Neurotransmitter results....surprising to me

[heapsreal]

GG....yes I am extremely sensitive to medications. I actually feel as though I sleep well. I fall asleep pretty easily and sleep mostly through the night except for those adrenaline nights. I think I am getting good sleep but apparently I am not getting quality sleep as I wake up tired.
What is the name of your med? I have tried just about every one on record including a few A/D's including remeron...amyltriptiline...trazadone...gabitril...I have a list a mile long.

Thanks for the name though. I will keep it in case I might want to try those meds again.

Gabatril is something i have looked into but havent tried. did it work at all for you? if it elped in the beginning then maybe its something that could be alternated with also. supposedly good for pain, did u find this too??

cheers!!!

 

[*GG*]

GG....yes I am extremely sensitive to medications. I actually feel as though I sleep well. I fall asleep pretty easily and sleep mostly through the night except for those adrenaline nights. I think I am getting good sleep but apparently I am not getting quality sleep as I wake up tired.

What is the name of your med? I have tried just about every one on record including a few A/D's including remeron...amyltriptiline...trazadone...gabitril...I have a list a mile long.

Thanks for the name though. I will keep it in case I might want to try those meds again.

Remeron.

GG

 

[soxfan]

GG- Remeron was a nightmare for me. I was only taking a quarter pill and hungover for 24 hours. My husband didn't believe me so he took one too and did the same to him. I did give it a fair try though taking it a few other times. It just wasn't good for me. Gabitril did the same thing. That was something Dr. Horowitz wanted me to try. Like I said I am sleeping fine but not getting quality sleep or something is wrong with my sleep cycles and I am not getting good sleep. I will talk to the doctor tomorrow and see if she has something new...

I did see a sleep specialist last summer and he said he prescribes Neurontin for deep sleep. I have some of that still so maybe that is another choice. Nothing puts me out like Klonopin though. I will keep trying....Maybe nothing will help me feel refreshed in the mornings...just a defect in me.

 

[*GG*]

I used to feel the same way all the time, but since finding Remeron, I wake up feeling much better, not great, but better.

GG

PS Hope the Dr can help you out!

 

[Valentijn]

Glycine 2,155.6 (441-1258)
GABA 3.8 (3.9-7.9)
Glutamate 38.6 (13.5-36.8)
Dopamine 97.1 (106-191)

I have high glutamate + high glycine too. Taking 600mg of Jarrow's NAC Sustain an hour or so before bed eliminates most of my sleep problems.

Basically the NAC (cysteine) can combine with glutamate and glycine to create glutathione. So in the process of making a nice substance, you also bring down high levels of a very nasty substance.

Have you ever had your cysteine levels tested?

Also, even though your glutamate levels aren't hella extreme, it's more important to see how it matches up with GABA. Ideally both substances should be around the same point in their respective ranges to maintain a nice balance. So your mildly elevated glutamate might be having a very big impact due to your GABA not being even close to keeping up with it.

 

[Valentijn]

Glycine seems to be the only one way off but I don't really think that means much.

It might be indicative of low cysteine, especially since it's combined with elevated glutamate.

 

[soxfan]

I don't believe I have ever had my cysteine levels tested...

 

[roxie60]

I have also had what I think is a strange symptom and rarely if ever mentioned to Drs since I'm already overwhelming them with my list of 'complaints'. But I'm glad someone brought this up. All I will say is frequently when I am at my worst I will wake up multiple times during night and it feels like my chest/heart is pounding so hard if is shaking my entire body, and so much shaking the bed moves. It doesn't last too long, seconds to minutes. But it is scary and bizarre. But I have had this sensation many times over the years especially when very ill. Right now I believe I am heading into an improved period and I don't recall having this sensation in the last 6 weeks but I am also sleeping better (not waking up every 2-3 hours). So bizarre to be us. Also so concerned if I am finally moving into an improved status that my request for disability will be undermined. Such is this unpredictable life.

