Side effects may include Depression

There’s a pill for every ill, right? So, it’s pretty likely that a prescription medication you are on for a medical reason is worsening your mood and perhaps increasing your depression.

Sometimes certain prescription medications are non-negotiable, and going off them will mean rapid decline.

However, there are also times when a doctor might offer you a pill for an illness/issue that can be corrected in other ways (including everyone’s favorite: lifestyle changes. Yay!)

If you’re suffering from depressive symptoms, check your kitchen cabinet or your bathroom vanity for the following:

•Birth control pills

•Blood pressure medication (i.e. beta-blockers)

•Cholesterol meds (i.e. statins)

•Steroids (these are the worst)

•Pain pills (especially opioids or triptans)

•Anxiety or ‘nerve’ pills (especially benzos)

•Antibiotics (especially Isoniazid)

•Anti-fungals

•Immunosuppressants (like methotrexate, or)

•Diuretics or ‘water pills’

•Reflux medications (i.e. Nexium)

•Hormone placements (i.e. Premarin)

•Accutane for acne

•Interferons for viral infections

If you have depression and stumble across any of these medications in your daily regimen DO NOT STOP them without talking to your doctor first. But please do have this conversation: There may be a better alternative to addressing a medical problem that won't take such a toll on yourmental wellness at the same time.

Focus on Me, Bae: Treating ADHD

So first of all, let’s just skip the discussion on whether we think this is an actual disorder or not. There’s no use arguing.

If your poor focus is affecting your day-to-day life and leading to some dysfunctional performance in some area of your life, you might want to keep reading.

OR if you feel like your focus is ok, but you wonder what it might be like to have the genius information-retention skills (albeit, awkward social interactions) of Dr. Sheldon Cooper one day you can keep reading too.

These are the top supplements to help with FOCUS and CONCENTRATION (I could give explanations, but let's face it, you're going to Wikipedia this anyway):

Omega 3 fatty acid fish oil

L-phenylalanine

B3, B5 and B6 vitamins - but WATCH liver function with these.

Zinc

Magnesium

Phosphatidy-l-serine is great for recall, especially in combo with L-tyrosine.

FOCUS from Solaray is a brand with a good combo of some of the above ingredients.

Other recommendations for kick-starting your brain:

Yerba-mate tea is helpful for mental sharpness.

Rosemary, sage, and jasmine are appropriate essential oils to enhance attention.

Keep a rigid schedule. Your brain likes predictability. Set cell phone alarms as reminders if you’re unreliable or forgetful. Exercise your butt off. Don’t overload your brain with too much alcohol or sugar. Consider that very-much-talked-about gluten-free diet  (it’s a passing fancy for good reason).

As always, a thorough blood work-up should be performed to rule out any metabolic issues. Review this post and also check testosterone, zinc, and ferritin.

Remember the rules of supplement purchasing by reviewing this post.

When it comes to medications, stimulants should be saved as a last resort. Strattera, Clonidine, Intuniv are possible options too.

DISCLAIMER: Thanks for reading the above, but whoever you are: unless you are living in my household (which I think I would have noticed), it’s very unlikely that I have any idea what sort of medical history, medication regimen, allergies, and any other health intricacies you carry. Therefore, you should NOT interpret the above as medical advice for yourself, and instead present this information to your personal clinician for consideration.

Another DISCLAIMER: Obviously, the best way to get the best nutrition is through FOOD, not supplements. But for those of us who are still getting the hang of this work-life balance thing, supplements are a way to stay sane when you don’t have time & dinero for meal-planning & organics. Don’t beat yourself up.