Paulry - could be any of these that have been deleted, plus the ones that still stand on youtube included above - although at the time I oringinally answered your question I hadn't watched the last one (and didn't make it very far before it became unbelievable)

No, although I believe in my right to take prescribed medication, I am taking an over the counter multivitamin and mineral since I know my diet hasn't been the healthiest, and trying to include more exercise in my daily routines. The lack of someone to talk to is always an issue, but my daughter arrives from the UK tomorrow and I have time of work so will see how things stand after a few more weeks.

Of course you have every right to take prescribed medicine. But you also have a right to know about all possible treatments - even if you decide that one or more are a load of bollocks. It's good that you seem to be doing the right things to address your worries. If ever you feel that you need to talk to someone you can always call Lifeline. You can be sure of a kind and understanding person at the other end. You don't need to be in desperate crisis. In the UK, my wife was a Samaritans volunteer - interestingly at their Slough town centre branch which must have been close to where you lived. She was telling me that often people would call just for a friendly chat and she happily obliged which was what she was there for. Just don't natter with the Lifeline people for too long though

From the university of Maryland website


B3 is one of 8 B vitamins. It is also known as niacin (nicotinic acid) and has 2 other forms, niacinamide (nicotinamide) and inositol hexanicotinate, which have different effects from niacin.

All B vitamins help the body to convert food (carbohydrates) into fuel (glucose), which is used to produce energy. These B vitamins, often referred to as B complex vitamins, also help the body use fats and protein. B complex vitamins are needed for healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver. They also help the nervous system function properly.

Niacin also helps the body make various sex and stress-related hormones in the adrenal glands and other parts of the body. Niacin helps improve circulation.

All the B vitamins are water-soluble, meaning that the body does not store them.

You can meet all of your body's needs for B3 through diet. It is rare for anyone in the developed world to have a B3 deficiency. In the United States, alcoholism is the main cause of vitamin B3 deficiency.

Symptoms of mild deficiency include indigestion, fatigue, canker sores, vomiting, and depression. Severe deficiency can cause a condition known as pellagra. Pellagra is characterized by cracked, scaly skin, dementia, and diarrhea. It is generally treated with a nutritionally balanced diet and niacin supplements. Niacin deficiency also causes burning in the mouth and a swollen, bright red tongue.

Very high doses of B3, available by prescription, have been studied to prevent or improve symptoms of the following conditions. However, at high doses niacin can be toxic. You should not take doses higher than the Recommended Daily Allowance except under your doctor's supervision. Researchers are trying to determine if inositol hexanicotinate has similar benefits without serious side effects, but so far results are preliminary.

High Cholesterol

Niacin -- but not niacinamide -- has been used since the 1950s to try to lower elevated LDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglyceride (fat) levels in the blood. However, side effects can be unpleasant and even dangerous. High doses of niacin cause flushing of the skin, stomach upset (which usually subsides within a few weeks), headache, dizziness, and blurred vision. There is an increased risk of liver damage. A time-release form of niacin reduces flushing, but its long-term use is associated with liver damage. In addition, niacin can interact with other cholesterol-lowering drugs (see "Possible Interactions"). You should not take niacin at high doses without your doctor's supervision.

Atherosclerosis and Heart Disease

In one study, men with existing heart disease slowed down the progression of atherosclerosis by taking niacin along with colestipol. They had fewer heart attacks and deaths, as well.

In another study, people with heart disease and high cholesterol who took niacin along with simvastatin (Zocor) had a lower risk of having a first heart attack or stroke. Their risk of death was also lower. In another study, men who took niacin alone seemed to reduce the risk of having a second heart attack, although it did not reduce the risk of death.

Diabetes

Some evidence suggests that niacinamide (but not niacin) might help delay the time that you would need to take insulin in type 1 diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the cells in the pancreas that make insulin, eventually destroying them. Niacinamide may help protect those cells for a time, but more research is needed to tell for sure.

Researchers have also looked at whether high-dose niacinamide might reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes in children at risk for the disease. One study found that it did, but another, larger study found it did not protect against developing type 1 diabetes. More research is needed to know for sure.

The effect of niacin on type 2 diabetes is more complicated. People with type 2 diabetes often have high levels of fats and cholesterol in the blood. Niacin, often along with other drugs, can lower those levels. However, niacin may also raise blood sugar levels, which is particularly dangerous for someone with diabetes. For that reason, anyone with diabetes should take niacin only when directed to do so by their doctor, and should be carefully monitored for high blood sugar.