 

[Sushi]

I have also had what I think is a strange symptom and rarely if ever mentioned to Drs since I'm already overwhelming them with my list of 'complaints'. But I'm glad someone brought this up. All I will say is frequently when I am at my worst I will wake up multiple times during night and it feels like my chest/heart is pounding so hard if is shaking my entire body, and so much shaking the bed moves. It doesn't last too long, seconds to minutes. But it is scary and bizarre. But I have had this sensation many times over the years especially when very ill. Right now I believe I am heading into an improved period and I don't recall having this sensation in the last 6 weeks but I am also sleeping better (not waking up every 2-3 hours). So bizarre to be us. Also so concerned if I am finally moving into an improved status that my request for disability will be undermined. Such is this unpredictable life.

Hi Roxie,

Have you taken your pulse or put on a HR monitor when this has happened? Or checked your BP?

Best,
Sush

 

[roxie60]

Think I had another neurotransmitter thread but maybe adding my results can further the discussion on this one. I'm still not sure what conclusions to draw from the results, how relates to my symptoms and specific targeting action to take. I am taking Daxitrol, Kavinace and Tyrosine to try and address some of these low levels. Would like to know others who have had the test your thoughts on your results and actions you are taking to address. Hope this table comes out ok, readable.


Serotonin 02/20/13 112.5 05/31/12 83.2 (L) Range 99-203
5-HIAA 02/20/13 2100 05/31/12 1749 (L) Range 1800-5900
GABA 02/20/13 3.8 (L) 05/31/12 6.0 Range 3.9-7.9
Taurine 02/20/13 65.8(L) 05/31/12 64.3 (L) Range 156-535
Glycine 02/20/13 358.5(L) 05/31/12 256.9 (L) Range 441-1258
Glutamate 02/20/13 14.8 05/31/12 10.9 (L) Range 13.5-36.8
Histamine 02/20/13 8.8(L) 05/31/12 12.7 Range 10-32
PEA 02/20/13 25.1(L) 05/31/12 28.9 (L) Range 29-83
Dopamine 02/20/13 76.4(L) 05/31/12 60.6 (L) Range 106-191
DOPAC 02/20/13 660.4 05/31/12 498.0 Range 300-1000
Norepinephrin02/20/13 24.6(L) 05/31/12 24.6 (L) Range 28-51
Epinephrine 02/20/13 4.3(L) 05/31/12 5.1 (L) Range 7.1-13.6

 

[roxie60]

I figured all my work to make a nice formatted doc would not be preserved, sorry, I did try.

 

[roxie60]

Hi Roxie,

Have you taken your pulse or put on a HR monitor when this has happened? Or checked your BP?

Best,
Sush

It only seems to happen after I go to bed so I do not get up to do my BP. It usually passes in seconds to minutes so dont use the energy to get up. Omni is in the living room. I do find it interesting that it has not happened for a bit, I should have paid more attention to when that stopped. Will try to keep aware in case it happens again. Could move BP machine to bed room but by the time I sit up get the cuff on and hit start I would expect the 'sensation' would be passed.

If it happens again will try to remember to take BP and pulse.

 

[Valentijn]

I figured all my work to make a nice formatted doc would not be preserved, sorry, I did try.

There's a "code" icon next to the quotes icon when you're making a post. Stuff in that shows up properly spaced :-D

Serotonin     02/20/13 112.5    05/31/12 83.2 (L)  Range 99-203
5-HIAA        02/20/13 2100     05/31/12 1749 (L)  Range 1800-5900
GABA          02/20/13 3.8 (L)  05/31/12 6.0       Range 3.9-7.9
Taurine       02/20/13 65.8(L)  05/31/12 64.3 (L)  Range 156-535
Glycine       02/20/13 358.5(L) 05/31/12 256.9 (L) Range 441-1258
Glutamate     02/20/13 14.8     05/31/12 10.9 (L)  Range 13.5-36.8
Histamine     02/20/13 8.8(L)   05/31/12 12.7      Range 10-32
PEA           02/20/13 25.1(L)  05/31/12 28.9 (L)  Range 29-83
Dopamine      02/20/13 76.4(L)  05/31/12 60.6 (L)  Range 106-191
DOPAC         02/20/13 660.4    05/31/12 498.0     Range 300-1000
Norepinephrin 02/20/13 24.6(L)  05/31/12 24.6 (L)  Range 28-51
Epinephrine   02/20/13 4.3(L)   05/31/12 5.1 (L)   Range 7.1-13.6

 

[Valentijn]

PEA releases dopamine and norepinephrine, so PEA being low might be causing the low dopamine and norepinephrine (and norepinephrine turns into epinehprine, so PEA could be causing that low value as well).

