Using Riluzole or NAC for OCD

[Guest guest]

Lately, I've become a big believer in natural remedies. In researching OCD as

usual, I ran across these two things. The NAC is N-acetyle cysteine, a

glutamate modulating agent. Glutamate is apparently something that can be out

of kilter in OCD sufferers.

Has anyone here used either of these? Do you need a prescription for either of

them? And have you seen any success with either or?

Thanks!

Debbie

[Guest guest]

This is new territory, I'm not sure it's being routinely prescribed.

Preliminary data is promising, but you'd have to find an agreeable physician or

clinical trial.

Bonnie

>

> Lately, I've become a big believer in natural remedies. In researching OCD as

usual, I ran across these two things. The NAC is N-acetyle cysteine, a

glutamate modulating agent. Glutamate is apparently something that can be out

of kilter in OCD sufferers.

>

> Has anyone here used either of these? Do you need a prescription for either

of them? And have you seen any success with either or?

>

> Thanks!

> Debbie

>

[Guest guest]

PS, there's a side effect profile to be considered as well. Acetylcysteine

causes nausea.

Bonnie

> >

> > Lately, I've become a big believer in natural remedies. In researching OCD

as usual, I ran across these two things. The NAC is N-acetyle cysteine, a

glutamate modulating agent. Glutamate is apparently something that can be out

of kilter in OCD sufferers.

> >

> > Has anyone here used either of these? Do you need a prescription for either

of them? And have you seen any success with either or?

> >

> > Thanks!

> > Debbie

> >

>

[Guest guest]

PS, there's a side effect profile to be considered as well. Acetylcysteine

causes nausea.

Bonnie

> >

> > Lately, I've become a big believer in natural remedies. In researching OCD

as usual, I ran across these two things. The NAC is N-acetyle cysteine, a

glutamate modulating agent. Glutamate is apparently something that can be out

of kilter in OCD sufferers.

> >

> > Has anyone here used either of these? Do you need a prescription for either

of them? And have you seen any success with either or?

> >

> > Thanks!

> > Debbie

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Do a search back through our group posts archives (there is a search feature you

can use) for NAC. Someone else was using this, I recall a discussion on it. I

actually got a bottle, still unopened. Have to get my son to want to try it

first.

>

> Lately, I've become a big believer in natural remedies. In researching OCD as

usual, I ran across these two things. The NAC is N-acetyle cysteine, a

glutamate modulating agent. Glutamate is apparently something that can be out

of kilter in OCD sufferers.

>

> Has anyone here used either of these? Do you need a prescription for either

of them? And have you seen any success with either or?

>

> Thanks!

> Debbie

>

[Guest guest]

My daughter takes NAC for cutting, hair pulling, and other impulsive

self-harming behaviors.  It's interesting that this is an OCD topic, too,

because her primary issue is pretty severe OCD (she was hospitalized for five

months for OCD).  She is now a patient at the University of Minnesota, and when

we discussed cutting and the self-harm impulse, they suggested we try NAC and

see if it helped.  I am guessing that OCD can rear its ugly head in all sorts

of ways.

 

Anyway, she takes four pills a day; each is 600 mg (?), two in the morning and

two at night.  She will move to five pills eventually. She’s been doing this

for about 8 weeks, and she hasn’t cut since Labor Day, so we are excited that

it appears to be working for her.  She said that she doesn’t even feel like

cutting, and she has been able to stop wearing her wig.  She is taking other

meds, and the doctor who suggested it is aware of all of her meds. 

 

I think the University did a clinical trial on NAC and discovered that it worked

with hair pulling, but they were not sure if it would work with cutting.   I

understand that there is a research paper floating around out there about it.

 

We buy it on-line from Amazon.com.  If you go to Amazon, you’ll see reviews,

and people are taking it for all sorts of reasons.  I decided to try it for my

asthma, and it has helped.

 

Judy Hawkinson

judyhawkinson@...

 

cell: 

[Guest guest]

My daughter takes NAC for cutting, hair pulling, and other impulsive

self-harming behaviors.  It's interesting that this is an OCD topic, too,

because her primary issue is pretty severe OCD (she was hospitalized for five

months for OCD).  She is now a patient at the University of Minnesota, and when

we discussed cutting and the self-harm impulse, they suggested we try NAC and

see if it helped.  I am guessing that OCD can rear its ugly head in all sorts

of ways.