Osteoarthritis

One preliminary study suggested that niacinamide may improve arthritis symptoms, including increasing joint mobility and reducing the amount of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) needed. More research is needed.

Other

Alzheimer's disease -- Population studies show that people who get higher levels of niacin in their diet have a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease. No studies have evaluated niacin supplements, however.

Cataracts -- One large population study found that people who got a lot of niacin in their diets had a lower risk of developing cataracts.

Skin conditions -- Researchers are studying topical forms of niacin as treatments for rosacea, aging, and prevention of skin cancer, although it's too early to know whether it is effective.

Researchers are also studying the use of vitamin B3 in treating ADHD, migraines, dizziness, depression, motion sickness, and alcohol dependence. But there is no evidence that it helps treat any of these conditions.

Dietary Sources

The best food sources of vitamin B3 are found in beets, brewer's yeast, beef liver, beef kidney, fish, salmon, swordfish, tuna, sunflower seeds, and peanuts. Bread and cereals are usually fortified with niacin. In addition, foods that contain tryptophan, an amino acid the body coverts into niacin, include poultry, red meat, eggs, and dairy products.

Available Forms

Vitamin B3 is available in several different supplement forms: niacinamide, niacin, and inositol hexaniacinate. Niacin is available as a tablet or capsule in both regular and timed-release forms. The timed-release tablets and capsules may have fewer side effects than regular niacin. However, the timed-release versions are more likely to cause liver damage. Regardless of which form of niacin you're using, doctors recommend periodic liver function tests when using high doses (above 100 mg per day) of niacin.

How to Take It

Daily recommendations for niacin in the diet of healthy individuals are listed below.

Generally, high doses of niacin are used to control specific diseases. Such high doses must be prescribed by a doctor, who will have you increase the amount of niacin slowly, over the course of 4 - 6 weeks, and take the medicine with meals to avoid stomach irritation.

Pediatric

Infants birth - 6 months: 2 mg (adequate intake)
Infants 7 months - 1 year: 4 mg (adequate intake)
Children 1- 3 years: 6 mg (RDA)
Children 4 - 8 years: 8 mg (RDA)
Children 9 - 13 years: 12 mg (RDA)
Boys 14 - 18 years: 16 mg (RDA)
Girls 14 - 18 years: 14 mg (RDA)
Adult

Men 19 years and older: 16 mg (RDA)
Women 19 years and older: 14 mg (RDA)
Pregnant women: 18 mg (RDA)
Breastfeeding women: 17 mg (RDA)
Precautions

Because of the potential for side effects and interactions with medications, you should take dietary supplements only under the supervision of a knowledgeable health care provider.

High doses (50 mg or more) of niacin can cause side effects. The most common side effect is called "niacin flush," which is a burning, tingling sensation in the face and chest, and red or flushed skin. Taking an aspirin 30 minutes prior to the niacin may help reduce this symptom.

At the very high doses used to lower cholesterol and treat other conditions, liver damage and stomach ulcers can occur. Your health care provider will regularly check your liver function through a blood test.

People with a history of liver disease, kidney disease, or stomach ulcers should not take niacin supplements. Those with diabetes or gallbladder disease should do so only under the close supervision of their doctor.

Stop taking niacin or niacinamide at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Niacin and niacinamide may make allergies worse by increasing histamine.

People with low blood pressure should not take niacin or niacinamide because they may cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Don’t take niacin if you have a history of gout.

People with coronary artery disease or unstable angina should not take niacin without their doctor’s supervision, as large doses can raise the risk of heart rhythm problems.

Taking any one of the B vitamins for a long period of time can result in an imbalance of other important B vitamins. For this reason, you may want to take a B complex vitamin, which includes all the B vitamins.

Possible Interactions

If you are currently taking any of the following medications, you should not use niacin without first talking to your health care provider.

Antibiotics, Tetracycline -- Niacin should not be taken at the same time as the antibiotic tetracycline because it interferes with the absorption and effectiveness of this medication. All vitamin B complex supplements act in this way and should be taken at different times from tetracycline.

Aspirin -- Taking aspirin before taking niacin may reduce flushing from niacin, but take it only under your doctor's supervision.

Anti-seizure Medications -- Phenytoin (Dilantin) and valproic acid (Depakote) may cause niacin deficiency in some people. Taking niacin with carbamazepine (Tegretol) or mysoline (Primidone) may increase levels of these medications in the body.

