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First time poster - Curcumin - what is this?

Messages
5
Hi there,

Happy to say long time lurker, first time poster... a wealth of knowledge on this forum and I had to get on. Hoping for some help with a key finding along my road to recovery.

I'm going to try to make my background short.

My liver/gallbladder were both in horrible shape, still aren't close to 100% (largely due to Accutane usage but also a genetic predisposition to liver cirrhosis that I only discovered later in life). I have CFS and wide range of other problems due to what I think is absorption issues (gallbladder) + liver health.

I've come a long way...

I've done about 15 Liver Flushes all very successful.

And having discovered the NAC/Thistle/SAM-e liver protocol these have literally turned me around the corner. They are all very effective for physical, mental, and emotional well being. it's been suggested to add Curuimin to this mix as the 4 have been said to revert liver damage in harmony.

However and this makes me very upset - I cannot tolerate Curcumin. Why does it make me very upset? Well since Accutane and the fallout, I have had ED and loss of libido. For whatever reason - and amongst the many supplements I have taken and haven't worked over the years - Curcumin has been an absolute game changer in this area. I'm not sure what that's due to weather it be neuro or otherwise but it works.

Unfortunately every other impact is beyond tolerable. I can't figure out what the mechanism is but it's causing the following adverse reactions:

- first usage > frequent urination despite not drinking that much water
- sluggishness, increased lethargy
- underye circles return
- skin turns more pale
- irritability and anger
- unable to think clearly
- non-restful sleep
- loose upper body develops
- more rounded, caved face

The anger turn is unreal and I could easily say mean things after just a single pill.

The fatigue gets unbearable as well.

With CFS and low aldosterone, I'm wondering if it's perhaps dehydration and loss of electrolytes.
However it also seems to be resemble a state of toxic overload.

I'm not sure and curious to hear if anyone on here has ideas to what this could be. It's frustrating I feel so close to breaking through...
 
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Cheesus

Senior Member
Messages
1,292
Location
UK
I had liver issues for a while and anger was a big factor in that. Does the curcumin you're taking contain bioperine?
 

JES

Senior Member
Messages
1,320
It's curcumin not curcimin. It's normal that a large dosage would cause some side effects, though I have never heard that it would make one's face more rounded.

The only advice I can give is that curcumin generally is very poorly absorbed and poorly bioavailable, so you need to pay attention to which brand you are using. With poor brands you end up taking a big amount but none getting absorbed. With better brands you can take a lower dosage in milligrams but still get more absorbed, which could perhaps help to reduce some of the side effects. You should look for brands that have increased curcumin bioavailability (for example curcumin + bioperine is a popular mix as poster above suggested).
 
Messages
5
@JES Apologies I have updated the spelling.

@Cheesus, I have tried it with black pepper though my brand I have in hand doesn't seem to have anything to help w/ bio-availability (including as you mention bioperine). Didn't seem to make a difference.

But as you mention the anger link is associated with liver + detox so it makes me wonder if the curcumin isn't working extremely well on the liver - perhaps too well.

I'm also just finding out that curcumin is a MAO-inhibitor which further complicates things I think.
 

Justin30

Senior Member
Messages
1,065
Side effects of MAOIs

Because of side effects and safety concerns,MAOIs are most often tried when other antidepressants don't work.

The most common side effects of MAOIsinclude:

Dry mouthNausea, diarrhea or constipationHeadacheDrowsinessInsomniaDizziness or lightheadednessSkin reaction at the patch site

Other possible side effects include:

Involuntary muscle jerksLow blood pressureReduced sexual desire or difficulty reaching orgasmWeight gainDifficulty starting a urine flowMuscle crampsPrickling or tingling sensation in the skin (paresthesia)
 

Hip

Senior Member
Messages
17,824
The anger turn is unreal and I could easily say mean things after just a single pill.

I also get this anger and irritability side effect from curcumin, if I take doses of more than around 1,000 mg daily. However, I do not experience any of the other side effects you mentioned.

I think @JES's comment may be relevant:
With better brands you can take a lower dosage in milligrams but still get more absorbed, which could perhaps help to reduce some of the side effects.

From my reading up of the subject, Longvida curcumin (developed at at the University of California) has an excellent reputation for a highly bioavailable curcumin, and I understand it's lipid formulation allows it to cross the blood brain barrier more easily. I have taken 400 mg of Longvida curcumin without ill effect. Longvida 20% curcumin, so 400 mg of Longvida corresponds to 80 mg of actual curcumin.

The figures usually bandied about are that Longvida is 65 times more bioavailable than plain old curcumin. So a 80 mg dose of curcumin from Longvida will be equivalent to 65 x 80 mg = 5,200 mg of regular curcumin, yet I do not get the anger side effect from Longvida.

Now Foods do a good value for money supplement called CurcuBrain, which contains 400 mg of Longvida curcumin per capsule (= 80 mg of actual curcumin).
 
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Messages
5
Thank you very much for the responses folks.
I'm going to try a better brand of curcumin to at least rule that piece out.
Will report back...
 

Justin30

Senior Member
Messages
1,065
Thank you very much for the responses folks.
I'm going to try a better brand of curcumin to at least rule that piece out.
Will report back...

There is brand by Metamatrix which is the formula they used suposedly in studies on Alzhiemers...at least thats what I was told by the pharmacy supplement specialist.

I tried and noticed nothing even though I didnt finish the bottle.

I tried longvida with no success.