This section focuses on alternative health treatments. Please note that I am not a medical expert, you should definitely consult a medical professional regarding how these may affect you. Refer to the main page on Alternative Treatments for bibliographical information.
Fish Oil Supplements (Omega-3 Fatty Acids)
Omega-3’s are an essential fat meaning that it must be acquired via diet, it cannot be produced by the body. It is primarily available in fish.
ADHD
- Recommended By: Dr. Sandy Newmark, Dr. Daniel Amen, Dr. Ed Hallowell.
- Benefits:
- Decreases hyperactivity, impulsivity.
- Improves concentration.
- Dosage
- Up to 5,000 mg/day for adults, 2,500 mg/day for children (Dr. Ed Hallowell).
- 1,000 to 1,500 mg for children 4-8 (Dr. Sandy Newmark)
Depression
- Recommended By: Dr. David Mischoulon.
- Dosage:
- 1,000 – 2,000 mg/day with at least 60% (600 – 1200 mg) being EPA (Dr. David Mischoulon).
N-Acetylcysteine (NAC)
- May help with a broad spectrum of issues. Besides those covered below these include addictions (e.g. marijuana, cocaine), schizophrenia, bipolar, and alzheimers.
- The mechanisms by which NAC operates are not well understood. It effects oxidative balance and helps modulate neurotransmitter pathways (including glutamate and dopamine).
OCD
- Positive Review: Dr. Olivia Dean, Dr. Frank Giorlando, Dr. Michael Berk (2011), Dr. Richard M. Carlton, Dr. Christopher Pittenger (2013)
- Negative Review: Dr. Jerome Sarris, Dr. Gerard Byrne, Dr. Chad Bousman, Dr. Scott Blair-West, Dr. Vlasios Brakoulias, et al. (2022)
- Mixed Review: Karci, Celik (2020)
- Note: Including compulsive/grooming disorders – e.g. trichotillomania, nail biting, skin picking, pathological gambling.
- Dosage:
- Recommended as a possibility to me by my psychiatrist (400-600 mg 2x/day, 1200 mg max).1These where what he suggested to me. Please don’t utilize these without talking to your own doctor.
- Karci, Celik note that up to 8,000 mg/day can be taken without significant adverse effects.
Depression
- Positive Review: Dr. Olivia Dean, Dr. Frank Giorlando, Dr. Michael Berk (2011)
- Negative Review: Dr. Jerome Sarris, Dr. Gerard Byrne, Dr. Chad Bousman, Dr. Scott Blair-West, Dr. Vlasios Brakoulias, et al. (2022)
- Recommended as a possibility to me by my psychiatrist (400-600 mg 2x/day, 1200 mg max).2These where what he suggested to me. Please don’t utilize these without talking to your own doctor.
Iron (Ferritin)
- Iron is dangerous in too large quantities, important to check with and be monitored by a medical professional.
ADHD
- Recommended By: Dr. Sandy Newmark.
- Dosage:
- Dr. Newmark notes that iron levels tend to be low in ADHD children. While a normal level might be 44 many ADHD children will be around 22 – still within normal range – but low comparatively. She suggests under 35 seeing about supplementation.
Zinc
- Too much can be dangerous, check with and be monitored by a medical professional.
ADHD
- Recommended By: Dr. Sandy Newmark, Dr. Ed Hallowell, ADDitude Editors.
- Note: Evidence is not as strong as for Omega-3/Iron.
- Benefits:
- Regulates dopamine; may help with hyperactivity/impulsiveness.
OCD
- Slight evidence that Zinc supplementation may improve OCD symptoms (Karci, Celik).
Magnesium
- Involved in neurotransmitters.
ADHD
- Recommended By: Dr. Sandy Newmark, ADDitude Editors.
- Note: Evidence is not as strong as for Omega-3/Iron.
- Benefits:
- May help with relaxation, sleep.
S-Adenosyl Methionine (SAM-e)
Depression
- Benefits:
- Helps break down serotonin, melatonin, dopamine.
- Recommended as a possibility to me by my psychiatrist (400 mg 2x day may have GI side-effects, 800 mg 2x therapeutic dose).3These where what he suggested to me. Please don’t utilize these without talking to your own doctor.
Vitamin C
- Note: Be careful about supplement consumption near time of medication consumption, can cause medication not to be absorbed completely into the bloodstream.
ADHD
- Recommended By: Dr. Ed Hallowell (in diet to support dopamine)
Glycine
- Difficult to consume, uncertain efffects. Sarcosine (derivative) may have more promise.
Sarcosine
- Derivative of Glycine.
Tryptophan
- Could increase serotonin but has significant side effects and can induce serotonin syndrome when taken with an SSRI.
5-HTP
- Similar to tryptophan, has similar side effects to tryptophan.
OCD
- Found to have positive results for moderate to severe OCD in a small study (Yousefzadeh, Sahebolzamani, Sadri).
Myoinositol (MI)
- High amounts are found in fruits, grains, nuts, and beans (Karci, Celik).
- Not much research.
OCD
- Not much research, some indication that may not be effective with an SSRI but helpful without (Karci, Celik).