 

Anyway, she takes four pills a day; each is 600 mg (?), two in the morning and

two at night.  She will move to five pills eventually. She’s been doing this

for about 8 weeks, and she hasn’t cut since Labor Day, so we are excited that

it appears to be working for her.  She said that she doesn’t even feel like

cutting, and she has been able to stop wearing her wig.  She is taking other

meds, and the doctor who suggested it is aware of all of her meds. 

 

I think the University did a clinical trial on NAC and discovered that it worked

with hair pulling, but they were not sure if it would work with cutting.   I

understand that there is a research paper floating around out there about it.

 

We buy it on-line from Amazon.com.  If you go to Amazon, you’ll see reviews,

and people are taking it for all sorts of reasons.  I decided to try it for my

asthma, and it has helped.

 

Judy Hawkinson

judyhawkinson@...

 

cell: 

[Guest guest]

From what I've been able to find on the internet, NAC and riluzole both are

undergoing clinical trials. The NAC is a supplement and the riluzole you'd need

a prescription for. She has an appointment with her psychiatrist for med

management on the 21st, so I plan to ask him what he thinks about adding the NAC

or if he's even heard of it.

I found a forum on the Social Anxiety website where a ton of people were

debating the pros and cons of NAC; they were taking it themselves and posting

their experiences, most of them felt it helped in some way.

Debbie

>

> My daughter takes NAC for cutting, hair pulling, and other impulsive

self-harming behaviors.  It's interesting that this is an OCD topic, too,

because her primary issue is pretty severe OCD (she was hospitalized for five

months for OCD).  She is now a patient at the University of Minnesota, and when

we discussed cutting and the self-harm impulse, they suggested we try NAC and

see if it helped.  I am guessing that OCD can rear its ugly head in all sorts

of ways.

>  

> Anyway, she takes four pills a day; each is 600 mg (?), two in the morning and

two at night.  She will move to five pills eventually. She’s been doing this

for about 8 weeks, and she hasn’t cut since Labor Day, so we are excited that

it appears to be working for her.  She said that she doesn’t even feel like

cutting, and she has been able to stop wearing her wig.  She is taking other

meds, and the doctor who suggested it is aware of all of her meds. 

>  

> I think the University did a clinical trial on NAC and discovered that it

worked with hair pulling, but they were not sure if it would work with cutting.

  I understand that there is a research paper floating around out there about

it.

>  

> We buy it on-line from Amazon.com.  If you go to Amazon, you’ll see

reviews, and people are taking it for all sorts of reasons.  I decided to try

it for my asthma, and it has helped.

>

>  

> Judy Hawkinson

> judyhawkinson@...

>  

> cell: 

>

>

[Guest guest]

Debbie, were there many cons mentioned? or rather anything that seemed

pertinent. For ex, when I tell others about inositol powder, I always mention

it can cause stomach upset/gas so start at low dose.

I'll have to research it again, then maybe I'll finally open the bottle we have.

> >

> > My daughter takes NAC for cutting, hair pulling, and other impulsive

self-harming behaviors.  It's interesting that this is an OCD topic, too,

because her primary issue is pretty severe OCD (she was hospitalized for five

months for OCD).  She is now a patient at the University of Minnesota, and when

we discussed cutting and the self-harm impulse, they suggested we try NAC and

see if it helped.  I am guessing that OCD can rear its ugly head in all sorts

of ways.

> >  

> > Anyway, she takes four pills a day; each is 600 mg (?), two in the morning

and two at night.  She will move to five pills eventually. She’s been doing

this for about 8 weeks, and she hasn’t cut since Labor Day, so we are excited

that it appears to be working for her.  She said that she doesn’t even feel

like cutting, and she has been able to stop wearing her wig.  She is taking

other meds, and the doctor who suggested it is aware of all of her meds. 

> >  

> > I think the University did a clinical trial on NAC and discovered that it

worked with hair pulling, but they were not sure if it would work with cutting.

  I understand that there is a research paper floating around out there about

it.

> >  

> > We buy it on-line from Amazon.com.  If you go to Amazon, you’ll see

reviews, and people are taking it for all sorts of reasons.  I decided to try

it for my asthma, and it has helped.

> >

> >  

> > Judy Hawkinson

> > judyhawkinson@

> >  

> > cell: 

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Debbie, were there many cons mentioned? or rather anything that seemed

pertinent. For ex, when I tell others about inositol powder, I always mention

it can cause stomach upset/gas so start at low dose.

I'll have to research it again, then maybe I'll finally open the bottle we have.