Anticoagulants (blood thinners) -- Niacin may make the effects of these medications stronger, increasing the risk of bleeding.

Blood Pressure Medications, Alpha-blockers -- Niacin can make the effects of medications taken to lower blood pressure stronger, leading to the risk of low blood pressure.

Cholesterol-lowering Medications -- Niacin binds the cholesterol lowering medications known as bile-acid sequestrants and may make them less effective. For this reason, niacin and these medications should be taken at different times of the day. Bile-acid sequestrants include colestipol (Colestid), colesevelam (Welchol), and cholestyramine (Questran).

Statins -- Some scientific evidence suggests that taking niacin with simvastatin (Zocor) appears to slow down the progression of heart disease. However, the combination may also increase the likelihood for serious side effects, such as muscle inflammation or liver damage.

Diabetes Medications -- Niacin may increase blood sugar levels. People taking insulin, metformin (Glucophage), glyburide (Dibeta, Micronase), glipizide (Glucotrol), or other medications used to treat high blood glucose levels should monitor their blood sugar levels closely when taking niacin supplements.

Isoniazid (INH) -- INH, a medication used to treat tuberculosis, may cause a niacin deficiency.

Nicotine Patches -- Using nicotine patches with niacin may worsen or increase the risk of flushing associated with niacin.

These medications may lower levels of niacin in the body:

Azathioprine (Imuran)
Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin)
Cycloserine (Seromycin)
Fluorouracil
Levodopa and carbidopa
Mercaptopurine (Purinethol)
Supporting Research

AIM-HIGH Investigators. The role of niacin in raising high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to reduce cardiovascular events in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and optimally treated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol Rationale and study design. The Atherothrombosis Intervention in Metabolic syndrome with low HDL/high triglycerides: Impact on Global Health outcomes (AIM-HIGH). Am Heart J. 2011 Mar;161(3):471-477.e2.

Bissett DL, Oblong JE, Berge CA, et al. Niacinamide: A B vitamin that improves aging facial skin appearance. Dermatol Surg. 2005;31:860-865; discussion 865.

Brown BG, Zhao XQ, Chalt A, et al. Simvastatin and niacin, antioxidant vitamins, or the combination for the prevention of coronary disease. N Engl J Med. 2001;345(22):1583-1592.

Cumming RG, Mitchell P, Smith W. Diet and cataract: the Blue Mountains Eye Study. Ophthalmology. 2000;107(3):450-456.

Draelos ZD, Ertel K, Berge C, et al. Niacinamide-containing facial moisturizer improves skin barrier and benefits subjects with rosacea. Cutis. 2005;76:135-141.

Elam M, Hunninghake DB, Davis KB, et al. Effects of niacin on lipid and lipoprotein levels and glycemic control in patients with diabetes and peripheral arterial disease: the ADMIT study: a randomized trial. Arterial Disease Multiple Intervention Trial. JAMA. 2000;284:1263-1270.

Garcia-Closas R. et al. Food, nutrient and heterocyclic amine intake and the risk of bladder cancer. Eur J Cancer. 2007;43(11):1731-40.

Goldberg A, Alagona P, Capuzzi DM, et al. Multiple-dose efficacy and safety of an extended-release form of niacin in management of hyperlipidemia. Am J Cardiol. 2000;85:1100-1105.

Guyton JR. Niacin in cardiovascular prevention: mechanisms, efficacy, and safety. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2007 Aug;18(4):415-20.

Jacques PF, Chylack LT Jr, Hankinson SE, et al. Long-term nutrient intake and early age related nuclear lens opacities. Arch Ophthalmol. 2001;119(7):1009-1019.

Kuzniarz M, Mitchell P, Cumming RG, Flood VM. Use of vitamin supplements and cataract: the Blue Mountains Eye Study. Am J Ophthalmol. 2001;132(1):19-26.

Mittal MK, Florin T, Perrone J, Delgado JH, Osterhoudt KC. Toxicity from the use of niacin to beat urine drug screening. Ann Emerg Med. 2007;50(5):587-90.

Nutrients and Nutritional Agents. In: Kastrup EK, Hines Burnham T, Short RM, et al, eds. Drug Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, Mo: Facts and Comparisons; 2000:4-5.

Raja R, Thomas JM, Greenhill-Hopper M, Ley SV, Almeida Paz FA. Facile, one-step production of niacin (vitamin B3) and other nitrogen-containing pharmaceutical chemicals with a single-site heterogeneous catalyst. Chemistry. 2008;14(8):2340-8.

