n-acetyl cysteine (NAC) for depression and more...

I am always iffy as to the best place to post as one ailment isn't always the lone ailment. However - I think Depression is the one common denominator is most of these troubles. 

I was very angry that my pdoc did not believe me when I called to tell him (2 weeks ago) that I was withdrawing from cymbalta and was in a VERY bad place. I have also had some situational outbursts in the past few weeks as well. All and all it has been a rough road lately. But at that particular time, I was about ready to admit myself.

Last week I finally got in to see my pdoc. He apologized up and down as he explained that he had been looking at the wrong date on my chart when I called about the withdraw. He thought that I had stopped the cymbalta in 2009 and that I thought I was STILL withdrawing from back then. Please. However, I was just so relieved to finally be validated and to know I wasn't crazy...and I was exactly right. Since then, the withdrawal has pretty much passed I think. But I have been left in this deep depression with bouts of major anger and irritability - especially in the 2 weeks prior to my period. I take 450mg of wellbutrin. And this does help SOME of the depressive symptoms, but certainly not all. I also want to mention that I have lost about 8 lbs since stopping the cymbalta. Drs kept telling me it wasn't causing my inability to lose weight. BS.

Ok. So, before my appt, I knew his next suggestion to me would be lamictal. It only made sense considering my past med history, my remaining symptoms and the fact that it works well for my brother. It does sound like a great med, but I have a bad history with health anxiety and I knew that sitting there waiting to be hit by Steven Johnson's Syndrome (a possible side effect) was so NOT going to go over well with me. So I researched my booty off the night b4 my appt. And I came up with astonishing info on N-acetyl cysteine.

It has been suggested to me by a friend that I may be on the bi-polar spectrum. Soft bipolar is what they call it I guess. Where it is mostly just the depressive states and the manic comes out rarely and in atypical ways such as anxiety, anger, etc. I had never thought bi-polar was my issue as I never experienced what I considered to be a manic state.

N-acetyl cysteine has been shown to work better than lamicatal and other similar meds in the treatment of bipolar depression. It is also beneficial for many other ailments and disease prevention. I printed out what I had found and handed it to doc. He looked it up on his sites and appeared shocked and quite pleased. It was a definite that that was the new plan for me. This is a medical supplement OTC and is quite cheap. I got 5 bottles #120 for 28 bucks. It just arrived today so I cannot attest to anything yet other than my immense HOPE. I feel this is close to the last resort for me. It HAS to work.

I will be taking 600mg capsules 2 times a day and then move it up as needed/tolerated to no more than 2.5 grams a day.

This was long, I know. Sorry. But I would LOVE to hear your thoughts!!!!

Thanks for listening!!!

Heather, 36

Cheers44

New to this group. I was diagnosed with soft bipolar myself. I also was given the diagnosis of major depressive disorder; moderate?? So I am not sure what my problem is. Mostly they talk about the bipolar; However, I don't meet the complete criteria so it's called bipolar nos. Not otherwise specified.

I have been taking 1,800 mg. of N Acetyl Cysteine and I can't say enough about this stuff. I will never stop taking this since it is working so well for me.

The biggest improvement is the "clear head" feeling. Before it kind of felt like I had brain fog or an "achy type feeling in my head"

It just clears it up beautifully.

It makes me feel less depressed and that is the best part about it. I have also done CBT group therapy and so I think the combination is great.

I am not on any other prescription medications.

So yes! I do recommend this suppliment. It is fantastic!

Drama