Will juice feasting enhance the effect of psychiatric medication?

[RawSinger]

I'm a little worried about this. I don't want the effect of my medication to overshadow the effect of the juice feast. I know this sounds sort of silly but I want to feel really good because of the juice feast, not because of the heightened effect of my medication. What are your thoughts?

[Eva]

Be very careful about this. It could cause an overdose, although it depends on the drug. I'm sorry that I do not know more information off the top of my head!

[RawSinger]

Okay, I think I'll wait on the juice feast. I don't want to take a chance. Thanks for your help, Eva!

[souldanzer]

I second that it depends on the type of medication you are taking. If you are on SSRIs which enhances the neurotransmitter serotonin in your brain to combat depression, you are supposed to go easy on foods that contain tryptophan. Serotonin elevates mood. Tryptophan is needed to produce serotonin in the brain. SSRIs will inhibit the breakdown of serotonin, so if there is sudden increase in tryptophan in your diet, which can happen on a juice fast, you might create a toxic overdose that can cause liver damage, amongst other issues.
A lot of leafy greens contain significant amounts of tryptophan, also, pumkin seeds and other seeds and nuts. Personally, I avoided going on antidepressants and started eating tons of leafy greens and some seeds and adequate amounts of omega 3s, including DHA and EPA.

:o You might not even be asking about anti-depressants. :o If you felt like giving away what type of meds you're on, I might be able to tell you more. But yeah, it's the internet so there's a tiny lack of privacy. ;)

Souldanzer

[RawSinger]

I second that it depends on the type of medication you are taking. If you are on SSRIs which enhances the neurotransmitter serotonin in your brain to combat depression, you are supposed to go easy on foods that contain tryptophan. Serotonin elevates mood. Tryptophan is needed to produce serotonin in the brain. SSRIs will inhibit the breakdown of serotonin, so if there is sudden increase in tryptophan in your diet, which can happen on a juice fast, you might create a toxic overdose that can cause liver damage, amongst other issues.
A lot of leafy greens contain significant amounts of tryptophan, also, pumkin seeds and other seeds and nuts. Personally, I avoided going on antidepressants and started eating tons of leafy greens and some seeds and adequate amounts of omega 3s, including DHA and EPA.

:o You might not even be asking about anti-depressants. :o If you felt like giving away what type of meds you're on, I might be able to tell you more. But yeah, it's the internet so there's a tiny lack of privacy. ;)

Souldanzer

Thank you for you response, Souldanzer. I really don't care who knows what meds I'm on. I don't care what people think about that aspect of me. I'm going off of them anyway. Also, if people don't like me because of it, I don't need to waste my time with them. Plus, it's not like I chose to be on meds. I hate being on them. I don't want to get into the whole story right now; I'll be as brief as possible.

When I was 12 years old I was put into foster care because my mom was (and is) extremely ill and could not take care of me. I don't know exactly what initiated it, but one day my mom and I went to see a psychiatrist at my local public mental health department (I know, it sounds bad already). Well, anyway, I was very depressed, anxious and having trouble sleeping at the time (Um, of course, I was in a foster home that I didn't like and my mom was very, very ill). So this doctor decided to put me on medication (an anti-anxiety drug, and an anti-psychotic; the latter was just to help me sleep-I wasn't psychotic). This was all done before they tried just putting me in therapy. Uh, hello?!!? Anyway, the anti-psychotic made me so hungry that I would eat everything in sight. As a 12 year old, I was just starting to develop anyway, but I was eating so much that I developed ten fold-and became overweight. Since then (almost 9 years ago), I've always weighed more than my ideal weight and have never been off of medication (I'm not on the same meds as I was then, though). I am still furious about that whole occurrence. I curse that day. I know I've gone off topic but I guess I just needed to share that. The moral of the story? Don't let your kids be put on psychiatric medication unless there is NO other choice. I'm sure this goes without saying but put your kids on a raw vegan diet and see how that affects them before you put them on horrible medication!!

Anyway, back on topic. I am currently on an SSRI (Lexapro; for my depression). I'm also on an anticonvulsant (Trileptal; for my "Bipolar Disorder"), Generic Synthroid for my under-active thyroid, and Trazodone (I think another SSRI, which helps me get to sleep). I will definitely have to be weaned off of these medications before I start a fast. I do not want to take any chances.

