The article was an interesting read until I hit the picture showing Deplin. I want to share my story about this drug. After having a DNA test done and finding out I had an MTHFR gene mutation, my psychiatrist prescribed me that orange pill. She had lots of samples, too, which I was grateful for as it was extraordinarily expensive. i.e. not covered by insurance since it's technically a "medical food". I paid for it anyways, because she sold it to me as "a magical cure" of sorts and I won't lie, that seemed appealing to me. Something new? After all this struggle? Sure, fuck it, let's try it. I will leave out my backstory and detail about my condition for the sake of brevity (something I'm not very good at).
5-MTHF did work for me, albeit at a MUCH lower dose of 5mg. Some people even get relief from 1mg. But... Deplin comes in 7mg and 15mg doses. My new doctors in Seattle (Naturopaths, not psychiatrists) have advised me that even 7mg is quite a bit of extra 5-MTHF. I don't know the scientific details behind this, but I know from experience, 15mg was entirely way too much for my body and I experienced excruciating periods of "overmethlyation" (extremely high anxiety, all sorts of sensory hallucinations, very uncomfortable!).
The doctor that did the DNA test advised 15mg. Not my psychiatrist. It was just a note scribbled on the front of the DNA results packet. I didn't know anything about 5-MTHF at the time so I did not argue and began on the 15mg. Psych didn't say anything, either: i was only her 3rd patient trying Deplin.
I was completely unstable until I titrated the dose 8 months later: I'd been mistaking most of the symptoms for benzodiazapine withdrawal and didn't think to blame the Deplin for being uncomfortable. I was too unstable to properly judge my mental state. at the time, I had subconsciously thought: why would I question the Deplin? My psychiatrist told me that it was made for people like me (who have the genetic defect). No way it could be hurting me.
I wonder how many other mental health patients are being tortured by a similar conundrum right now? (Tortured may seem a bit harsh, but overmethlyation is something I would not wish on my enemies...) Further, I wonder how many people are being suggested Deplin as they were Prozac, in a case where a doctor doesn't know anything about MTHFR gene and thinks it's just a fancy new drug to try out?
I wish there was more information about the supplement's effects and its dosages available for psychiatrists. About a year later, I began ordering 5-MTHF (the main component of the 'drug') from Amazon for 1/3 of the price. You can also get it made at compounding pharmacies for cheaper.
I feel terrible thinking about other people who may think they are locked into paying for Deplin because their psychiatrist does not know any better. I think what Nestle is doing may be good for profits, by making an illusion of a 'unique solution', but at the same time it makes my stomach turn. Thanks for reading.
5-MTHF did work for me, albeit at a MUCH lower dose of 5mg. Some people even get relief from 1mg. But... Deplin comes in 7mg and 15mg doses. My new doctors in Seattle (Naturopaths, not psychiatrists) have advised me that even 7mg is quite a bit of extra 5-MTHF. I don't know the scientific details behind this, but I know from experience, 15mg was entirely way too much for my body and I experienced excruciating periods of "overmethlyation" (extremely high anxiety, all sorts of sensory hallucinations, very uncomfortable!).
The doctor that did the DNA test advised 15mg. Not my psychiatrist. It was just a note scribbled on the front of the DNA results packet. I didn't know anything about 5-MTHF at the time so I did not argue and began on the 15mg. Psych didn't say anything, either: i was only her 3rd patient trying Deplin.
I was completely unstable until I titrated the dose 8 months later: I'd been mistaking most of the symptoms for benzodiazapine withdrawal and didn't think to blame the Deplin for being uncomfortable. I was too unstable to properly judge my mental state. at the time, I had subconsciously thought: why would I question the Deplin? My psychiatrist told me that it was made for people like me (who have the genetic defect). No way it could be hurting me.
I wonder how many other mental health patients are being tortured by a similar conundrum right now? (Tortured may seem a bit harsh, but overmethlyation is something I would not wish on my enemies...) Further, I wonder how many people are being suggested Deplin as they were Prozac, in a case where a doctor doesn't know anything about MTHFR gene and thinks it's just a fancy new drug to try out?
I wish there was more information about the supplement's effects and its dosages available for psychiatrists. About a year later, I began ordering 5-MTHF (the main component of the 'drug') from Amazon for 1/3 of the price. You can also get it made at compounding pharmacies for cheaper.
I feel terrible thinking about other people who may think they are locked into paying for Deplin because their psychiatrist does not know any better. I think what Nestle is doing may be good for profits, by making an illusion of a 'unique solution', but at the same time it makes my stomach turn. Thanks for reading.