4 replies to this topic

[FiveNotions]

I'm posting this in several of our forums....

One of our members may have unintentionally brought on massive anxiety, panic, skin rash, etc. by taking the amino l-tyrosine in excessive amounts and without knowing what it does in the brain...

Tyrosine, theanine, tryptophan, GABA, dopa mucuna....and others in this category....are powerful agents for brain functions related to many/most of the symptoms we discuss here....

Please, DO NOT start taking any of them without first researching them extensively, checking them for interactions against every other med, amino, and vitamin you take....also checking with your doc, and asking for feedback here....

I, and some others, have made mention of them quite a bit, especially recently....I know that I've given examples of what I take...but what I take is referential to me only....and is based on hours of research and a relatively sophisticated knowledge of the neuro-chemistry of depression and related disorders...as well as what underlies my own aspects of them.

Please, DO NOT use what anyone else says they do wrt aminos....it is different for each individual...and requires very very careful research and use....used properly, I believe that they can be beneficial....used incorrectly, they can be harmful...

Lord knows, we all have enough problems with cymbalta as it is...no need to add to them!

[Jen1010]

Hi Five! 

I am hoping you can offer some helpful advice or point me in the right direction, etc.

I was put on Cymbalta 19 months ago to help with neuralgia which I apparently ended up with due to viral meningitis in Nov. '11.  Actually, I think it was a combination of things that put the nail in the coffin... including a 2nd lumbar puncture July '12 to see if I had any residual meningitis...because I was having head pain, pulsing, heat symptoms which turned out to be neuralgia!  I think about how ridiculous it is now that I was put through that.  So for about a year the drug combo (60mg Cymbalta along with 40 mg Nadolol beta blocker in the morning / 10 mg of Amitriptylene in the evening) I was on got me out of a bad place and I was much better.   Then awhile back I felt like I hit a plateau and symtoms started up again. When symptoms are particularly bad I usually just want to rest and be calm in a recliner.  Noise and too much activity bothers my head.  My goal from the beginning was to get the neuralgia calmed down and manageable, not to be on chemicals for the rest of my life.     A month ago, I  found a doctor who is an MD-internal med and also studied and trained in other forms of health practice like accupunture, barometric chamber, and use of nutrition and supplements, etc.  My goal and hers is to wean me off of the Cymbalta first. She has me on several Life Extension products Neuro-Mag, LE fish oil and and also New Hope Aminos.  She told me to take the Aminos as directed while I am trying to wean off of Cymbalta.  I say "trying" because just this week I tried for the first time and went from 60mg to 30,  First day was fine, 2nd and 3rd day bad  so as of this morning I'm taking (1) 30mg and (1) 20 mg. I feel a little better, but then again, I decided to stay home and rest and try to get my body settled over the weekend with the 50mg of Cymbalta.  My Dr. told me to take the Aminos Plus (New Hope)  as directed when I felt bad, but I don't notice that it does anything.  She told me she has used the product successfully with patients who have had depression/anxiety, bi-polar,etc. and in weaning them off psychotrophic meds. I would rather not take anything that doesn't help me go through this.  Plus my really big question is has Cymbalta helped the neuralgia and if so now that I am coming off it am I experiencing neuralgia problems or Cymbalta withdrawal issues??  I guess it could be both and I won't know how bad the neuralgia is until I am completely off the drugs?  My previous doctor in Greenville, SC said once you have nerve damage you have it. She also told me the drugs I'm on I can take forever they won't harm me.  I am not so sure about that as I've had other things to contend with being on the Cymbalta like my best friend told me not to long ago that she has seen a decline in my cognitive function.  Can you shed any other light and tell me more about the Aminos?  Sorry for the ramble. 

 

 

Can you tell me more about this? 

[fishinghat]

I don't want to step on FN's toes but the Dr in Greenville was an idiot. Sorry. Common Cymbalta side effects and withdrawal is reduced cognative function. I can tell you that data shows that about 60% of the people who take Cymbalta for neuralgia are helped.. FN can tell you more about the amino acids.

[Jen1010]

Hi Again,

60% is pretty good.  I guess one of the questions for me is (and I don't know the answer) does the "benefit" of Cymbalta for neuralgia outweigh the side effects?? I guess that is where the water gets murky because in recent months I've thought the Cymbalta was not helping the neuralgia symptoms much.  I've been amazed to read about the "brain zaps" people are talking about, because the same can be described for neuralgia!  Also, I've had headaches that I have attributed to neuralgia.  They are different than the kinds of headaches I used to get years ago.  Now I am wondering if it at times they can be the Cymbalta!??  Oh this is so frustrating and difficult.  Which came first the chicken or the egg?

[fishinghat]

I am afraid no one can fully answer that question. Time will tell how much is Cymbalta withdrawal though.