DOPAC and 5-HIAA seem to indicate that you are using up your dopamine and serotonin normally, so the problem would seem to be not enough dopamine and serotonin being supplied, rather than them being low due to being used up faster than they should.

GABA is formed from glutamate, so that looks like it's been slowed down a bit in the more recent test. B6 can help with converting glutamate into GABA.

Low Glycine could also be the result of low B6.

Low Taurine might be the result of low cysteine, and low cysteine again might be the result of low B6.

So supplementing B6 might help a lot. It's also possible that there's a problem relating to phenyalanine, since PEA, dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine all have it as a precursor, and it can interact in various ways with glycine, glutamate, and serotonin.

 

[roxie60]

thx Valentijn, I am taking Metanx, MB12 and multiVit with the other B's. Is testing for neurotransmitter levels time dependent? Like testing in the AM vs PM? Both my tests were done between 8AM and 1030AM. Wonder how much these fluctuate in 24 hrs...

I am also taking Kavince, Daxitrol and Tyrosine to try and pump up the log jam

 

[Valentijn]

thx Valentijn, I am taking Metanx, MB12 and multiVit with the other B's. Is testing for neurotransmitter levels time dependent? Like testing in the AM vs PM? Both my tests were done between 8AM and 1030AM. Wonder how much these fluctuate in 24 hrs...

I am also taking Kavince, Daxitrol and Tyrosine to try and pump up the log jam

Sounds like you're getting plenty of B6 then, and good support for the phenylalanine dependent neurotransmitters How long ago did you start your supplements, and have you noticed any difference?

To the best of my knowledge the time of day won't have much impact on the results, but it's not an area I've looked into specifically. If it was blood platelet testing, then time of day definitely wouldn't matter, because that would be showing your long term levels from the last several months. But for urine testing I really don't know.

 

[roxie60]

I have been taking Metanx, MB12 for over a year. I just started the Kavinace, Daxitrol and Tyrozine recently after starting to feel a little better. We did not realize I was reacting to the protein shake I was taking daily to help get the suppluments down. I have been off the shake now for 2.5 months and I have some improvement in symptoms (I have been much worse and I think something in the shake really caused damage). Seems so many layers of symps but I am grateful for any time that I can do some tasks, no longer bed ridden but somedays have to lay down throuhout the day to recover.

 

[Valentijn]

We did not realize I was reacting to the protein shake I was taking daily to help get the suppluments down. I have been off the shake now for 2.5 months and I have some improvement in symptoms (I have been much worse and I think something in the shake really caused damage).

I had a similar problem - reacting to protein shakes with any dairy proteins in them, plus reacting to the broccoli extract in multi-vitamins I couldn't use a protein shake designed for use while eliminating foods to look for allergies, because it had broccoli extract in it too!

 

[roxie60]

I had a similar problem - reacting to protein shakes with any dairy proteins in them, plus reacting to the broccoli extract in multi-vitamins I couldn't use a protein shake designed for use while eliminating foods to look for allergies, because it had broccoli extract in it too!

Nice to know I am not alone in my 'crazy', Dr doesnt doubt me as much anymore when I report strange responses. Sorry you also had issues. I had found a shake with no dairy and still major reaction. Had Rice, Pea and Soy protein, no Whey. My Dr and I are just stunned at how much my body reacts to. It has made me fearful of taking food, medicines, suppluments for fear of being impaired and feeling just awful. I had recently purchased 3 big containers of the protien shake presuming I would have to be on it the rest of my life.