to drugs that have side effects and potential for abuse (I abused them as a teen btw). Anyways long story short I finished a single bottle of Rosavin and I never experienced another panic attack. Over two years now without any attacks whatsoever. And to me that's AMAZING. It's just my story. But it's true Anyway it had a bit of a calming effect I'd say no doubt. Nothing extreme though!

Edit: To be clear I only took a single bottle of Rosavin (rhodiola) and the panic attacks went away (I didn't buy another due to money issues at the time). But that was enough! Years of cocaine, benzo, MDMA abuse and subsequent frequent panic attacks seemingly cured from a single bottle of the stuff. I am grateful for it.

Edited by JChief, 01 September 2011 - 07:24 AM.

[Lion_25]

@JChief, I'm glad to see that Rhodiola helped you. By the way, Rosavin brand is the one suggested by Dr. Zakir Ramazanov - the "Rhodiola father". Many people claim this is the best Rhodiola brand in the world.

[snowbell]

Sorry about the late reply. I gave up Rhodiola because it wasn't doing anything. I have tried Schizandra recently though. I think it makes me dizzy and anxious. Did anyone have similar experience with Schizandra ? Is there anything that can give clean calm energy ?

[sam7777]

Schizandra does give a clean calm energy, but can also be very very strong in some types. Try making a tea out of it and lowering the dose, taking it earlier in the day, mixed in with ashwaganda, burdock root, and gotu kola. Probably not a good idea to mix rhodiola and schizandra together on a daily basis if you are anxiety prone, because the combination can be incredibly strong if you get ahold of the strong stuff.

[V_Sal]

For clean, calm, energhy, anti-depressive, anti-anxiety, I take Dr. Christopher´s Mind Trac.

Rhodiola also works in a very tiny dose. If I take more than about 50mg a day I feel sleepy, otherwise, energized in a very good sense.  Energised and physically grounded and flexible, but I just started yesterday.

[John250]

Glad I came across this thread. I started NOW’s Rhodiola which is a high dose. 1 cap is 500mg rhodiola rosea root standardized to min. 3% Total Rosavins and min. 1% Salidroside. I read a few cases of people megadosing up 2 g per day to increase depleted serotonin loss from SSRI’s. The first two days I took one In the morning and one in the afternoon and got a very mild boost of energy then by day three it just made me sleepy and by day five and six it didn’t do much at all other than cause a little sedation which was the exact opposite of what I was looking for. I’m going to experiment with just taking a 1/4 of a capsule and see if it causes any energy increase.