Depression and Bipolar Medications - Natural Remedies for Depression

Written by HealthyPlace.com Staff Writer

vetmed00: Are there any natural remedies for depression and bipolar that can be used in conjunction with antidepressants?

Dr. Watkins: I have used St. Johns Wort in a few patients who did not do well on several other antidepressants. I have also used Fish Oil (Omega 3 Fatty Acids) for mood swings. However, I prefer to try the more established medications first. Since we have very little data on mixing these herbal compounds with traditional medications, I prefer the person to be off other antidepressants before we try the alternative treatments for depression or bipolar disorder.

Rasha: I have a ten month old son and Depression seems to run in my family and on my husband's. Is it possible my son can get depression, and are there ways I can help prevent serious depression?

Dr. Watkins: You should be sure that your son gets a lot of affection from family. Encourage him to develop a mind-set that he can solve problems and that life is not a helpless situation. Some people think that one's cognitive mind-set can be protective against depression. If he does get depression, you may be in a good position to see it and get him help early.

I recommend that children with a family history of depression or bipolar disorder get education about drug abuse and responsible sexual behavior. They are at increased risk for these problems, and a lot can be done for prevention.

David: How important a role does nutrition play in maintaining mood stability?

Dr. Watkins: My patients sometimes say that I act like their mother: Eat your breakfast, eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly. I believe that there was a recent study out of Duke that suggested that regular exercise helped depression. I am not a fan of extreme diets. I have sometimes thought that the extreme Ketogenic diets make some people more irritable.

David: Here's the link to the HealthyPlace.com Bipolar Community. You can click on this link, sign up for the mail list at the top of the page so you can keep up with events like this. Then, here's the link to the Depression Community.

Also, here is the link to Dr. Watkin's site.

nrivkis: I've heard a lot about St. Johns Wort being dangerous in combination with certain foods, much the way the MAOIs are. I've also heard this is nonsense. What's the real story?

Dr. Watkins: Initially, there was a suggestion that St. Johns Wort acted like a MAO Inhibitor. At this point, I don't think that we are worried about having a crisis when you take St. Johns Wort and eat Tyramine-containing foods. The jury is still out on combining it with other medications. One could get a build up of Serotonin. Also the herbal compounds are not tightly regulated like regular medications. The dose of St Johns Wort can vary from pill to pill. That could influence interactions too.

David: Here's an audience comment relating to that:

batiking: I am a chemist, and wish to address "natural" remedies for depression. There is an active ingredient in SJW that is a chemical, just like the active ingredient in traditional meds are chemicals. Just because something is labeled natural doesn't mean that it is safe.

armand: I have been diagnosed with Bipolar since1976. I have never stayed on medications for long. I am forty-eight and I am feeling alright under the doctor's care, but not following up. I have Hepatitis C and I am worried about the effects that Lithium will have on my liver.

Dr. Watkins: With Lithium, we keep track of the kidneys and the thyroid. Some people develop low thyroid functioning while on Lithium. If not corrected, this can exacerbate rapid cycling. One can either switch to another mood stabilizer or add thyroid.

Sometimes Lithium can affect the kidneys. Diabetes insipids (not sugar diabetes) can be a side effect. The kidneys cannot concentrate the urine and the individual needs to drink and urinate a lot. One can switch to another mood stabilizer, or sometimes you add a diuretic medication.

batiking: I am BPII, Rapid cycler. I was recently treated with Topamax as an adjunct to Lamictal (400 mg). I had incredibly bad side effects, including suicidal depression. Is this a typical response to such a promising medication?

Dr. Watkins: I haven't heard of that. Lamictal is a good medication for Bipolar II disorder because it helps the depression without causing a mania. If your mania is well-covered with the Lamictal, you might ask your doctor about cautiously adding Wellbutrin. It has the potential to cause a manic breakthrough, as do all antidepressants. However, it may be less likely to do so than Tricyclics or MAOIs.

dayna: How long should you stay on one antidepressant before you should try a new one?

Dr. Watkins: If you are not getting a good result in 4-6 weeks, consider a switch. If you are getting bad side effects, you may need to switch earlier.

princessdez: I just discovered my 80 year old grandmother has Bipolar. How do I explain that she needs medication after all these years?

Dr. Watkins: If an elderly person gets their first symptoms of Bipolar disorder at that age, she may need a neurological work up. Sometimes other illnesses can mimic depression or bipolar disorder.

blink7: I am on Zyprexa as a mood stabilizer. Is that a good move? The confusion is getting me out of my teaching job. It is hard to focus on anything.

Dr. Watkins: The newer atypical antipsychotics such as Zyprexa can help stabilize mood. Often they are used in conjunction with a mood stabilizer such as Depakote. The Zyprexa might have some antidepressant qualities. If the Zyprexa is causing mental cloudiness, or slow thinking, you might want to talk to your doctor about whether the dose is high or whether a mood stabilizer such as Lithium or Depakote might be helpful.