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The role of low serotonin, low vitamin B6 and low iron in anxiety and panic attacks

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Low serotonin can cause anxiety and panic attacks. Because vitamin B6 and iron are required raw materials for making serotonin, we know that low levels of these two nutrients often contribute to anxiety and panic attacks.

We have some pretty recent research supporting all this: Low serum concentrations of vitamin B6 and iron are related to panic attack and hyperventilation attack

Reduced serotonin level is known as one of the causes of panic attacks and hyperventilation attacks ….

In the serotonin synthesis system of the brain, vitamin B6 is a coenzyme for tryptophan hydroxylase, which is involved in the conversion of tryptophan into 5-hydroxytryptophan and iron serves as a cofactor for aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase involved in the formation of serotonin from 5-hydroxytryptophan. Therefore, a reduction in vitamin B6 and iron levels can suppress the progression of the serotonin synthesis.

The study authors measured serum levels of vitamins B2, B6, and B12 and iron in 21 premenopausal women who had been admitted to the emergency room with panic attacks.

The results were compared with lab values from 20 volunteers, also premenopausal women, and this is what they reported:

We found that both vitamin B6 and iron levels were significantly lower in the panic attack/hyperventilation attack group than in the volunteer group. There was no significant difference in the serum levels of vitamins B2 or B12.

These results suggest that low serum concentrations of vitamin B6 and iron are involved in panic attacks and hyperventilation attacks.

This certainly confirms what I see with my clients. When I’m working with someone with anxiety, we always assess for low serotonin, low iron and low vitamin B6 levels, and when we address low levels we almost always see improvements – both in the reduction of anxiety and panic attacks. We’ll often see a mood boost too, sleep improvements and a reduction in carb cravings.

Here are some additional factors to consider:

  • Vitamin B6 can be challenging to measure in serum so I like to also use the pyroluria questionnaire and poor dream recall as a clue. The authors mention that serum pyridoxal 5-phosphate (PLP) is often used as an indication of B6 status, however they opted to use pyridoxal (PAL) after conversion from PLP.
  • Supplementing with vitamin B6 can often lead to some improvements in a few weeks with many folks who have pyroluria reporting feeling less anxious and more social within a week.
  • There is the potential for vitamin B6 toxicity. I have yet to see any signs of toxicity in my clients, but I have also not ever recommended more than 500mg/day. However, there are some individuals who have issues with very small amounts of vitamin B6. Unfortunately, I do not know why this happens.
  • Testing ferritin levels are an excellent way to assess iron levels and iron should never be supplemented unless iron is low. Dr. Izabella Wentz, shares in her book Hashimoto’s Protocol and blog that the optimal ferritin level for thyroid function is between 90-110 ng/m. Addressing low iron levels can take awhile to see a shift in labs.
  • Because zinc and magnesium are also cofactors for making serotonin, low levels may also need to be addressed. I would have loved to see these included in this study,
  • As always, we assess for low serotonin levels using the amino acid questionnaire and start on tryptophan or 5-HTP right away, based on doing trials – so we can see anxiety reduction and relief from panic attacks right away, while the other changes are starting to provide the raw materials for serotonin production.

Keep in mind that low serotonin and low iron and/or low vitamin B6 – although very common with anxiety and panic attacks – are not the only root cause and many other factors may also need to be addressed.

We’d love to hear if addressing low iron and/or low vitamin B6 levels have helped you? Did you use tryptophan and/or 5-HTP at the same time?

If you’re a practitioner, are often do you see low iron and/or low vitamin B6 in your anxious clients/patients?

The individual amino acids glutamine, GABA, tryptophan (or 5-HTP), DPA and tyrosine are powerful for eliminating sugar cravings, often within 5 minutes

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The individual amino acids glutamine, GABA, tryptophan (or 5-HTP), DPA and tyrosine are powerful for eliminating sugar cravings, often within 5 minutes. It seems that this wonderful benefit – over and above the anxiety-reducing and mood-boosting benefits – is often overlooked or poorly understood.

I recently posted this on Facebook: GABA for ending sugar cravings (and anxiety and insomnia) and I’m writing this blog today because it’s clear there is some confusion about this cravings aspect.