I know all my symptoms (The reason I'm on meds in the first place) will go away once I've been on the raw vegan diet for a while. I'm tired of relying on medications that don't even work. I like what people in the mental health field say: "When you're on medication, you have to decide whether the side-effects are worse then the symptoms you experience when you're off medication." Umm, I don't want to make that trade anymore!! I'd rather have no symptoms and no side effects. Ugh, I know I'm rambling but I hope at least a few people can learn from this.

[souldanzer]

Raw Singer,
I WILL get back on this, I just had to work all day and am exhausted (I'm a gardener) and had a job interview today and probably tomorrow...

Souldanzer:)

[RawSinger]

I appreciate it but it's not necessary. I'm currently tapering myself off of the medications.

[souldanzer]

Raw Singer,

I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to this - the season is in full bloom for gardeners :D

I think you have an awsome attitude about your medication and your history. it is so important to realize how powerless we are as children - and that now, that we are adults we can make choices about what happens to our bodies and psychies.
I also want to say that I DO NOT recommend that you wean yourself off your medication on your own. Get *somebody* to supervise you. There are severe side effects that can happen if you don't get off them in the right order, at the right pace, etc., especially if you have been on them for a long time. If you don't like your current doctor, find a different one. There are more alternatively inclined people who will work with you on replacing your psychoactive medication with more natural substitutes, and maybe, eventually get you off everything.
I am a fan of using the natural substance that seems to be missing in body/brain instead of chemical meds. Most psycho-somatic disorders are caused by an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain and in our world more often than not, this is caused by malnutrition. Fixing the diet is the ultimate solution, yet, for the transitional period, I am a supporter of using amino acids and essential fatty acids as supplements to improve well-being.
I also noticed in one of your posts that you are dealing with PMS. PMS, in my opinion, is always a sign of hormones/nutrition gone wrong. It is NOT natural to have PMS (as my doctor tried to convince me). If you have issues with depression, anxiety, etc. AND PMS, they are probably related, IMHO. I wrote a post with some detailed recommendations, a while a go
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?=p398687#post398687
Your thyroid issue also supports that there is something chemically going on with your hormones, that needs to be fixed with diet/amino acids/EFAs instead of medicine.

I'm kind of hesitant to tell you more about what supplements would be good for you to use as I really think you need a health professional to supervise this process for you. If you decide to do it on your own - I wish you the best of luck and health :)

Oh, and I agree totally with you - it is completely wrong to drug up helpless children reacting to dysfunctional situations created by *ADULTS*. Really wrong.
You are going into the right direction and I am convinced that you can have NO symptoms and NO negative side effects. I'm all for the positive side effects of happiness, health, etc. though :D

Souldanzer :)

[domestic goddess]

Yikes!:eek:
I would not taper off these meds without the supervision of a MD. Sorry, that's just too much medication for me to think it would be safe to do on your own. At the very LEAST, I would only do one med at a time, and go VERY slowly. You are on quite a cocktail, and the effects of going OFF these meds all at once and too quickly could have devastating affects on you. PLEASE be careful. I totally get you not wanting to be on these meds, but your body has become accustomed to these chemicals and will not be able to function without then *just like that*. If I were you (and I am not, nor am I a medical person) I would work on the raw aspect of your life and THEN start slowly tapering of one med at a time. I don't know if you have a doc that would be open to what you are trying to do (and there are some cool docs out there, I have one) but see if she/he is and go from there. Good luck to you!

ETA: I am repeating what souldanzer said, as I replied too quickly. SO, basically what souldanzer said. ;)

[RawSinger]

An update: I DID end up tapering myself off of all of my medication (except for my sleeping pills as I still need them). I've been off of everything for about 4 days and as expected, I feel like utter crap. I know it was a dangerous and stupid thing to do but I was just so fed up with it all. Even though I'm going through some HORRIBLE withdrawal, I am not going back on any of that stuff. I'm waiting it out. To both of you, I appreciate your concern and recommendations. Obviously, it's too late now. I don't know if I would have listened to the advice though because I pretty much had my mind made up about going off of them. Foolish, I know. I know that the way I feel now won't last forever so I'm just waiting it out and taking it very easy.