> >

> > My daughter takes NAC for cutting, hair pulling, and other impulsive

self-harming behaviors.  It's interesting that this is an OCD topic, too,

because her primary issue is pretty severe OCD (she was hospitalized for five

months for OCD).  She is now a patient at the University of Minnesota, and when

we discussed cutting and the self-harm impulse, they suggested we try NAC and

see if it helped.  I am guessing that OCD can rear its ugly head in all sorts

of ways.

> >  

> > Anyway, she takes four pills a day; each is 600 mg (?), two in the morning

and two at night.  She will move to five pills eventually. She’s been doing

this for about 8 weeks, and she hasn’t cut since Labor Day, so we are excited

that it appears to be working for her.  She said that she doesn’t even feel

like cutting, and she has been able to stop wearing her wig.  She is taking

other meds, and the doctor who suggested it is aware of all of her meds. 

> >  

> > I think the University did a clinical trial on NAC and discovered that it

worked with hair pulling, but they were not sure if it would work with cutting.

  I understand that there is a research paper floating around out there about

it.

> >  

> > We buy it on-line from Amazon.com.  If you go to Amazon, you’ll see

reviews, and people are taking it for all sorts of reasons.  I decided to try

it for my asthma, and it has helped.

> >

> >  

> > Judy Hawkinson

> > judyhawkinson@

> >  

> > cell: 

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I had come across information about NAC for OCD some time ago, and it intrigued

me because I have been taking it myself for several years because I had heard

it can improve immunity (and I work in a children's hospital).  I also have

mild OCD, and have not been troubled by it for many years, and wondered if the

NAC could be part of that remission.  So, I found as much information about it

as I could, and decided to try it with my son, diagnosed last December.  We

started slowly because of the chance for nausea, 600 mg (one capsule), staying

there for a week, then adding a second capsule for a week, then a third.  I

give him 2 in the morning and one after school, partly because I read it keeps

some people awake to give it right before bed.  You can take it in conjunction

with an SSRI (he takes Luvox and Clonidine).  We have had no side effects at

all, but he does complain that the capsules have a sulfur taste and smell.  It

takes a long time to

see results according to most of what I read, at the minimum 6-10 weeks, and

I found that to be true, but we do feel it has lessened his symptom severity. We

started it at the beginning of June, and it was at least August before we

noticed improvement, but I definitely do think it helps.  From reading the

previous posts maybe we need to go up even more, to 2400 or 3000 mg.  It is

very inexpensive compared to prescription meds.  I order it from Swanson's.  I

only take 600 mg, but I do think it helps strengthen the immune system, too!  I

told his psychiatrist we were giving it to him and she was indifferent about it,

said it wouldn't hurt, might help.

________________________________

To:

Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 12:17 PM

Subject: Using Riluzole or NAC for OCD

 

Lately, I've become a big believer in natural remedies. In researching OCD as

usual, I ran across these two things. The NAC is N-acetyle cysteine, a

glutamate modulating agent. Glutamate is apparently something that can be out

of kilter in OCD sufferers.

Has anyone here used either of these? Do you need a prescription for either of

them? And have you seen any success with either or?

Thanks!

Debbie

[Guest guest]

I had come across information about NAC for OCD some time ago, and it intrigued

me because I have been taking it myself for several years because I had heard

it can improve immunity (and I work in a children's hospital).  I also have

mild OCD, and have not been troubled by it for many years, and wondered if the

NAC could be part of that remission.  So, I found as much information about it

as I could, and decided to try it with my son, diagnosed last December.  We

started slowly because of the chance for nausea, 600 mg (one capsule), staying

there for a week, then adding a second capsule for a week, then a third.  I

give him 2 in the morning and one after school, partly because I read it keeps

some people awake to give it right before bed.  You can take it in conjunction

with an SSRI (he takes Luvox and Clonidine).  We have had no side effects at

all, but he does complain that the capsules have a sulfur taste and smell.  It

takes a long time to

see results according to most of what I read, at the minimum 6-10 weeks, and

I found that to be true, but we do feel it has lessened his symptom severity. We

started it at the beginning of June, and it was at least August before we

noticed improvement, but I definitely do think it helps.  From reading the

previous posts maybe we need to go up even more, to 2400 or 3000 mg.  It is

very inexpensive compared to prescription meds.  I order it from Swanson's.  I

only take 600 mg, but I do think it helps strengthen the immune system, too!  I

told his psychiatrist we were giving it to him and she was indifferent about it,

said it wouldn't hurt, might help.