Let me first recap Melissa’s experience with Source Naturals GABA Calm during her family holiday trip (the link above has all the details):

I’m glad I bought it before travelling home for Christmas – I was cool as a cucumber at the airport and was much calmer when visiting family and friends compared to last year! I notice a general calmness and am sleeping well.

As well as the calming benefits of GABA, Melissa found this unexpected reduction in cravings for sweets, chocolates, truffles and ice cream after about a week of taking it:

I didn’t even realize this until I was grocery shopping and out of habit walked towards the ice cream – I stopped and realized I didn’t want ice cream. So I walked toward the chocolate – same reaction. For once in my life, I was not craving sweets. I made truffles for a NYE party and only ate two. But what is really shocking is that the leftovers are still in my refrigerator two days later and I haven’t touched them.

This is a very typical response that I see with my clients and when I shared the above blog, others on Facebook shared similar experiences and surprise about the connections. Kim found it fascinating and very timely saying:

I ran out of GABA a month ago. Not only has my anxiety been very difficult to manage but literally I haven’t been able to stop eating. Sugary, high carb, total junk has consumed my thoughts. I never realized the correlation.

April also seemed surprised to learn that GABA was also actually helping with her sugar cravings too:

I think my sugar cravings are down (not looking for something sweet every night after dinner, maybe I treat myself to once a week and not overindulge when I do) and when I think about it, I’ve lost a bit of weight as a result. Most of all it helps me sleep and reduces tension in my neck.

In the above examples, due to low GABA levels in these women, GABA was helped with both the anxiety and the stress-eating, leading to a calming effect and reduced sugar cravings. If you have low blood sugar cravings then glutamine is the amino acid to use; low serotonin cravings then tryptophan or 5-HTP will help; low endorphin cravings then DPA will do the trick; and low catecholamines then tyrosine is the amino acid to use.

The best way to figure it which neurotransmitter deficiency is affecting your sugar cravings is to do the amino acid mood questionnaire and also review this list for further clarification:

  1. If you have to eat sugar when you haven’t eaten in awhile it’s likely low blood sugar and glutamine on the tongue stops the sugar desire almost immediately and also helps with the low blood sugar symptoms of shakiness and irritability
  2. If you stress-eat your sugar cravings are likely due to low GABA, and GABA will stop the stress-eating and calm you down
  3. If you eat sugar or carbs to feel happy (and especially from late afternoon into the evening) then your sugar cravings are likely due to low serotonin, and tryptophan (or 5-HTP) stops the cravings and boosts mood and reduces anxiety
  4. If you are a comfort-eater then it’s likely due to low endorphins and DPA will stop that feeling of “I deserve-it” kind of reward-eating or comfort-eating and also give you a hug-like mood boost
  5. If you eat sugar for an energy boost or to give your focus then it’s likely due to low catecholamines and tyrosine will stop those cravings and give you a mood and energy boost, and help with mental clarity

It’s not uncommon for my anxious clients to have issues in all these areas and I have them address low blood sugar and each neurotransmitter deficiency one by one (for 2 through 5) and very methodically so they know exactly which areas are problematic for them.

When it comes to low blood sugar, addressing adrenal health is also key. And as always, we need to be making dietary changes, fixing gut health, addressing other deficiencies, removing toxins and more, using a complete functional medicine approach.

However, using the amino acids in a targeted way like this gets you results quickly while you’re figuring out everything else.

You may say “what exactly do you mean by quickly”?   When opened onto the tongue and used with the trial method, based on your unique needs, if you have low levels, you can expect to notice effects in as quickly as 5 minutes and sometimes up to 15 minutes in some cases! This is why I like to refer to them as the amazing amino acids! They truly are amazing for eliminating cravings, reducing anxiety and improving mood and even sleep – provided they are needed.

Last year I wrote a series of blog posts on each of the above-mentioned amino acids. If you missed them you may find them helpful for getting a better understanding, even though they are not specific about sugar cravings:

Have you found any of the amino acids to help you eliminate your cravings for sweets, chocolate, ice-cream and other high-carb foods? Were you pleasantly surprised to experience this lovely benefit when you were initially looking for anxiety-relief?

If you’re a practitioner, do you see similar cravings benefits with your anxious clients/patients?

Feel free to ask your questions and share challenges you’ve had too.

More kids are showing up in ERs with anxiety, depression and other common mental health problems: why isn’t nutritional psychiatry part of the discussion?

