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Posted 10/6/2011 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
My psychiatrist did the research for all of us on Deplin--the folic acid

that is most useable by the brain; that is, it gets to the brain more

readily than other types of folic acid, especially in people who do not

metabolize folic acid in the diet or from vitamin pills or whose brain

pathways for brain use of folate are not open.

It does enhance the value of antidepressants in depression, research

shows.

The generally prescribed form is called L-Methylfolate Cal Mg Tab:  generic name: Levomefolate Calcium.  It is often prescribed by psychiatrists in doses of 7.5 Mg. tabs--one daily, taken along with

the antidepressant in the A.M. if that's when we take our first

antidepressant dose.

Let's hope it works very helpfully for us along with antidepressants.  I

was given no word on whether it works with mood stabilizers or not.

I hope this answers the questions for everyone adequately.

Is everybody getting along well in this beautiful fall weather?

It's Genetic 

Posted 10/6/2011 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi It's Genetic,

Thanks for the info on Dephlin. It is very much appreciated.

It is a beautiful fall day here too. I need to be outside taking advantage of this weather. It truly has been nice. I hope that it lasts for awhile. We deserve this, especially with what is yet to come. Old man Winter... Yuck... lol...

I am glad that you are enjoying your day. It sounds like you are anyway. This I think is my favorite season. It seems to make me remember things and places. A lot of dejavu... Kind of magical to me. I love walking in the woods when the leaves are on the ground. I love the smell of the crisp autumn air. Thanks for bringing it up. I have been really enjoying this weather. I hope that it does last for a few weeks anyway. That would be nice. Now that we are into October, you never know what it is going to do.


Take care IG,

Hugs, Karen
Posted 10/7/2011 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
Its Genetic-

I work with Deplin and hope that you are feeling the difference with Deplin. Since it had indication for "suboptimal folate levels in depressed patients" and the studies support the magnitude of effect as fast as 30 days, Deplin may be a safe augmentation for those that are partial responding and non responding. Deplin gives patients (as much 50% of the general population) that have the 677CT gene defect, a chance. See the Deplin website for more information.
Posted 10/7/2011 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, I've read the data on Deplin, Davidrpharmboy, and it's very encouraging. My psychiatrist didn't recommend having the tests
done, however, to determine if the gene is inherited. She felt simply that if it showed improvement in antidepressant effectiveness, it would show up in feeling tone and that was adequate. (No greater expense needed to be incurred, in my case, I should add.)

Deplin seems to be right on the pharmacists' shelves now in the prescription department.

I think it will be very effective.

Of course, we aren't doctors here so any information I've given you is
appropriate for your information only. Always check with a physician
in every case of Deplin use.

Please go to the website Deplin.com and look at the video on how Deplin improves neurotransmitters in the brain and observe the fact that 50% of the population has substandard levels of folate and the percentage rates are as high as 70% in depressed patients, according to the Deplin website.

Thanks for your notes.

It's Genetic

Post Edited (It's Genetic) : 10/8/2011 8:15:55 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/9/2011 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
Some final information on this and then I think I've finished with this subject:

The medications Lamictal (Lamotrigine), Valproic acid (Depakote, I think), and Metformin (a medication used in Diabetes, type II, along with some other medications that I can't remember right now) cause a decreased level of folate in the brain.  It might be worth your time to talk to your psychiatrist about this and to find out what he/she thinks of adding Deplin, the folate that crosses the blood-brain barrier and supplies far more folate than folic acid conversion does.

Taking folic acid (a synthetic form) will not convert to folate in people who cannot provide the enzyme that converts folic acid to the four-step process that makes folate. Deplin supplies folate in  much greater amounts than folic acid does even if people can convert it into folate.

Thirdly, Vitamin B12 is very valuable to the brain function and nervous system, in general. (In fact, the whole series of B vitamins is important.)

It is possible to be low on vitamin B12 and not have it show up in blood tests for megaloblastic anemia. The low levels occur in the brain and aren't revealed in blood tests. Taking cyanocobalamin is the usual route to supply a sufficient amount of B 12 (by taking shots), but it is known now that a better form of B12 for the brain is methylcobalamin, not cyanocobalamin. The brain uses it more effectively.  Where

there is an insufficiency of hydrochloric acid (as in inherited illness or

elderly folks) B12 shots are recommmended at routine intervals.

The material is available on the internet for your use if you wish to read
the information, which I have paraphrased.

I'd like to add to all who use antidepressants: stay with them if your doctor advises. Failure to treat depression on a long-term basis can cause damage to the brain. None of us want that!

Okay; that's all on this subject.  Halleluiah, eh?


I.G.

Post Edited (It's Genetic) : 10/9/2011 8:35:46 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/9/2011 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
Wow you are one smart cookie, even if just paraphrasing!

I think he was talking about depressants, not aANTI-ds. The point, I'm not sure. I know that alot of us take CHS depressants for anxiety. I am PTSD (basically an anxiety disorder) and have taken ativan, valium and am now on Klonopin. They are not beneficial to depressed people but a necessary evil. Me personally, they just seem to make me grouchy!!

I'm going to talk with my therapist about it. Thanks for all that great research IG

Maggie
Posted 10/9/2011 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you, Maggie.


You're exactly right about the boy's information on depressants.

Sorry about that, but under any circumstances, none of the ones you

listed reduce the levels of folate in the brain, as I remember.  I have removed  the part about depressants for the sake of his post.


It's nice to have a grandma from Pa. join, isn't it?

I.G.

Post Edited (It's Genetic) : 10/9/2011 5:26:33 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/10/2011 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, it is...she seems so pleasant...it breaks my heart tath the young and the old don't feel useful or worthy. We see so many young people lately. Of course, my daughter is suffering thru some depression too, but she can't talk about it without getting frustrated. It must be hard for the young to articulate because they don't have the emotional memory bank we do.

I want to thank you and stillme and Karen and jamiee for taking me under your wings-I have been alot lonelier than I thought. My husband thinksI come on here and wallow in my depression. He doen't know what a lifeline this place is and how much I feel better about me when I can help someone else. So thank you all. I think PA grandma will enjoy it here too.

Thanks for the info-like I said I'll tell my therapist. Unfortunately, I seem to be on top of new therapies more than she-lol.

TTYL
Maggie
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