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Are Nutritional And Vitamin Supplements Alternative Medication For Mental Disorder Patients?

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Posted on Fri, 18 Dec 2015
Question: can nutrition and vitamins be an alternative for mental disorder like bipolar? Please advise me in details as I read a lot in this subject and somehow I believe in it.. I came across a multi vitamins called Empower from truehope.com
Do have any experaince or heard about it?
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Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
These supplements Cannot replace drugs.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I can understand your concerns.

Antipsychotic and mood stabilizer drugs does have multiple side effects. But there is no substitute for these drugs.

No nutritional supplements have replaced these drugs till date.

Some supplements like omega 3 fatty acids have been studied for psychosis. But these are recommended as adjunctive treatment only.

Even though there are multiple research studies regarding use of such nutritional supplements in mental illnesses, but these supplements have not found place in treatment guidelines.

I have used some of these supplements but not much useful.

Hope this answers your query.

Feel free to ask further.

Thanks.
Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD(Psychiatry).
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Shubham Mehta

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 2145 Questions

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Are Nutritional And Vitamin Supplements Alternative Medication For Mental Disorder Patients?

Brief Answer: These supplements Cannot replace drugs. Detailed Answer: Hello Welcome to HCM. I can understand your concerns. Antipsychotic and mood stabilizer drugs does have multiple side effects. But there is no substitute for these drugs. No nutritional supplements have replaced these drugs till date. Some supplements like omega 3 fatty acids have been studied for psychosis. But these are recommended as adjunctive treatment only. Even though there are multiple research studies regarding use of such nutritional supplements in mental illnesses, but these supplements have not found place in treatment guidelines. I have used some of these supplements but not much useful. Hope this answers your query. Feel free to ask further. Thanks. Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD(Psychiatry).