Replies to 'Bipolar Disorder'

Some time ago on a show Dr. Phil did on ADD I think it was...the other doctor Frank Lawless I think his name is...I could check but I'm too lazy right now so if i got the name wrong i apologize...anyway he mentioned vitamin B6...he also said it takes at least 6 weeks to take effect....I remembered a doctor I saw years ago suggested B6 for my PMS and I didn't really take him seriously because i wasn't' aware of the power of nutrition...so anyway I still didn't try it right away...but a few months ago I started taking B6 and I took it everyday for 6 weeks...my last two periods have been virtually PMS free...the first time I was too afraid to believe it so I waited before getting my hopes up...when I recently started my second period since taking B6 and realized I had only been PMSing for 3 days I burst into tears.  I have suffered with severe PMS since my teens...it usually lasted between 10 and 14 days out of every month with a list of symptoms as long as my arm...I still am afraid to get my hopes up and I am noticing now that when I take the B6 I feel a little restless...I am taking 100mg a day...I am going to try 50mg for awhile and see what that does.  I also did some research and found this...maybe you could share it with your sister... 

Vitamin B6...And Mental Health

 

A study found plasma pyridoxal-5-phosphate (active vitamin B6) levels were about 48% lower in depressed patients than in controls, a statistically significant finding. 57% of depressed patients, but none of the controls, were B6-deficient. When B6 nutriture was evaluated by enzyme stimulation testing (a more sensitive method), all the depressed patients and none of the controls were deficient. [Russ CS et al. Vitamin B6 status of depressed and obsessive-compulsive patients. Nutr Rep Int 27( 4): pp.867-73, 1983 

A deficiency of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) causes extreme anxiety, nervousness, confusion, and melancholy. Vitamin B6 is easily destroyed by heavy use of alcohol, drugs and refined sugars.