One substance is creatine, an amino acid that promotes energy transfer in brain and muscle cells. The other is uridine, manufactured by the liver and, according to the researchers, appears in breast milk and is a component of infant formula because it is essential for brain development.
"If you think of the times when you've been sad or not feeling well, your brain doesn't feel like it has a lot of energy," said Dr. Perry Renshaw. "There's a tremendous focus on creatine as an athletic supplement, but it turns out it's not only skeletal muscle that uses creatine to create energy, but also the brain." Brain imaging has shown creatine spikes are much lower in people with bipolar disorder and depression. So far, their limited research shows that when the substances are added to medications, the brain then uses the medications more efficiently.
Renshaw said, "We're reducing depressive symptoms by at least 50 percent within a couple of weeks. The two things that are remarkable, is one: it's a very large effect; and two: it's happening very quickly." Dr. Douglas Kondo says that they are treating some bipolar patients with creatine alone. Nothing was said about whether the substances, which have been found to ease depression symptoms, can precipitate hypo/mania as many antidepressants can in people with bipolar disorder.
Of course, these preliminary results need a lot more study. Clinical trials are planned, and I, for one, will be eager to see the results. Creatine is already in use by humans as an athletic supplement because of its effects on muscle tissue, and uridine is already being studied for other conditions; thus the likelihood of side effects appears a lot lower than with most medications.
I do not recommend that you go out and buy creatine supplements. Side effects are not known. Because so much more study is needed, it's impossible to tell where it will lead or, if the efficacy, proper dosage, and safety of either or both substances is proved, how long it would be before treatment is actually available - but it's exciting research!
Photo: size8jeans / Flickr
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And the side effects are?
From Marcia: Side effects are not known. As stated above, I do not recommend you try creatine on your own. These studies are being done under carefully controlled conditions, and there is nowhere near enough information yet on whether this treatment will really be effective and safe.
Should “don’t try it on your own” be translated as “wait until we can find a way to charge massive amounts of money by prescription only”? Can the side effects realistically be thought to be worse than Abilify os Seroquil or the other highly toxic prescription treatments?
I agree with Mike!
It isn’t just a matter of side effects, Mike. There’s a LOT that’s not known, including:
Given the above, it would be extremely foolhardy to assume that just because the supplement is available, it is safe and effective for you to start using on your own. I wasn’t even able to find enough information about this preliminary study to assess all the possible risks.
To me the biggest danger is that the supplement could have a very bad interaction with your medications. No clinical trials have been done. Nothing has been released – maybe not even looked at yet – about these substances’ effects on mood stabilizers, anti-anxiety medications, sedating medicines, etc. And what about medications for other conditions? I take five psych meds and three other meds daily. You’d better believe I’m not going to risk trying a substance that affects the brain!
Will you have more info about when clinical trials begin? Will you be able to offer info on how to become involved in the trials? I was diagnosed as bi-polar for over 30 years ago and the psych meds have taken thier toll. Please keep us informed.
Okay I agree with Mike. It seems like creatine has been on the market for at least 15 years as a body building supplement. I,m going to try it. My biggest problem with taking medication is the weight gain, sound like this might help me lose weight with my workouts as well as help me with my bi-polar diorder. To me its definetly worth a try.
As with any new medical discovery, whether it is a new medication, or a new use for something already on the market, we are well advised to wait and see what optimum dosing, side effects, interactions with other meds, etc. My guess is most of you, like me, are already on other meds, (I am also on seizure meds as well), so how might this react with them? We have no information on these things. Yes, once the pharmeceutical companies are finished with years of R&D and are making that evil thing called a “profit”, it will cost more, but it is the price we have to pay for safe health care.
I would be very careful with the creatine. About 10 years ago, before I knew I was BP, I took it for weight lifting and weight loss. I can look in hindsight and know that it was a time of very mild depression, but the mania was very noticeably present. While it was great for a while, it certainly did have its consequences. While looking for a possible better alternative to a cocktail of meds, self medication is never a good idea. Is the potential prize worth the toll of possible payments?
Creatine has been around for a long time and is considered to be fairly safe. Why wouldn’t I try it? Nothing my doctor is prescribing is working that well! Why wait to try stuff like this until all the tests have been done, when tests have been done that show it’s safe? I guess there might be a 1 in a thousand chance that it will react with a medication that I’m on, but I’m not on that many medications.
“Do not self-medicate” will translate to “go out this minute and get some and eat lots of it.” A lot of people will take mania over depression.
I am Bipolar I…. I get ECT treatments twice a week. I have had 32 so far, or close to that. I have missed the last four for various reasons and am at my wits end! I would do anything at this point to be “normal”!!! If others only knew what people like myself go through every day. I have been researching deep brain tissue stimulation surgery. I for one would love to be there on Christmas day with a surgeon operating on me. I just do not know how many more days I can withstand living the way I do. The constant mood swings, being triggered over next to nothing…. it is so hard to explain.