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This article on NBC news, More kids are showing up in ERs (Emergency Rooms) with mental health crises, reports large increases across the country.

Dr. Anna Abrams, a pediatrician and researcher at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, finds the numbers both shocking and disheartening.

In the 5-year period from 2012 to 2016, when looking at ER mental health admissions in 45 children’s hospitals, they found the following increases:

  • 48 % in white children
  • 64% in non-Hispanic black children
  • 77% increase in Hispanic children

with about a 55 % increase overall.

Dr. Abrams and her colleagues presented these findings at the American Academy of Pediatrics conference in earlier this month.

Other than the very large increases, there is something else to be concerned about: the researchers say they aren’t sure why we are seeing these increases, speculating it “could be due to the scarcity of mental health professionals who can help children” and “People are also talking more openly about depression, anxiety and other common mental health problems and that may make parents feel more comfortable about seeking help for their children.”

While these are very valid reasons, we really do need to be incorporating nutritional psychiatry (a term coined in 2015) and functional medicine (Dr. Mark Hyman is one of the leaders in functional medicine) into these discussions, studies and conferences. Other than poor diets and nutritional deficiencies we need to be considering stress, exposure to toxins, poor gut health and increasing Wifi exposure, to name a few.

If we look at diet alone, there is so much recent research supporting the connection between diet and mental health. Here are two of many new studies:

Despite some contradictory results, overall there was support for an association between healthy dietary patterns or consumption of a high-quality diet and lower levels of depression or better mental health. Similarly, there was a relationship between unhealthy diet and consumption of low-quality diet and depression or poor mental health.

These data suggest that Iranian adolescent females eating a pro-inflammatory diet…had greater odds of having at least moderate depressive symptoms.

And here are just a few other factors to consider:

How do we get this nutritional psychiatry research and case studies into the hands of those who can change actually policy and the way mental health is addressed? I believe it has to be a grass-roots effort from the bottom up and I have these suggestions:

  • share this blog and the research with your doctor and/or allied health practitioner
  • reach out to study authors, journalists and legislators and share research and success stories like the above, and your own personal results
  • if you’re a practitioner, write blogs like this sharing the good results you see with your clients and patients – with researchers, journalists and legislators
  • share in forums and on social media, and with your neighbors, friends and family
  • comment on blogs like this – with success stories in your family or with clients – so more people get to see what really is working

Every little bit helps! I’d love to hear your ideas too.

EMFs from computers, phones, smart meters and circuit breakers: insomnia, anxiety, depression, IBS, numb hands and skin issues

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EMFs from computers, phones, smart meters and circuit breakers can cause insomnia, anxiety, depression, IBS, numb hands and skin issues, and even play a role in the severity of autism and other chronic health conditions.

Investigative health journalist, Nick Pineault, also known as “The EMF Guy” is on a mission to create awareness and provide practical and research-based resources for practitioners via his ElectrosmogRX training. He kindly offered to answer questions from some of you in my community. Thank you if you submitted a question and if you didn’t hopefully you get to learn from these great questions that were submitted.

Sarah ask about smart meters, cell phone in the bedroom and a CPAP machine, and depression, IBS, insomnia, pain and sinus problems

PART 1: I’d like to know Nick’s thoughts on what to do about a smart meter outside a bedroom wall almost directly behind my husband’s side of the bed. He suffers from many things… depression IBS, diarrhea during stressful events, painful joints and muscles, fatigue, insomnia at times, sinus problems.

Here is Nick’s feedback for Sarah:

Smart utility meters have often been linked with an increase in a slew of symptoms. One 2013 survey conducted in Maine has shown that 98% of respondents were “fairly sure” or “very sure” that their meter had made them sicker.

Depression, digestive issues, joint pain, fatigue, insomnia are all possible EMF-related symptoms.

The best thing you can do is to call your utility company and have your smart meter replaced by an analog meter. In certain states they will charge you a monthly penalty for that, and in other states the utility company won’t let you do it.

If you can’t remove the smart meter, then your next best choice is to shield it. A cheap solution to dampen the signal is to install a Smart Meter Guard, but in the case of your husband there’s a chance this would not be enough.

