Nutrients and Bipolar Mania: Reactions to high doses

Orthomolecular medicine used to be called Megavitamin therapy. As the name suggests, the approach, in general, is to bring dosage toward the level that has the optimum positive effect.

But how do you know if you have too much?

I am not going to cover all indications, contraindications, etc. For more complete discussions, see my book.  (And do consult a knowledgeable physician for treatment.)

Meanwhile, here are some easy-to-notice reactions to too much
of the nutrients we've already talked about:

Vitamin C - diarrhea.

Magnesium - (1) diarrhea; (2) some potential for oversedation; especially with a magnesium sulfate (epsom salt) bath (which is inadvisable if also taking sedative psych meds or herbs).

Vitamin D - (1) insomnia (especially if taken later in the day); (2) overstimulation (e.g., usually with many thousands of mg.)

Zinc -  (1) nausea, though this may just be due to not enough B6; (2) with very high doses, oversedation. See the next entry.

Nutrients and Bipolar Mania: Why Zinc?

Consider some of the means by which zinc might benefit mania:

— Helps moderate levels of the major stimulating neurotransmitters, dopamine and norepinephrine.
— Supports creation of GABA, a major inhibitory neurotransmitter, and is critical when taking taurine
— Crucial in handling stress. Depleted continuously in pyroluria (a common stress disorder in bipolars, see: http://boragebooks.com/bipolar_5_pyroluria.html )
— Critical in decreasing overloads of stimulating metals, such as copper and iron, and certain heavy metals.
— Supports balanced blood sugar (thereby, mood stability).
— Helps counter dairy and grain sensitivity (implicated in both mood and cognitive dysfunction).
— Some ability to neutralize excitotoxicity (which can trigger mania).

For more on zinc, mania, and bipolar disorder, including references, see my book, Natural Healing for Bipolar Disorder.