Vitamins as treatment

Mr Ian · Mar 29, 2009

What's your experience with these or other vitamins? Seems to me if vitamins would work, we could do away with expensive drugs that have icky side effects!

I think we should throw away the expensive pills anyway and just go play in the sun

Jules A, MSN · Mar 29, 2009

I think we should throw away the expensive pills anyway and just go play in the sun

Lol. Vitamin D deficiency can be quite a problem but I'm not so sure I'd throw away the Clozaril just yet.

morte, LPN, LVN · Mar 29, 2009

Lol. Vitamin D deficiency can be quite a problem but I'm not so sure I'd throw away the Clozaril just yet.

hey jules, that would be the niacin, not the vit D

and in regards nutrition and psychiatry, try searching on Abram Hoffer, a canadian psychiatrist esp in realtion the schizophrenia.....

Jules A, MSN · Mar 29, 2009

hey jules, that would be the niacin, not the vit D
and in regards nutrition and psychiatry, try searching on Abram Hoffer, a canadian psychiatrist esp in realtion the schizophrenia.....

Lol, yeah I get that. The point I was trying to make was that while I absoutely agree with the value of nutrition its no cure all. :)

kiwipsychnurse · Apr 30, 2009

I'd need to read some serious research before I even started believe that vitamins could be used to treat mental illness.

And if they did work I'm sure we would be using them by now.

Sounds like something Tom Cruise would support.

algebra_demystified · Apr 30, 2009

Some nutritional supplements do a good job with psych patients. I have a pt who uses tryptophan, GABA, valerian root, and melatonin as sleep aids. Another patient with a substance abuse history uses ambien, ativan, and seroquel as sleep aids.

Who's healthier?

morte, LPN, LVN · Apr 30, 2009

I'd need to read some serious research before I even started believe that vitamins could be used to treat mental illness.
And if they did work I'm sure we would be using them by now.
Sounds like something Tom Cruise would support.

actually i am not so sure Tom would go for it either.....i think prayer would be his answer.

try searching on the person i suggested to Jules.......and ...in reference to the bold, FOLLOW THE MONEY

kiwipsychnurse · Apr 30, 2009

actually i am not so sure Tom would go for it either.....i think prayer would be his answer.
try searching on the person i suggested to Jules.......and ...in reference to the bold, FOLLOW THE MONEY

Looked up your man Abram Hoffer:

"Hoffer's claims regarding schizophrenia and his theories of orthomolecular medicine have been rejected by the medical community.[13] In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association reported methodological flaws in Hoffer's work on niacin as a schizophrenia treatment and referred to follow-up studies that did not confirm any benefits of the treatment.[14] Later studies similarly failed to find benefits in the use of megavitamin therapy to treat schizophrenia.[15] The term "orthomolecular medicine" was labeled a misnomer as early as 1973[14] and its practices are currently considered inadequate as a treatment for schizophrenia.[16]"

Three references there from from reputable journals.

Seems like another quack preaching unproven medicine to those that are vulnerable.

Follow the science

morte, LPN, LVN · Apr 30, 2009

Looked up your man Abram Hoffer:
"Hoffer's claims regarding schizophrenia and his theories of orthomolecular medicine have been rejected by the medical community.[13] In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association reported methodological flaws in Hoffer's work on niacin as a schizophrenia treatment and referred to follow-up studies that did not confirm any benefits of the treatment.[14] Later studies similarly failed to find benefits in the use of megavitamin therapy to treat schizophrenia.[15] The term "orthomolecular medicine" was labeled a misnomer as early as 1973[14] and its practices are currently considered inadequate as a treatment for schizophrenia.[16]"
Three references there from from reputable journals.
Seems like another quack preaching unproven medicine to those that are vulnerable.
Follow the science

and dr marshall was not thought too highly of when he asserted that stomache ulcers were caused by a bacteria, eh? do a little more looking, and remember FOLLOW THE MONEY, no one is going to make money off a nutrition rx plan......i only came across his work through another forum that i frequent and a posting relating some schizophrenia to gluten sensitivity......so this is not my area of expertise....just interesting and if you take the time to look, he doesnt say there is no room for medication, just that it may not be the only of in some cases the best rx......

and by the way, he isnt "my man"....i hope this phrase has a diferent meaning in kiwi land than it does here....

Jules A, MSN · Apr 30, 2009

Well to me the "follow the money" mantra smacks of yet another conspiracy theory with little data to back it up. Sadly it isn't uncommon in many diseases. For example 'Multiple Sclerosis hasn't been cured because the big pharm companies are making so much money on the disease modifying medications they sell'. :confused:

This is an insult to all the practitioners that have devoted their life's work to trying to find answers for this nasty disease. I'm sure this and the other diseases have touched the families of pharm companies as well so to intimate that there are simple cures out there that the health profession won't acknowledge based on money isn't one I am comfortable buying into. BTW vitamin D has also been touted as a preventative for MS also. :uhoh3:

tconlgirl · May 21, 2009

Hi Folks,

I know this is an old thread, but it piqued my interest so I thought I would respond with my 2 cents. As a nurse I totally and unequivocally support psychiatric medication when indicated, however lets not throw out the baby with the bathwater. As a nurse we can assess patient status and nutrition is important particularly in psych where the patients mental status and lifestyle choices are working against good physical health and nutrition. In addition with the pharmacology of many of the psychiatric meds that are given today it is good practice to support the physical health of the liver and kidneys in particular. So I know it's not routine practice and some of the doc's may question your thoughts, but there are some really good arguments for assessing and possibly making intevention for nutritional sake. Will it improve psychiatric illness? Maybe, maybe not but it couldn't hurt and it might help and usually nutritional supplementation is inexpensive. You see it all the time in long term care so why not psych?

Any thoughts?

Sally