I recently received a common from Alex about the over the counter mental health supplement ‘EMpower’ from the manufacturer True Hope. He wrote in response to my blog post on the potential dangers of EMpower and other such natural supplements. I have replied below.
Hi Julie,
My father killed himself when I was only two years old, after only a few weeks of manic behavior (his condition went undiagnosed at the time). Twenty years later, my sister was diagnosed with Bi-Polar disorder after a few months of insane and dangerous behavior. She spent two days in a mental institution before being released. She slept about four hours every two days, and would swing from extremely hyper to drowsy/lethargic in a matter of minutes. My family and I spent two weeks keeping her on round-the-clock suicide watch. During this period, we kept her on the proper loading dose of EMPower (which I think was something like 24 pills a day). Within one week, she was sleeping through the night (at least six hours). Within one month, her mood was stabilized. Within three months, she was back to normal. This was six years ago. She’s had minor recurrences, but they’re always linked to stress/diet/sickness.
This isn’t to say that EMPower is the cure-all. These types of situations are almost always multifaceted. Her environment leading up to her mania was a big factor, and the family support and comforting, safe environment during the recovery was huge. Also, diet played a roll during the bad months, and healthy home cooked meals were served while healing.
I must say, I cannot fathom how anything in EMPower could actually CAUSE mania…
Julie
Hi Alex,
Thanks for writing.
I am happy that your sister has done so well. She is very lucky. One of the problems with all over the counter medications is that they are working on our brain chemistry just as pharmaceuticals do- and it’s so very delicate to pinpoint what will work and what won’t. I am extremely, and I mean extremely sensitive to medications and supplements which means I am rather the poster child for what could go wrong. Many people can take the drugs I can’t tolerate.
The biggest problem with over the counter supplements is not that they work or don’t work, it’s that the potential for harm is not discussed. If you visit the EMpower supplement webpage, there are no warnings that it can be very unsafe for people with bipolar disorder. That needs to be on the site just for safety. Instead, the site talks about its effect on mood- but not specifically how it works on bipolar disroder. Bipolar is a far more serious illness than depression, so I feel the site intenitally sticks to the benefits EMpower has on the treatment of depression and skips the mania worries.
I am not saying I’m against supplements. For example, I recently tried an amino acid over the counter supplement that shows some promise in bipolar depression research. (EMpower also includes amino acids). Within one week I was so hungry and so agitated manic I could hardly function. Then the depression started and stayed off and on for four weeks! And yet the study had great results with the participants. It was a national study reported in the Bipolar Network News. I always check with my coauthor Dr. John Preston about anything I try and let my family know when I take something new. But I still got sick.
There is no way people are going to stop trying new things- my point is that the active ingredients in over the counter products such as EMpower can work or they can have very serious consequences. I tried EMpower because I wanted to get better and it seemed natural – it is very natural, but I became manic and psychotic and it was not pleasant. When I called the help line they said there was no indication that it caused mania and psychosis- and yet, I was on the line telling them it had! All I want is for natural supplement companies to list the possible dangers of the supplements for people with mania. But you don’t even get that with big pharma, so I doubt it’s going to happen soon.
It’s essential that we all check out what we are taking and then have someone watch us closely for mood swings. This includes all non psychiatric meds/supplements as well- such as cortisone, 5-HTP, valerian or melatonin. I know so many people who do get relief from supplements- but they always hear the same lecture from me- Watch for signs of mood swings! (For example, the over the counter supplement 5-HTP is a naturally occurring amino acid that works on serotonin much the way Prozac works on serotonin. Prozac can cause mania as can 5-HTP. This means it can be a very dangerous albeit natural drug for people with bipolar disorder. )
We have to know how everything we put in our body affects bipolar. I do not believe in taking anything where research has shown it can cause mania. I believe that all products such as EMpower need to list the possibilites of mania and psychosis along with the benefits of the supplements. Then a person can be ready for what might happen. People with depression can take supplements that many of us can’t- and it’s all because of the mania risk found in bipolar disorder.
Thanks for your comment. I am so very happy for your sister.
Julie
Here is a page regarding EMpower from the great Dr. Jim Phelps. Dr. Phelps is a true pioneer in the research and treatment of bipolar II and especially rapid cycling.
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/truehope.htm
PS: If you go to the search function to your right, you can type in Empower, True Hope, Rapid Cycling and Mania to learn more about each topic.
The Actress Glenn Close and Family Tackle the Stigma of Mental Illness.
