[keeping positive]

Apologies if this is not in the right place, please feel free to move if so.

My partner has suffered terribly over the last 14 or so months with psychosis, terrible delusions of grandeur where he thinks he is god and hallucinations etc, he is also extremely paranoid, especially about the NHS.

However, over the last few weeks he has been taking multi vitamins regularly along with Vitamin B, which we were told he was deficient in, I'm not entirely sure if there is a link or it is pure coincidence but my partner over the last few weeks has been much better, the delusions aren't so grand, in fact he now says he is not god and that no one has ever seen or ever will see him. He doesn't start arguments with me anymore and there is little or no mention of the devil etc the way he was before, and therefore no more endless, sleepless nights, he does still mention things occasionally but I'm usually able to change the subject or he just stops of his own accord.

The point is, he seems to be more and more like his old self, personality wise, and I was curious to know if there is some truth to what I once read somewhere about there being a link with psychosis and people lacking in certain vitamins. My partner was also told he was deficient in vitamin D.

[Universal Credit]

I think it's folic acid that is linked, I take 400mg daily and when I think abot it there is a difference...no side effects, they are considering putting it in white bread but won't because it may mask a general defeciency in the elderly. No money in it like fish oil and so it is ignored, or next to ignored by the authorities despite having no side effects and the double blind studies costing very little, probably a fraction of the time-to-change tv campaign.

[eyewashere]

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[eyewashere]

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[baby4]

keeping positive, on 02 February 2012 - 01:36 PM, said:

Apologies if this is not in the right place, please feel free to move if so.

My partner has suffered terribly over the last 14 or so months with psychosis, terrible delusions of grandeur where he thinks he is god and hallucinations etc, he is also extremely paranoid, especially about the NHS.

However, over the last few weeks he has been taking multi vitamins regularly along with Vitamin B, which we were told he was deficient in, I'm not entirely sure if there is a link or it is pure coincidence but my partner over the last few weeks has been much better, the delusions aren't so grand, in fact he now says he is not god and that no one has ever seen or ever will see him. He doesn't start arguments with me anymore and there is little or no mention of the devil etc the way he was before, and therefore no more endless, sleepless nights, he does still mention things occasionally but I'm usually able to change the subject or he just stops of his own accord.

The point is, he seems to be more and more like his old self, personality wise, and I was curious to know if there is some truth to what I once read somewhere about there being a link with psychosis and people lacking in certain vitamins. My partner was also told he was deficient in vitamin D.

[baby4]

oooopsss..I think I replied but didn't..aplogies..
Hi Keeping Positive, I was very interested to read your posting, your situation sounds pretty similar to my own. My partner has been particularly bad recently, starts arguments with me etc, calls me evil and doesnt know who I am or where he is. I have heard of the link between vitamins and schizophrenia so I am going to get him some although he does have major probs with him thinking he's been spiked and people are trying to poison him so I may struggle on that one. I was curious to know does your partner take anti-psychotics? My partner does but a lot of symptoms seep through which he cant always get rid of very easily. Best wishes to you and your partner and I hope he manages to keep well.

[ramboself]

One guy i knew tryed vitamins came off meds, his body was fished out the thames

One psychiatrist said if your worried about tardive dyskinesia take vitamin e, it's also supposed to be good for social anxiety and alcohol problems i read, used to take multivitamins plus vitamin e until cost became an issue with the benefits, now take them occassionallly

[Universal Credit]

ramboself, on 02 February 2012 - 06:57 PM, said:

One guy i knew tryed vitamins came off meds, his body was fished out the thames

One psychiatrist said if your worried about tardive dyskinesia take vitamin e, it's also supposed to be good for social anxiety and alcohol problems i read, used to take multivitamins plus vitamin e until cost became an issue with the benefits, now take them occassionallly

I'd suggest taking the prescribed meds but try some of the other stuff too. It is easy to get carried with supplements and some are quite expensive. I take a general over-fifties multi-vit, fishoil and folic acid along with the prescribed stuff. Given the diet on a low income I think everyone should be on a general vit in our situation to make sure there no deficiencys?

[firemonkey]

numenoftheinkblood, on 02 February 2012 - 06:00 PM, said:

My best suggestion for a very comprehensive handbook on nutrition is NUTRITION ALMANAC (I have the fouth edition) by Gayla J. Kirschmann and John D. Kirschmann published by McGraw-Hill in 1973, 1975, 1979, 1984, 1990, 1996. I don't know if there is a more current edition but I still find my old, dog-eared edition reliable.
In my copy, they cited:

The British Medical Journal (March 26, 1966) ... stated editorially, that "It is true that vitamin B₁₂ deficiency may cause severe psychotic symptoms which may vary in severity from mild disorders of mood, mental slowness, and memory defect, to severe psychotic symptoms."

I am pleased to hear that your husband's condition is improved. He is very fortunate to have a supportive partner such as yourself. I wish you continued success on your path to recovery.

http://www.amazon.co...28211626&sr=8-1

6th edition.

[ramboself]

The psychiatrist said theres not much in those vitamins you buy from the supermarket, they're all i can afford, you've inspired me to take some, some extra pills at least, funnny how psychiatric drugs bad vitamins good

[eyewashere]

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[eyewashere]

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[manic666]

omega fish oil , seem well documented for mental troubles,

[keeping positive]

baby4, on 02 February 2012 - 06:47 PM, said:

oooopsss..I think I replied but didn't..aplogies..
Hi Keeping Positive, I was very interested to read your posting, your situation sounds pretty similar to my own. My partner has been particularly bad recently, starts arguments with me etc, calls me evil and doesnt know who I am or where he is. I have heard of the link between vitamins and schizophrenia so I am going to get him some although he does have major probs with him thinking he's been spiked and people are trying to poison him so I may struggle on that one. I was curious to know does your partner take anti-psychotics? My partner does but a lot of symptoms seep through which he cant always get rid of very easily. Best wishes to you and your partner and I hope he manages to keep well.

