Prozac

[Guest guest]

Anyone having any success with particular herbal combination for areplacement for Prozac?

Hey Chaz,

I actually have an answer, but also would like to know why the person is on Prozac. Why were they placed on it?? Do they smoke? ARe they not sleeping? Do they do anything aerobic? If they are depressed, are they seeing a therapist who is a "talk therapist" and not just a prescription writer?? Are there grief and loss issues?

Dr. Dan makes a good research review and has information on Omega 3 Fish Oils with Co factors in high doses being as effective in not more effective than the SSRI drugs.

St. 's Wort has been studied and indicated for mild to moderate depression (hypericum). From that literature that I'm looking at, 20 clinical trials were completed using several different St. 's Wort extracts. All trials showed greater antidepressant effect wehn compared to placebo and conmparable results to the standard antidepressant medications (Ernst E. St. Hohn's Wort, an antidepressant? A systemic, criteria-based review. Phyotmed 1995: 2:67-71.

REcommended Dosage: "Dosage is typically based on hyperican concentration in the extract. The minimal daily hypericin dosage recommended is approximately 1.0 mgm. For example, an extracct stadardized to contain 0.2 percent hypericn would require a daily dosage of 500 mgm (usually given in ntwo divided dosages. ). As noted above, current clinical studies have used a St. 's Wor extract standardized to 0.3% hypericin at a daily dose of 300 mgm three times daily".

Also, the info goes on to say: "The incidence of ADR's has varied from one to 25% in clinical trials. THey included emoational vulnerability, fatiuge, pruritis, and weight increase. Although the MAO-inhibiting properties of St. 's wort are currently being questioned, it is also advisable to avoid tyramine -containing foods , alcoholic beverages, and medications like tyrosine, narcotics, amphetamines, and the otc cold and flu remedies ( NO shit, huh?) while on St. 's. Fair skin people may have skin reactions was placed on the label by the FDA because the warning was based on grazing animals who had consumed huge amounts of it developed a bliserin skin disease. The FDA failed to consider the fact that the hypericin content of most St. J's extracts is quite low and that most conumers are not "grazing". Skin reactionns have not been reported on the dosages listed above. Also..the German Commission E Monograph for St. J/s list no contraindications to its use during presgnancy and lactation, and that more studies are recommended before using it in this population. "

THat all came from the herbal seminar I went to some years ago in about 1997 at WSCC by Brown, ND. It was sponsored by WSCc and Univ of Colorado Health Science Cennter, School of Pharamacy. I'm sure there is more out there now on this...... BUt..........it was good then for a lot of people. Some people swear by the SAM-e. Some people go for the 5 HTP and get results. If the Prozac was prescribed for depression with an anxiety component, some people like the KAVA ROOT EXTRACT 100 mgm three times daily . Sunny K spoke about Valerian use.

I think a lot of this approach is an allopathic approach with herbs. It has it's place at times, but I think the talk approach with getting to any biological cause for the serotonin imbalance (lack of omega 3's, too much o 6's, corn syrup, crap diet, lack of oxygenation, inability to ingest, digest, assimilate and utilize, transport, eliminate...etc) is probably a more productive approach in the long run. The two are not mutually exclusive , as you know.

Anyway.....just some thoughts instead of my glib "TEQUILA" audio.

Don WHite, RN, DC