You could install special shielding materials between your bedroom wall and the meter, with the help of a certified Building Biologist (find one in your state)

PART 2: I’ve just put our WiFi on a timer to turn off at night. He still charges his phone next to him at night and sleeps with a CPAP machine. My main question is, in the whole scheme of EMF exposure where does the smart meter stand? And how serious is this compared to having the phone charging at night and the CPAP machine?  Thanks very much for all that you do!

Here is Nick’s additional feedback for Sarah H:

Turning off the wifi at night is an extremely important step. In the case of your husband, again I’m not sure that will be sufficient.

I would try the following for 3 nights:

  • Make sure the CPAP machine is 3 or more feet away.
  • Charge the phones in another room
  • No wireless device in the room whatsoever
  • Unplug everything from the walls — lamps, alarm clocks, etc. Phones in Airplane Mode can act as an alarm clock, but don’t charge it on the bed stand.

See how his symptoms change. If there are improvements in his sleep and reduction in symptoms, it’ll be easier for him to get on board too.

I’d like to add to this and suggest also getting a meter to get your husband on board – seeing is often believing.

Nicole is concerned about numb hands, hypersensitivity to smells and skin issues

Can EMFs cause numb hands, hypersensitivity to smells, skin issues?

Here is Nick’s feedback for Nicole:

Numb hands is a very common symptom. A lot of people feel itchy, tingling or other weird sensations when they hold a cell phone.

Hypersensitivity to smells might be linked with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), which often comes with his cousin electro hypersensitivity (EHS).

EMFs can definitely be linked with skin issues as well. For starters, EMF cause oxidative stress in cells, which will lead to premature aging of the skin.

Many EHS sufferers have reported skin-related symptoms. The work of Dr. Dominique Belpomme from France has shown that 40% of EHS people have high histamine levels in their blood, and the work of Olle Johansson has shown that exposure to screens and TV monitors (sources of magnetic and electrical fields) causes mast cells to migrate to the top dermis and release more histamine.

Basically, this means that a lot of us could be having a type of low-level allergic reaction on the skin when exposed to various types of EMFs.

Dilia is concerned about the circuit breaker and EMFs

How can I deal with EMF? I live in a small apartment where the breaker of the house is located. Is there something I can do about this?

Here is Nick’s feedback for Dilia:

Make sure that this circuit breaker panel is at least several feet away from an area where you spend a lot of time. It is unfortunately very hard to shield against the magnetic fields emitted by a breaker panel — I would suggest hiring a Building Biologist if the breaker panel was right next to your bed, for example.

That being said, generally speaking, you can deal with EMFs by turning off your wireless devices when not in use.

This includes:

  • Hitting Airplane Mode on your phone unless you need it
  • Turning off the wifi at night when not in use and at night, or using wired ethernet (best)
  • “Unsmarting” the home by getting rid of cordless phones and other wireless gadgets if you can

Sarah J asks about EMF mitigating devices and harmonizers for anxiety, sleep issues and more

My family is experiencing a plethora of serious health issues including anxiety, major sleep issues, autism, multiple brain injuries, etc.

There are many EMF mitigating devices and harmonizers on the market.  Which products really make a difference? How can one know? Are there any specific brands you can recommend that really work?

How does one cut through the pretenders and find the products that really help? Thank you for the opportunity ask Nick!! I’ve struggling with these questions for a long time

Here is Nick’s feedback for Sarah J:

A lot of devices (chips you’d out on your cell phone or computer, pendants, etc.) claim to “harmonize” EMFs, but there is very little scientific validation to back up these claims.

I cannot deny that some of these devices have been shown to alleviate some symptoms: less frequent headaches, less blood clumping and better blood circulation, better HRV (a sign of lowered stress), etc.

That being said, there are a few problems with these devices:

a) They are often marketed as “protective” (prevents harm), but the manufacturers offer tests which demonstrate that they are “supportive” (reduces symptoms).

In other words, I have no seen a single manufacturer of these devices who could show me the scientific proof that if I installed one of these devices on my phone, my body would experience ZERO biological effects from it. No DNA damage, no oxidative stress.

b) As these devices reduce symptoms related to EMF exposure, some people use them as an excuse to increase their EMF exposure now that they don’t feel as sensitive to EMFs anymore.

If you keep all of the above in mind, using these pendant or “chips” isn’t a bad idea to reduce symptoms and support the body during times of inevitable exposure outside the home.