Hi Baby 4

Ive been called the Devil and the antichrist all sorts of terrible things for months so I know exactly where you're coming from, if you need to talk at all on here or privtely please get in touch, I don't know what advise I can offer but I'm always willing to help if I can.

My partner does not take anti psychotics, the LMHU tried to get him to take them but he refused, this landed him on a section 2 for 6 days, he won't even take paracetemol unless he's in severe pain, says he hates drugs and much like your partner thinks people are trying to kill him off, expecially the NHS, the doctor prescribed Vitamin B because this was being depleted by too much alcohol, he will quite readily take vitamins becuse he doesn't see these as drugs as such only as being good for you.

As numen says nutrition can be key, I'm now trying to provide an even more balanced healthy diet in the hope this will have some affect too. I've even stopped drinking, not that I drank much anyway, but I used to enjouy a couple on a weekend, i've stopped this now and if I don't drink my partner tends to not drink as much, he maybe has the odd can here and there and a little more on a weekend. He has cut down dramatically though so it can only be a good thing.

Don't get me wrong, he's not "cured" but at least it's less stressful and he is happier in himself now, he's even attempting to give up smoking now....

Onwards and upwards eh (fingers crossed)!!!

[keeping positive]

ramboself, on 02 February 2012 - 06:57 PM, said:

One guy i knew tryed vitamins came off meds, his body was fished out the thames

One psychiatrist said if your worried about tardive dyskinesia take vitamin e, it's also supposed to be good for social anxiety and alcohol problems i read, used to take multivitamins plus vitamin e until cost became an issue with the benefits, now take them occassionallly

I wouldn't recommend coming off meds and taking vitamins as a substitute, this can only be a bad thing, my partner won't take anti psychotic meds anyway and vitamins are something he will take.

He gets his Vitamin B prescribed by the GP and as he has no income he gets these free, try talking to your GP and see if they can prescribe a course for you, I also bought a big bottle of multi vitamins, quite cheaply, from home bargains, they were about £2.99 or so and last 2 months, they are not a branded name but seem to do the job as effectively as big branded names.

[ramboself]

i won't get vitamins of my gp too much trouble making up the prescription regularly, rethink suggested i change my gp but inner city areas are full of burnt out gps who originally cared but don't now, the trouble i had getting that gp 4 refused me, the list i got said there weren't any gps with places in my electoral area

Saw some black guy asking for vitamins and been rushed in for an appt, better be careful or i'll be called racist, some would say i don't know everything about him

[baby4]

eyewashere, on 02 February 2012 - 07:53 PM, said:

Hi baby4,
If vitamin pills or spoons of oil raise hubby's suspicions you might have an easier time getting the vitamin support from 'tasteless brewer's yeast' and making a tasty blender smoothie. You could even add a tiny bit of omega 3 oil but might want to mask that with a banana. There are lots of recipes online. Brewer's yeast is an excellent source of B vitamins.
All the best.

thanks for that eyewash..although on a bad day pretty much everything raises his suspicions

keeping positive, on 03 February 2012 - 10:02 AM, said:

Hi Baby 4

Ive been called the Devil and the antichrist all sorts of terrible things for months so I know exactly where you're coming from, if you need to talk at all on here or privtely please get in touch, I don't know what advise I can offer but I'm always willing to help if I can.

My partner does not take anti psychotics, the LMHU tried to get him to take them but he refused, this landed him on a section 2 for 6 days, he won't even take paracetemol unless he's in severe pain, says he hates drugs and much like your partner thinks people are trying to kill him off, expecially the NHS, the doctor prescribed Vitamin B because this was being depleted by too much alcohol, he will quite readily take vitamins becuse he doesn't see these as drugs as such only as being good for you.

As numen says nutrition can be key, I'm now trying to provide an even more balanced healthy diet in the hope this will have some affect too. I've even stopped drinking, not that I drank much anyway, but I used to enjouy a couple on a weekend, i've stopped this now and if I don't drink my partner tends to not drink as much, he maybe has the odd can here and there and a little more on a weekend. He has cut down dramatically though so it can only be a good thing.

Don't get me wrong, he's not "cured" but at least it's less stressful and he is happier in himself now, he's even attempting to give up smoking now....

Onwards and upwards eh (fingers crossed)!!!

[baby4]

thanks for that keeping positive, I agree with what you said about nutrition and stopping drinking. The other half used to drink and do drugs, which no doubt contributed to his numerous sections, doesnt touch either now, so thats one thing at least...same to you kp, if you need a rant, I am here, I know its not always easy...as you say onwards and upwards

[manic666]

A lot of health store vitamin,s an supplements an nutriton are produce by your body without buying any crap. A lot of these so called health store supplements have more side effects than your pych meds. Eat fruit an veg in your diet an you get all you need. An for god sake dont ever just give up your meds for a crazy idea like vitamin.s, or you will be in the pyhc ward pronto

[kerriejoe]

i would like to try a vitamin but not sure what to try because i have been changed medications a lot and only now im feeling ok i wat to feel a bit better than this i hope your husband is getting better xxx