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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by psychobot5000 on February 9, 2009, at 22:40:53
Hi all,
As some of you may know, I'm looking for things to help with medication-induced OCD symptoms, and am intending to try MSG (which dissolves into glutamate, apparently--researchers now think the glutamate system is involved, so I figure...why not). My test-dose a few days ago (1/3 tsp of Japanese food-additive Ajinomoto, which is not pure MSG) seemed to help the next day, as well as helping me get to sleep that night. So I may try a trial of MSG in earnest, but I am concerned about safety issues.
My impression is that MSG is no longer thought to have the health risks it once was, but if anyone knows anything more specific, I'd be grateful to hear it--i.e. how much would be a safe dose, could there be any drug interactions, etc.
Thanks!
Psychbot
Posted by yxibow on February 10, 2009, at 1:09:01
In reply to Possible MSG supplementation...safety, etc, posted by psychobot5000 on February 9, 2009, at 22:40:53
> Hi all,
>
> As some of you may know, I'm looking for things to help with medication-induced OCD symptoms, and am intending to try MSG (which dissolves into glutamate, apparently--researchers now think the glutamate system is involved, so I figure...why not). My test-dose a few days ago (1/3 tsp of Japanese food-additive Ajinomoto, which is not pure MSG) seemed to help the next day, as well as helping me get to sleep that night. So I may try a trial of MSG in earnest, but I am concerned about safety issues.
>
> My impression is that MSG is no longer thought to have the health risks it once was, but if anyone knows anything more specific, I'd be grateful to hear it--i.e. how much would be a safe dose, could there be any drug interactions, etc.
I don't know if it is a question of the questioned "health risks", other than one should keep their sodium intake to around 2000mg a day (although most diets from processed food end up being far more than that) as much as a number of people are sensitive to MSG and can get terrible headaches from it.Its somewhat related cousins disodium guanylate and disodium inosinate are found now ubiquitously in "flavored" potato chips and other products.
-- Jay
Posted by linkadge on February 10, 2009, at 19:27:26
In reply to Re: Possible MSG supplementation...safety, etc » psychobot5000, posted by yxibow on February 10, 2009, at 1:09:01
This is a bad idea. MSG is not good for you.
First of all, what association between social phobia and glutamate are you referring to? Second of all, are you sure there isn't a state of hyperglutamatergic neurotransmission in SP? Benzo's tend to work by dampening hyperactive glutamate function. Why would you ingest a substance that might just be exacerbating this?
MSG is also neurotoxic.
If you really wanted to increase glutamate function, you might want to look into safer alternatives like glutamine supplementation.
Linkadge
Posted by psychobot5000 on February 10, 2009, at 19:53:03
In reply to Re: Possible MSG supplementation...safety, etc, posted by linkadge on February 10, 2009, at 19:27:26
> This is a bad idea. MSG is not good for you.
>
>
...
>
> MSG is also neurotoxic.
>
>Thanks, Linkadge--I didn't know it was neurotoxic. ...I took a second dose today, and am more or less convinced it's not a good idea anyway. Have been dysphoric, underslept and angry all day. Hope I didn't take enough to damage any neurons.
The OCD-glutamate connection comes from I know not what source...wikipedia claims that exhibition of NMDA neurons and inhibition of non-NMDA glutamate neurons may both improve OCD.
Psychbot
Posted by linkadge on February 10, 2009, at 21:09:41
In reply to Re: Possible MSG supplementation...safety, etc » linkadge, posted by psychobot5000 on February 10, 2009, at 19:53:03
I'm not sure what that means in terms of overal glutamatergic neurotransmission. I know that the so called "OCD circuit" is thought to involve hyperactive glutamatergic neurotransmission in the prefrontal cortex and associated areas.
Some agents like memantine, and riluzole supposedly have ant-ocd effect.
Linkadge
Posted by janejane on February 11, 2009, at 0:50:26
In reply to Re: Possible MSG supplementation...safety, etc, posted by linkadge on February 10, 2009, at 19:27:26
Linkadge, I know that some studies from the 1970s found that glutamic acid caused brain lesions in rats, but I thought that Chinese Restaurant Syndrome (headaches, etc. from food seasoned with MSG) was pretty much debunked, and that sparing use as a food additive was not a major concern for most adults. Or at least, not any more of a concern than any of the other junk we consume, like the ice cream I just had. ;) Is that not the case?
Posted by psychobot5000 on February 11, 2009, at 15:07:54
In reply to msg neurotoxic?, posted by janejane on February 11, 2009, at 0:50:26
> Linkadge, I know that some studies from the 1970s found that glutamic acid caused brain lesions in rats, but I thought that Chinese Restaurant Syndrome (headaches, etc. from food seasoned with MSG) was pretty much debunked, and that sparing use as a food additive was not a major concern for most adults. Or at least, not any more of a concern than any of the other junk we consume, like the ice cream I just had. ;) Is that not the case?
>That is what I had thought as well, though I didn't find anything certain on that this time around.
This is the end of the thread.
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