May I add that considering the plethora of symptoms that your family is experiencing — all of which have been linked in medical literature with EMF exposure — I suggest hiring a Building Biologist and having them do a thorough home survey in order to identify how you could minimize EMFs inside the home, and shield against outside exposures (cell phone towers, smart meters, etc.), if the need be.

I’d like to add that I am convinced my Qlink helps me, especially with sleep, but I also follow Nick’s advice and have no WiFi and very seldom use my smart phone. I also recently had someone share this with me: “I shut off my WiFi at night and wear a Qlink. I have tested the Qlink with looking at blood cells under a dark field microscope and when it’s removed there is definitely clumping of red blood cells. They move fine with it on.”

This question about EMF mitigating devices and harmonizers is the most common question I get related to EMFs so I’d like to reiterate Nick’s advice and share how Dr. Klinghardt supports his patients who have chronic health conditions – notice he makes no mention of devices or harmonizers.

The above slide is shared with permission from Nick Pineault’s ElectrosmogRX training (more details below).

Adriana asks this question about EMFs and sleep

My boyfriend cannot sleep for years now. We are in the outskirts of [a big city], close to the international airport. We lived in the city and there we had a lot of EMF (3 GSM antennas on the neighboring block, WiFi with every neighbor in the block – 10 stories high and 4 apartments/floor + intelligent meters for heating on every heater in the house. That was a lot for him and after we moved outside the city, to a house and in a low-density housing area, then it was better for him. But he sits at the laptop for 6-8 hours every day. You think that may be affecting him that much?

Here is Nick’s feedback for Adriana:

Your boyfriend might be feeling symptoms related to EMF exposure, and sleep disturbance is one of the most common ones.

If he exposes himself to a laptop connected via WiFi, then his symptoms might persist.

In his case, especially if he works at the computer all day, every day — I’d recommend cutting off the WiFi anytime it’s not in use and using his computer via an ethernet cable instead of WiFi.

Turn off the WiFi at night, unplug everything from the walls and even turn off the circuit breaker to the bedroom at night for at least 3 days and sees if this helps him.

In order to alleviate EMF sensitivity, it’s critical that he takes extra step to reduce his exposure as much as possible.

If you’re a practitioner, are you looking at the impact EMFs have on the health of your clients/patients and do you feel comfortable answering questions like these ones? If not, Nick Pineault is on a mission to create awareness and provide practical and research-based resources for practitioners via his ElectrosmogRX training (it’s 33% off for a limited time).

Nick is also offering these non-cost resources so you can be as informed as possible:

This blog is strictly about EMFs – which cannot be ignored – but we must not forget how the amino acids like GABA and tryptophan can help with anxiety and depression, and even pain and IBS. They can both also help with insomnia as can melatonin which has been shown to be disrupted by EMF exposure. This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of nutritional support for EMF-related issues for both healing and resilience – Nick covers it all in the ElectrosmogRX training (which I’ve done and wholeheartedly endorse).

Are you seeing improvements in your health once you address EMFs? What changes have you made? Have nutritional changes helped too?

MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for Treating Chronic PTSD: Why I feel we can do better and the role of nutrition and amino acids like GABA

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You may be familiar with MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), also known as “ecstasy”, because of its reputation as a party drug. And you have likely seen some of the media reports on the new research and growing support for MDMA-Assisted psychotherapy for treating chronic PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Due to adverse effects I’d like to share my concerns about this research and treatment and why I feel we can do better – by addressing nutrition and using amino acids like GABA and others.

In a recent press release, Colorado Study Shows Lasting Benefits of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for Treating Chronic PTSD, the non-profit organization, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) reports these study results:

28 participants found that one month after their second day-long experimental session, 42.9% in the active-dose (100 mg and 125 mg) MDMA groups did not qualify for a diagnosis of PTSD, compared to 33.3% in the low-dose MDMA (40 mg active placebo) control group.

The results were even more notable 12 months after the third active-dose experimental session, which found that one year following treatment with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, 76% of participants no longer had PTSD.

It is the largest U.S. FDA-regulated double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of chronic PTSD and the results are impressive: 76% of the study participants no longer had PTSD after a year and 3 treatment sessions. I’m really happy for the participants BUT I believe we can do better because there are adverse reactions to this treatment and there are other safer approaches for recovery.

