Comments on: Treating Depression and Folate Deficiency With Medical Foods

By: mtt

mtt — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:14:27 +0000

I have had depression since I was a teenager (I am now 57). I have vigilantly combated a lifetime of depression with exercise/vitamins/nutrition as well as antidepressants. I would get some months of relief from the dysphoria, but never any relief from the fatigue.

Recently my MD and I decided to try deplin. I have to admit I was not very optimistic, but thought it was worth a try.

At about the 3 week mark my mood began to lift, and by the 5th week mark I realized that I did not have any fatigue. I have now been on the deplin for 3 months, and I have been fatigue-free and have the best sense of well being. We also have been able to decrease the anti-depressant dosage.

For me, this has been a life-changing experience.

By: Iatrogenia

Iatrogenia — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 22:33:29 +0000

“…Instead, the men were referring to medical foods – more specifically, a new product called Deplin, a medical food that includes L-methylfolate, the only active form of folate that can cross the blood brain barrier and help with the synthesis of the neurotransmitters associated with mood and, consequently, mood disorders such as depression: serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.”

L-methylfolate has been around for a long, long time. There are sources for it that are a heck of a lot less expensive than Deplin. Psychiatry again falls for a sales pitch from pharma.

It makes sense that someone with a folate deficiency, which affects B12 as well, would feel a lot better mentally and physically with proper folate supplementation. These people may have been misdiagnosed with a mental disorder from the very first, and been on psychiatric drugs for years while their vitamin deficiency was neglected.

Speaking of pharma sales pitches, this article must be quite old, since it refers to the myth that a “chemical imbalance” involving serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine is responsible for depression.

This myth was promulgated to sell antidepressants and has been thoroughly debunked. It’s too bad this misinformation will circulate forever on the Web — here undated, a serious flaw in information on this site.

By: Anita

Anita — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 01:22:25 +0000

I have recently been diagnosed with 2 mutations of the MTHFR gene. I am curious as to trying Deplin. I have always had what I consider to be GAD- anxiety. Now in my 40s it has worsened considerably and developed into a full blown noise phobia.
Anybody who has tested for mutations of MTHFR and would like to email me, I would greatly appreciate it.

By: Kath

Kath — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 15:12:04 +0000

I’m just a regular girl. Been on meds for over 20 years. This stuff works. you can email me if you want but I am telling you it works.

I have tried many things and this is one supplement I am happy to say really is almost a miracle.

By: Spelling relief D-E-P-L-I-N

Spelling relief D-E-P-L-I-N — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:03:34 +0000

I started Deplin as an augmentation to my Effexor XR. It was sort of a last ditch effort to keep from having to cease Effexor and start a different AD. It sounded “easier” than the alternative, so I decided to try it. That was two years ago and I’m glad I did. It made a noticible difference in a short period. With finances getting tight, I stopped it for 2-3 weeks and decided ultimately it is worth every penny & I am back on it regularly now. Regular Folate/Folic acid just isn’t the same. It may not work for you, but for $50 its worth a try, because if folate deficiency is your problem, other ADs won’t be as effective for you either. Don’t give up… Good luck.

By: Alicia

Alicia — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:00:21 +0000

@ Stephanie – Thanks so much for sharing that! No matter when a post was written, it’s always great to hear about someone’s experiences and gain some new insight. I’m glad it works so well for you!

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 02:09:39 +0000

I know this is an old post, but I enjoyed reading it!
I just wanted to chime in that I’m homozygous for a MTHFR mutation that makes it more difficult for me to convert folate into the brain’s usable form. I’ve had chronic anxiety and mild depression for quite some time, but I don’t respond well to anyi-depressants. A while ago, my doctor gave me a prescription for Deplin and I took it thinking, great. A vitamin.
Well, hours after taking it…BAM. I was almost euphoric and had tons of energy, and it completely took me by surprise! The high isn’t so extreme now (I was borderline manic that first day), but Deplin really has changed my life. I’m happy. I’m energetic. I’m just…great.

By: Treating Depression and Folate Deficiency With Medical Foods … | depressionmgr

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:38:24 +0000

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By: Alicia

Alicia — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:13:27 +0000

@ ann reid – WOW! That’s amazing indeed! I bet knowing that will offer hope to the people out there who might suffer from depression and anxiety but what to try to avoid the typical kinds of medications. Thanks so much for sharing!

By: ann reid

ann reid — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:39:33 +0000

While at the dr’s for an unrelated problem last week, I was offered a trial of Deplin for chronic depression/anxiety.

I was amazed how quickly I felt much better, even without any additional anti-depressant.

Because of a history of symptoms similar to mine, I have told everyone in my family to discuss this topic with their physicians.

I hope many others achieve relief as I have.

By: Alicia

Alicia — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:14:49 +0000

@ Margaret – I’m so glad to have another person with firsthand experience chime in with her thoughts, and I’m really glad to hear Deplin is working well for you. You mentioned being in the present, and that’s such an important thing to do. Is the ability to do that now something you were missing with any other form of treatment by itself (that you might have been doing/taking before)?

By: Margaret

Margaret — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:35:34 +0000

Deplin has made a huge difference in my life. I now know how ‘normal’ people feel. I have a Major Depressive Disorder which is recurrent. The most dramatic difference is to be present in life instead of constantly ruminating, evaluating and dumping on myself. I hope that this medical food gains acceptance. It is much more acceptable to me than the alternatives for treatment resistant depression.

By: Forschung zum Zweiten: Folsäure | nullwert

Forschung zum Zweiten: Folsäure | nullwert — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:31:26 +0000

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By: Alicia

Alicia — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:47:31 +0000

@ Alex – Thanks so much for chiming in with your experiences with Deplin! It’s great to hear from someone who has firsthand experience with it. It’s also great to hear that it works well for you.

@ Meghan – That’s a very good point. I would guess many people might want to try a “medical food” as a supplement to their current medication(s) first, rather than just beginning a new medication (in addition to whatever they’re currently taking).

By: Meghan

Meghan — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:33:21 +0000

Sounds interesting, especially as augmentation to an AD. I think it’s certainly something I would want to try before being put on Abilify, which is currently being marketed as an AD supplementary drug.