[souldanzer]

RawSinger,

please see your/a doctor. Going off all your medication in such a short time is WAY too fast and very dangerous.
Please, get some medical/professional support with this. Just because you're off them now doesn't mean you're not in danger anymore.

Souldanzer

Edit: This is rather personal to me as my best friend suffered several seizures from tampering with psychiatric medication on her own. She lost her short term memory and the whole experience was just horrible.

[RawSinger]

RawSinger,

please see your/a doctor. Going off all your medication in such a short time is WAY too fast and very dangerous.
Please, get some medical/professional support with this. Just because you're off them now doesn't mean you're not in danger anymore.

Souldanzer

Edit: This is rather personal to me as my best friend suffered several seizures from tampering with psychiatric medication on her own. She lost her short term memory and the whole experience was just horrible.

Okay. I'll take your advice. I know this was such a stupid thing to do. What medication did your friend taper off of??? Will I lose my short-term memory just because I tapered off or was her short-term memory loss a result of the seizures??? Yeah, you really freaked me out, but I'm glad I know.

[Zuri]

Raw Singer,

I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to this - the season is in full bloom for gardeners :D

I think you have an awsome attitude about your medication and your history. it is so important to realize how powerless we are as children - and that now, that we are adults we can make choices about what happens to our bodies and psychies.
I also want to say that I DO NOT recommend that you wean yourself off your medication on your own. Get *somebody* to supervise you. There are severe side effects that can happen if you don't get off them in the right order, at the right pace, etc., especially if you have been on them for a long time. If you don't like your current doctor, find a different one. There are more alternatively inclined people who will work with you on replacing your psychoactive medication with more natural substitutes, and maybe, eventually get you off everything.
I am a fan of using the natural substance that seems to be missing in body/brain instead of chemical meds. Most psycho-somatic disorders are caused by an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain and in our world more often than not, this is caused by malnutrition. Fixing the diet is the ultimate solution, yet, for the transitional period, I am a supporter of using amino acids and essential fatty acids as supplements to improve well-being.
I also noticed in one of your posts that you are dealing with PMS. PMS, in my opinion, is always a sign of hormones/nutrition gone wrong. It is NOT natural to have PMS (as my doctor tried to convince me). If you have issues with depression, anxiety, etc. AND PMS, they are probably related, IMHO. I wrote a post with some detailed recommendations, a while a go
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?=p398687#post398687
Your thyroid issue also supports that there is something chemically going on with your hormones, that needs to be fixed with diet/amino acids/EFAs instead of medicine.

I'm kind of hesitant to tell you more about what supplements would be good for you to use as I really think you need a health professional to supervise this process for you. If you decide to do it on your own - I wish you the best of luck and health :)

Oh, and I agree totally with you - it is completely wrong to drug up helpless children reacting to dysfunctional situations created by *ADULTS*. Really wrong.
You are going into the right direction and I am convinced that you can have NO symptoms and NO negative side effects. I'm all for the positive side effects of happiness, health, etc. though :D

Souldanzer :)

Are you a doctor? Maybe I missed something.

[domestic goddess]

Um, she didn't say she was and her advice was to GET the help of a Dr. or some medical person who could supervise what the OP is trying to do.

[souldanzer]

Nope, I'm not a doctor. That's why I said get the help of a professional and didn't give any recommendations.
I study behavioral neuroscience, and these kinds of disorders are my field of interest, especially how to treat them naturally, preferrably with food and supplements if necessary.


RawSinger,
I'm sorry if I scared you. My friend had three seizures in one day due to playing around with her psychiatric meds. As the result of the seizures she lost her short term memory immediately after. It took her months to be back to functioning and her memory is still severely impaired, 2 years later.
I hope you got the professional support and are now being treated in a way that is comfortable to you and supportive of your goals to get off the meds. I also encourage you to keep speaking up and using your voice :)
Hope you are doing well and experiencing the world without all the fog of meds ;)

Souldanzer