This comment about an acceptable risk profile and adverse reactions concerns me (and I suspect it concerns you too):

The study replicated previous research showing an acceptable risk profile for MDMA, with the most frequently reported adverse reactions during experimental sessions being anxiety, jaw clenching, headache, muscle tension, dizziness, fatigue, and low mood.

Adverse reactions one week following treatment included insomnia, low mood, irritability, and ruminations. Temporary elevations in pulse, blood pressure, and temperature were also recorded during MDMA sessions, and did not require medical intervention.

A common theme we see in the research on psychedelics is how effective it is for PTSD that doesn’t respond to therapy or medications. This paper states:

There is an immense need for innovative treatment options that improve outcomes, especially for PTSD refractory to psychotherapy and/or pharmacotherapies

I agree there is an immense need for successful treatment approaches, but jumping to MDMA from psychotherapy and/or psychiatric medications is skipping out the entire nutritional and biochemical step which is SO powerful and doesn’t have the above adverse effects. I’m concerned too many who have not seen benefits from therapy or medications are seeing MDMA as THE solution and are going to be harmed even further.

This paper, The Potential Dangers of Using MDMA for Psychotherapy, the author is concerned about the fact that “acute MDMA can stimulate the release of difficult feelings and memories, which may be distressing” and also the negative moods that occur after MDMA treatment:

This period of negative cognitions may be counter-productive, especially in psychiatrically vulnerable clients, for instance those with predispositions to anxiety, depression, or psychosis. For example, it could increase the likelihood of suicide in those individuals with strong post-recovery feelings of depression.

Because of this, I wholeheartedly agree with the author’s position:

it will always be far safer to undertake psychotherapy without using co-drugs. In selected cases MDMA might provide an initial boost, but it also has far too many potentially damaging effects for safe general usage.

In addition to psychotherapy, there are also so many nutritional and biochemical factors we can consider when it comes to PTSD. These don’t have any of the above damaging effects seen with MDMA. Here are a few to consider:

I feel it is these above approaches and others like this that we need to be using to address PTSD, rather than subjecting individuals who are already suffering to treatments that have adverse reactions AND are not addressing underlying nutritional deficiencies of low GABA, low serotonin, out of balance endocannabinoid system and overall health, to name a few of many possible underlying biochemical factors.

If this treatment approach is approved, I would hope that all the adverse effects and dangers are clearly explained and I’d also like there to be informed consent before it is used – so individuals know exactly what they are getting into. Hopefully, by the time it is approved, nutritional psychiatry will be more accepted.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this research and treatment approach. Is it something you have considered or would possibly consider in the future – you personally or with patients?

Or do you have similar concerns that I have?

Have you already tried MDMA recreationally (possibly for therapeutic reasons) and what were your experiences like?

Using amino acids for anxiety and depression: does the right dose ever change or need a tweak?

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If you are using targeted individual amino acids for anxiety and/or depression and doing well on them, you’ll likely get to the point when you’re asking questions like how to discontinue them and does the right dose ever change or need a tweak, especially after some stressful life events. Amy posted this question in the comments section of the blog on using tyrosine to create a sense of calm energy (paraphrased and formatting for ease of reading)

Trudy you are a God send! I stumbled upon your work after following Julia Ross. I have depression and anxiety. I’m currently taking:

1000 mg tyrosine 2x daily

500 mg glutamine morning, 1000mg mid-morning and afternoon

500mg DPA (Endorphigen) 3 x daily (previously I was using DLPA but your recommended DPA was so much better and less stimulating)

50 mg 5-HTP afternoon and

1500mg tryptophan at night

I used the amino acids to treat what used to be referred to as “atypical” depression: loss of motivation, tiredness, lethargic, intense carb craving, feelings of guilt and hopelessness. I would become paralyzed with depression, barely able to get through the days. When I was younger I treated these episodes with antidepressants but as I got older could no longer tolerate the side effects. I’m also still on birth control pills at the age of 46 and believe I may be in perimenopause but can’t stop the pills for medical reasons.

Tyrosine gave me my energy back, glutamine cut the carb cravings. DPA and True Calm work wonders for my anxiety.

I watch my sugar intake and always consume lots of animal protein. I’m so grateful for this solution.

After trialing this seems to be the right combo. I always get confused when is it time to discontinue supplements? Do you stop or slowly reduce or taper?