________________________________

To:

Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 12:17 PM

Subject: Using Riluzole or NAC for OCD

 

Lately, I've become a big believer in natural remedies. In researching OCD as

usual, I ran across these two things. The NAC is N-acetyle cysteine, a

glutamate modulating agent. Glutamate is apparently something that can be out

of kilter in OCD sufferers.

Has anyone here used either of these? Do you need a prescription for either of

them? And have you seen any success with either or?

Thanks!

Debbie

[Guest guest]

one person on the whole SA board seemed to attribute stomach upset to the NAC,

but by their own admission, they were taking so many other supplements, they

couldn't be sure it was the NAC or not.

Many of them did comment on the GI aspect of inositol, but they continued to

take it, just backing off the amount when those symptoms occurred. The only

other possible side effect some mentioned was a kind of " brain fogginess " or

dampening of emotions, but then others said they didn't have any of that, so I'm

sure it's however a particular person would respond to the supplement.

I would say a higher percentage on the forum felt the NAC did work, but it did

take about 4-8 weeks to notice real changes. Of those who felt it did work,

they were very positive and while they said they still had the thoughts and

compulsion, it was much easier to not act on them. I guess NAC works by

regulating glutamate, an amino acid that, if out of wack, can affect OCD

symptoms.

The people on the SA board were taking high amounts of NAC, from 1200 up to 2400

mg; I would probably start my daughter at one pill a day for a week or two, then

see how it goes.

Debbie

> > >

> > > My daughter takes NAC for cutting, hair pulling, and other impulsive

self-harming behaviors.  It's interesting that this is an OCD topic, too,

because her primary issue is pretty severe OCD (she was hospitalized for five

months for OCD).  She is now a patient at the University of Minnesota, and when

we discussed cutting and the self-harm impulse, they suggested we try NAC and

see if it helped.  I am guessing that OCD can rear its ugly head in all sorts

of ways.

> > >  

> > > Anyway, she takes four pills a day; each is 600 mg (?), two in the morning

and two at night.  She will move to five pills eventually. She’s been doing

this for about 8 weeks, and she hasn’t cut since Labor Day, so we are excited

that it appears to be working for her.  She said that she doesn’t even feel

like cutting, and she has been able to stop wearing her wig.  She is taking

other meds, and the doctor who suggested it is aware of all of her meds. 

> > >  

> > > I think the University did a clinical trial on NAC and discovered that it

worked with hair pulling, but they were not sure if it would work with cutting.

  I understand that there is a research paper floating around out there about

it.

> > >  

> > > We buy it on-line from Amazon.com.  If you go to Amazon, you’ll see

reviews, and people are taking it for all sorts of reasons.  I decided to try

it for my asthma, and it has helped.

> > >

> > >  

> > > Judy Hawkinson

> > > judyhawkinson@

> > >  

> > > cell: 

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

one person on the whole SA board seemed to attribute stomach upset to the NAC,

but by their own admission, they were taking so many other supplements, they

couldn't be sure it was the NAC or not.

Many of them did comment on the GI aspect of inositol, but they continued to

take it, just backing off the amount when those symptoms occurred. The only

other possible side effect some mentioned was a kind of " brain fogginess " or

dampening of emotions, but then others said they didn't have any of that, so I'm

sure it's however a particular person would respond to the supplement.

I would say a higher percentage on the forum felt the NAC did work, but it did

take about 4-8 weeks to notice real changes. Of those who felt it did work,

they were very positive and while they said they still had the thoughts and

compulsion, it was much easier to not act on them. I guess NAC works by

regulating glutamate, an amino acid that, if out of wack, can affect OCD

symptoms.

The people on the SA board were taking high amounts of NAC, from 1200 up to 2400

mg; I would probably start my daughter at one pill a day for a week or two, then

see how it goes.

Debbie

> > >

> > > My daughter takes NAC for cutting, hair pulling, and other impulsive

self-harming behaviors.  It's interesting that this is an OCD topic, too,

because her primary issue is pretty severe OCD (she was hospitalized for five

months for OCD).  She is now a patient at the University of Minnesota, and when

we discussed cutting and the self-harm impulse, they suggested we try NAC and

see if it helped.  I am guessing that OCD can rear its ugly head in all sorts

of ways.

> > >  

> > > Anyway, she takes four pills a day; each is 600 mg (?), two in the morning

and two at night.  She will move to five pills eventually. She’s been doing

this for about 8 weeks, and she hasn’t cut since Labor Day, so we are excited

that it appears to be working for her.  She said that she doesn’t even feel

like cutting, and she has been able to stop wearing her wig.  She is taking

other meds, and the doctor who suggested it is aware of all of her meds. 