Sanyal S, Karas RH, Kuvin JT. Present-day uses of niacin: effects on lipid and non-lipid parameters. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2007 Aug;8(11):1711-7.

Torkos S. Drug-nutrient interactions: a focus on cholesterol-lowering agents. Int J Integrative Med. 2000;2(3):9-13.

Wolerton: Comprehensive Dermatalogic Drug Therapy, 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier. 2007.

Zhao H, Yang X, Zhou R, Yang Y. Study on vitamin B1, vitamin B2 retention factors in vegetables. Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 2008;37(1):92-6.



I have learned to copy and paste with the iPad

I have read several books about Orthomolecular treatments primarily with an interest in treating mental illness. This is the dosage guideline that I find acceptable:

BTW, Dr Hoffer was a leading authority in Orthomolecular therapy.

All the people who I have known to take megadoses of niacin have had 500 milligrams twice a day after meals. They all took non-flushing niacin which is a little more expensive but worth it to avoid the uncomfortable flushing sensation that the standard niacin causes. Every one of them have been very pleased with the results. If you are looking at trying out Orthomolecular therapy then I recommend you find a specialist from here. Note that not all of them treat mental illness. Once you have found the right doctor for you from the list, get them to list the vitamins that you need. Once you have that, visit a GP who is also a nutritionist - they tend to be friendly to non pharmaceutical treatments, tell them what vitamins and dosages you intend to take and ask their opinion. If they give the go ahead then proceed

Not quite.

Deficiency in Vitamin D (which is not actually a vitamin, as I mentioned) is extremely common now due to our indoor lifestyle. Boosting levels has been shown to be beneficial across a range of conditions, including depression.

Okay, you took your opportunity for a hot-winded reaction to what I said above. So as a psychiatric nurse from the currently prevailing "medicate and send home" crowd, how about you post something constructive now? What is your "take" on the causes and treatments of the above problems?

Personally, I'm still concerned about vitamins in large doses. I think I'll stick to the traditional treatments that have worked for me in the past - try for a better diet, supplement with over the counter multivitamin if necessary, try and include exercise every day, try and get enough sleep - and routine where possible.

I would be interested to know how you get a suitable blood test to show any deficiencies in both vitamins and minerals. Is it on the link provided - sorry, haven't had chance to look yet.

Your choice. The important thing is you know you have the choice and that there is not only one show in town. You might also want to consider mindfulness. I've seen amazing results there - it's a bit like pulling the rug out from beneath the anxieties, fears, and ruminating thoughts.

Blood tests: Sorry that was a bit that I forgot to mention. At the nutritionist GP get a blood test sorted up front. Two benefits from that:
1. It provides a starting point of your medical indicators before beginning the megavitamin therapy - perfect for those who just want to be sure that everything is tracking right. Follow up with new blood tests and get them compared every 3 months or so.
2. The blood tests will inform the nutritionist what many of your deficiencies are. Not sure if they tell the full story or point towards things like dependencies though. Which is an interesting point actually, I must speak with my family's GP about that one.

You really need to help yourself more.

this is absolutely wrong and you know it from our past correspondence

I spent most of my career as a psychological therapist working, without the use of medication, with people with anxiety and depression.

Your ramblings are nonsense and not based on any evidence part from your own paranoia.....what you are advocating is unhelpful and dangerous if taken as factual.....stick to your own circle of people who need help and stop perpetuating this dangerous nonsense on here

Ah of course - the paranoia

Going by your behavior on BE, you don't behave like a psychological therapist and I seriously question your professionalism. I hope your treatments are a lot kinder.

I suggest you retract your previous statement about me as you know that it is untrue.

You can not win an argument simply by continuously labelling anyone who disagrees with you as part of some vested interest group or any other conspiracy........and yes you do sound paranoid

On what grounds?....you seem to think that you make your arguments stronger by disparaging anyone who disagrees with you
You simply sound more unhinged

If you come on this thread announcing: "I spent most of my career as a psychological therapist working, without the use of medication, with people with anxiety and depression" then you have your professional cap on and you are expected to behave accordingly. Making professional accusations on a public forum that a person is paranoid does not sound very proper to me. Likewise it is well known that vitamins are beneficial with helping reduce anxiety, depressions, etc. The same with mindfulness. So if you have bolloxed those (and with no explanation why), what treatments are you proposing?