Since it’s pretty damn risky to take anything in peer reviewed journals it’s no comfort to me whether it’s been formally studied. I already know about everything they use at this facility. It’s basically all stuff I already use or have tried in some different combinations. It’s safe stuff with a long history of safety. Anecdotal stories are worth something if you have a pool of hundreds who don’t all say the same thing. And I do.

Stop with the doom and gloom– I don’t need you telling me what to do.

The medical profession is a bunch of fuckheads who are beholden to pharma who only care about a buck. Screw peered reviewed journals. I listen to anecdotes about drugs and trust those more than the PDR. I’ve lived those side effects ie: anecdotes that are never mentioned in the peer reviewed journals. Anecdotes are my friends.

Oh….I though you were responding to my last post—on the withdrawal facility I’m going to. I didn’t notice this was another post. In any case, I listen to my body. I trust it now. The peer reviewed journals sure as hell didn’t tell me how sick I would become on drugs. I do the same with supplements.

Sorry you felt sick as a result of a supplement. Has happened to me a handful of times. I stop it immediately, unlike when I was being treated by a psychiatrist and told to tolerate side effects—which one seems more sane???

So again, the warning: Don’t use anything whose effects, side effects and containdications have not been researched professionally, by medical doctors, with control groups for safety, and published in peer-reviewed journals. If you use anything else, you are taking a much larger risk than you think.

On the other hand MAOI inhibitors have a huge list of contraindicated foods. It’s possible that amino acids that have been isolated from their natural occurring forms could contraindicate.

If you’re on a MAOI inhibitor it’s very important you know for sure if you can eat something while taking it because contraindications can be quite dangerous.

Ahhh!! I just did a quick google search. Most of the foods that are not allowed are not allowed BECAUSE of one particular amino acid—that being tyramine.

I did not do thorough research so don’t make the assumptions other amino acids are safe.

Stephany,
Hormones, indeed, are sometimes the cause of “mental illness.” I’ve not mentioned this before on this site–perhaps I should at some point–but my first several hospitalizations (psychosis triggered by halluninogens) were all linked to my menstrual cycle. I would peak out with mania, land in the psych ward and the following day my menses would start. So…my psychosis/mania was indeed pre-menstrual. I also have endometriosis and was treated with BC pills at an early age and the BC pills made me crazy…I didn’t realize that was the cause until I went off of them and was fine again. In any case….BC pills can cause instability too. I don’t know enough about the condition your daughter has…BC pills may be appropriate. (I was on Depakote a long time and was very lucky not to develop polycystic ovary syndrome.) I didn’t know anything about it until recently and was furious that my doctor never told me of the risk. Anyway, I, like you, may talk more about hormones and mental illness at some point, but I don’t know enough at this point and unfortunately, like so many issues with mental health, there is not enough information out there.

(I’ve tried Braggs before…it is yummy…you’re right)

Ruth,
If you are interested in trying amino acids I highly recommend the book I mentioned “the Mood Cure” she not only goes into amino acids but diet in general.

Amino acids are available in pill form here in the states. I don’t know if they ship to Australia, but a really good internet company for supplements is vitacost.com. They sell everything at cost. I know they ship to the UK. They have most amino acids available as far as I know.

Anyway, you’re right about Taurine…it is in energy drinks. I think you’re also right about it taking the edge off. It creates a feeling of well being with the guarana. Guarana is not an amino acid…it is a kind of caffeine from a plant source.

Anyway…if you choose to try the amino acids go slow and easy! I may try again someday, but I’m waiting until I’m off drugs and know my body in that state. Perhaps I won’t need additional energy. That would be the ideal. I probably need to give my body a good year to heal after the withdrawal is complete as well.

thanks for the comments…both were very interesting.

Anyway, with energy levels flattened by Zoloft withdrawal, your post has made me very curious and keen to investigate further, and to figure out what the retailing situation is down under.

Good luck–Stephany