Posted by Q (198.64.206.92) on June 06, 2000 at 00:39:05:
Over the past two months I have been conducting a self-experiment on the effects of a chemical mix and CH attacks. Here's the deal...
Background -- I have been episodic CH for some years now, diagnosed in 1991/92. Began chronic episode in late 1999, continuing to present, except as explained below.
Experiment -- Noticed effect of Wellbutrin on CH in 1999. Started taking various vitamin-type supplements to increase general health in early 2000. Noticed almost immediate relief from daily and 2x/3x attack days when taking handfuls of supplements. Felt better and stopped taking supplements ... attacks returned shortly ... depression set-in ... would not take supplements for 10 days to two weeks. Got tired of depression, remembered supplements, resumed supplements, attacks disappeared, felt better, stopped taking supplements, cycle repeats.
I have these two 7-day pill dispensers which I would fill for two-weeks at a time. In them I would load a two-week supply of supplements to begin the experiment. I would take the daily dose almost every day, only missing a day or two in any two-week cycle.
I have narrowed it down to this: 75 mg Wellbutrin and 50 mg 5-HTP per day does the trick. It takes only a day or two to get this into play and two-to-three days to wash-out and relapse back into the daily attacks.
I have repeated this cycle for the past three months with almost perfect coorelation between the supplements and the CH-free periods, lack of supplements and CH-attack periods. The last two attack-periods were prolonged just to see if the supplements would abort the cycle and prevent subsequent attacks, which it has.
BobP, correct me if I am mistaken, but isn't 5-HTP the substance that the brain turns into serotonin? Miguel was our Wellbutrin expert. Anyone know what to make of this?