> > >  

> > > I think the University did a clinical trial on NAC and discovered that it

worked with hair pulling, but they were not sure if it would work with cutting.

  I understand that there is a research paper floating around out there about

it.

> > >  

> > > We buy it on-line from Amazon.com.  If you go to Amazon, you’ll see

reviews, and people are taking it for all sorts of reasons.  I decided to try

it for my asthma, and it has helped.

> > >

> > >  

> > > Judy Hawkinson

> > > judyhawkinson@

> > >  

> > > cell: 

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

I thought I posted this last night but it didn't appear, so trying again.

----- Forwarded Message -----

To: " " < >

Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2011 12:01 AM

Subject: Re: Using Riluzole or NAC for OCD

I had come across information about NAC for OCD some time ago, and it intrigued

me because I have been taking it myself for several years because I had heard

it can improve immunity (and I work in a children's hospital).  I also have

mild OCD, and have not been troubled by it for many years, and wondered if the

NAC could be part of that remission.  So, I found as much information about it

as I could, and decided to try it with my son, diagnosed last December.  We

started slowly because of the chance for nausea, 600 mg (one capsule), staying

there for a week, then adding a second capsule for a week, then a third.  I

give him 2 in the morning and one after school, partly because I read it keeps

some people awake to give it right before bed.  You can take it in conjunction

with an SSRI (he takes Luvox and Clonidine).  We have had no side effects at

all, but he does complain that the capsules have a sulfur taste and smell.  It

takes a long time to

see results according to most of what I read, at the minimum 6-10 weeks, and

I found that to be true, but we do feel it has lessened his symptom severity. We

started it at the beginning of June, and it was at least August before we

noticed improvement, but I definitely do think it helps.  From reading the

previous posts maybe we need to go up even more, to 2400 or 3000 mg.  It is

very inexpensive compared to prescription meds.  I order it from Swanson's.  I

only take 600 mg, but I do think it helps strengthen the immune system, too!  I

told his psychiatrist we were giving it to him and she was indifferent about it,

said it wouldn't hurt, might help.

________________________________

To:

Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 12:17 PM

Subject: Using Riluzole or NAC for OCD

 

Lately, I've become a big believer in natural remedies. In researching OCD as

usual, I ran across these two things. The NAC is N-acetyle cysteine, a

glutamate modulating agent. Glutamate is apparently something that can be out

of kilter in OCD sufferers.

Has anyone here used either of these? Do you need a prescription for either of

them? And have you seen any success with either or?

Thanks!

Debbie

[Guest guest]

I thought I posted this last night but it didn't appear, so trying again.

----- Forwarded Message -----

To: " " < >

Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2011 12:01 AM

Subject: Re: Using Riluzole or NAC for OCD

I had come across information about NAC for OCD some time ago, and it intrigued

me because I have been taking it myself for several years because I had heard

it can improve immunity (and I work in a children's hospital).  I also have

mild OCD, and have not been troubled by it for many years, and wondered if the

NAC could be part of that remission.  So, I found as much information about it

as I could, and decided to try it with my son, diagnosed last December.  We

started slowly because of the chance for nausea, 600 mg (one capsule), staying

there for a week, then adding a second capsule for a week, then a third.  I

give him 2 in the morning and one after school, partly because I read it keeps

some people awake to give it right before bed.  You can take it in conjunction

with an SSRI (he takes Luvox and Clonidine).  We have had no side effects at

all, but he does complain that the capsules have a sulfur taste and smell.  It

takes a long time to

see results according to most of what I read, at the minimum 6-10 weeks, and

I found that to be true, but we do feel it has lessened his symptom severity. We

started it at the beginning of June, and it was at least August before we

noticed improvement, but I definitely do think it helps.  From reading the

previous posts maybe we need to go up even more, to 2400 or 3000 mg.  It is

very inexpensive compared to prescription meds.  I order it from Swanson's.  I

only take 600 mg, but I do think it helps strengthen the immune system, too!  I

told his psychiatrist we were giving it to him and she was indifferent about it,

said it wouldn't hurt, might help.

________________________________

To:

Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 12:17 PM

Subject: Using Riluzole or NAC for OCD

 

Lately, I've become a big believer in natural remedies. In researching OCD as

usual, I ran across these two things. The NAC is N-acetyle cysteine, a

glutamate modulating agent. Glutamate is apparently something that can be out

of kilter in OCD sufferers.

Has anyone here used either of these? Do you need a prescription for either of

them? And have you seen any success with either or?

Thanks!

Debbie