Does the “right” dose ever change? I’ve been on this combo about 2 months. I’ve felt great but some anxiety/panic creeping back up …. wondering if supplements need a tweak or is this just the result of some stressful life events. Advice appreciated!

I was really pleased to hear the wonderful results she was having and glad that she had trialed the amino acids to find the correct amount for her unique needs and situation. I don’t see this happening often enough and it really is the most effective way to get results. It’s what I do with all my clients – methodical, step-by-step trialing of each amino acid, one at a time and carefully documenting results (both good and bad) in order to find the optimal dose of each one.

When and how to discontinue the amino acids?

To answer her question about when and how to discontinue this is my feedback:

Once you are feeling back to your old self with no more anxiety, panic attacks or depression, you may choose to stop everything at once, but I prefer to slowly lower the amount of one amino acid at a time and add back if your symptoms come back. They don’t need to be “tapered” but doing it this way it helps with preventing your original anxiety and depression symptoms going back to really bad in one big swoop and having to start all over again.

I will add that I have had feedback from someone saying when she stopped tryptophan abruptly she felt the same withdrawal effects as when she weaned off meds but based on my experience this is very rare.

After posting her question Amy made some adjustments – taking less of all of them. As I mentioned above I find it better to lower the amount of one amino acid at a time – kind of reverse of the trialing method you use when starting the amino acids. Also, since she mentioned she felt anxiety/panic creeping back up, I would have expected her to increase some of the calming amino acids.

Does the right dose ever change or need a tweak?

And to answer Amy’s other question: does the right dose ever change or need a tweak?

Yes, the “right dose” can change based on stressful life events especially if you have pyroluria – stressful life events can cause you to dump more zinc and vitamin B6 affecting serotonin and GABA production and increasing the social anxiety.

Amy does mention that she’s on the birth control pill and this depletes zinc and vitamin B6 and hence serotonin) and has an impact on the microbiome – so this may well be playing a role in the need to tweak doses.

There are many other factors that could lead to the need to adjust the amino acids (or other supplement protocols):

  • hormonal changes like PMS, perimenopause or menopause
  • something contributing to leaky gut like adding back gluten or accidental exposure to gluten
  • antibiotics (affecting the microbiome and serotonin/GABA levels)
  • artificial sweeteners (because of their effect on the microbiome and hormones)
  • starting on other medications (since many cause nutritional depletions)
  • adding in a new food like collagen/gelatin (for some people collagen and gelatin may lower serotonin levels)
  • running a marathon (it likely depletes zinc and may ramp up cortisol)
  • a formulation changing completely without you knowing (one example is Seriphos – used to lower high cortisol – where the core ingredient changed completely and the labeling stayed the same)
  • a product changing from using gelatin to cellulose capsules (this may be problematic if you have SIBO)
  • you move into a new home and get mold exposure
  • you get a new dog or cat and start using Frontline Plus for fleas (fipronil, the active ingredient, targets GABA receptors and recent research points to increased anxiety, aggressive behavior, memory problems)
  • you have started using a sauna (depletion of zinc and other minerals, as well as stirring up toxins)
  • your need for serotonin support increases as you head into winter-time (some low serotonin folks are more susceptible to the winter blues)
  • a recent course of fluoroquinolone antibiotics (impacts on magnesium and GABA levels and the mitochondria)
  • you may no longer need them

This is not a complete list of reasons that could impact you but this will give you an idea of what to start to think about.

Hopefully this shows how important it is to monitor how you’re doing and adjust as needed (either up or down) and think about what is changing in your life.

If you’d like to read about the amino acids products Amy uses – the same ones I recommend and use with clients – you can find them listed on my supplements blog.

We appreciate Amy for allowing me to share her results and posting these questions which are a great learning opportunity for you.  She shared this with me:

I hope my “story” is helpful. Keep doing this important work! I work in the behavior health field. My colleagues think this is radical thinking and continue to only support the medical model. I’ve done a lot of my own research and trial and error. I wish there were more-open minded clinicians.

Hopefully with success stories like this, all the nutritional psychiatry research and behavioral health practitioners like Amy who have experienced it first hand and/or with clients/patients and family, we’ll change how mental health care is approached.

Do success stories like this lead you to be more open-minded about anxiety nutrition solutions? Have they worked for you?

And have you found the ideal dose of amino acids and then needed to adjust them up or down based on any of the above? How methodical were you in doing your adjustments?