Last year, I was diagnosed with an adult onset tic disorder, (Tourrette’s in everything but name given that I didn’t really display noticeable tics until I was 23, but identical in all other symptoms and treatment benefits.) This led to me ceasing to take adderal and beginning to take risperidone, zoloft, and a few other things at various points (none of which i’ve been taking for the last several months.) In short, the effect of these medication changes led me to a 20-25 lb weight gain over the last year (I’m assuming this given that all other factors were relatively equal.)

Cut to now, I’ve been doing a fairly faithful south beach diet regimen for the last 4 weeks (very low carb, frequent portions), and exercising 5-6 days per week (weights and cardio). I’ve lost 12 pounds from 4 weeks ago. However, one unwanted change is that my tics, which have been relatively low in frequency for the past several months, have increased dramatically during the last week or so. The usual drivers for my tic increases are sleep loss and anxiety, but i can’t claim to have experienced any significant change in either of those factors.

While the causes of Tourrette’s are a subject of ongoing research, there is evidence that it is related to problems in dopamine and/or serotonin management. After reading this article, I’m seriously considering supplementing with that alpha-lactalbumin you mentioned. If I go through with it, I’ll try to report back with my results. I think it’ll make a fairly interesting experiment if my tic levels decrease.

Anyway, thanks again for some very thought provoking articles.

Andrew

In the past year I’ve slowly taken twenty-odd pounds back off with “balanced diet,” caloric restriction and exercise. For myself, I know I need to have vegetable/fruit, whole grain, and protein at every meal, dessert with every lunch/dinner, and a small snack of low-GI toast at bedtime to keep my brain chemistry balanced. The consistent, regular, balanced, routine meals are what work best for my brain, and therefore, my body.

I’m not suggesting that anybody else would be better off this way, but I just get really tired of being made to feel like a failure. Low carb failed me, not the other way around. The real failure would be in knowing what worked best for myself and stubbornly ignoring those facts.

Carbohydrates are discussed as if there is only “one kind” with the same effects. There are several type of carbohydrates.

To the person who asked the question, I recommend that you read more about carbs. They’re not just starches!

You can add me to the pile of opposite anecdotes. The lower the amount of carbohydrate I eat, the better my depression. Even on a very low carb diet, I was often depressed (though not as badly as with more carbs) and tried many medications without much improvement. It wasn’t until I went to an all meat diet that my symptoms completely disappeared. Now I am medication-free, and have a happier, more stable mood than ever in my adult life. (I’m 37.)

Currently on a ketogenic diet and feeling great with none of the above problems. I have been taking 5-htp with l-tyrosine twice a day at high doses. I started low and titrated up until the symproms resolved. My understanding is that 5-HTP and Dopamine use the same enzyme to convert the amino acid precursors to serotonin and dopimine. Taking one without the other can deplete neurotransmitters. Some claim this to be the main reason for amino acid repletion failure.

I used to mock paleo, but it has worked wonders for my life.

Back in 2005, I dealt with severe anxiety (and sometimes depression, both serotonin disorders) that I treated WITH a low-carb paleo diet. Like clockwork, eating carbs in excess (Over 100-150g) and especially from bad sources like grains would result in a panic attack 48 hours later. It took my a while to figure it out because of the delay, but I kept a food journal for months and found that correlation. After five years of getting my serotonin in balance, I can now tolerate high carbs post workout without too many ill effects.

I wonder if the OP is really experiencing depression from lowering carbs, or withdrawal from wheat: http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/why-do-morphine-blocking-drugs-make-you.html

Also, how about tanning once a week and supplementing with Vitamin D? Does wonders for depression, especially of the seasonal variety.