Chapter Three

“Nutritionals” Used on The Road Back Program

“I am now more than halfway off my antidepressant, using the program.  I was able to reduce a little bit of the medication with my naturopath, but we reached a standstill after the second reduction. The side effects started and we could not get rid of them.  The Omega 3 got rid of the brain zaps within a few hours and they never came back.  The Body Calm has been amazing at helping me stay calm during the day and with my sleep.  And that barley did just what you said it would do for my energy and complete feelings.  I can’t thank you enough.” J.S. New York

The Basic Nutritional Premise

The body is an amazing and complex instrument, designed to deal with the rigors of life, as long as it is cared for properly. However, when the body’s chemistry or systems are altered, the body will fight back to balance out the attack.

Bringing back that balance is critical if a person is taking a psychoactive medication.

Over the past decade, I have spent thousands of hours researching the correct and most basic nutrient system for this program. The year 2010, has brought the next generation of research to application. The 2010 edition of this book makes the program even more effective, easier to follow and reduces the time it takes to get off psychoactive medication.

A few examples of clinical trials: antidepressants cause insulin resistance and prolonged use of benzodiazepines depletes the body of the B vitamin biotin. These two examples give an indication of how one might treat medication side effects and why a few supplements are part of this program.

In other words, if you have taken a benzodiazepine for an extended period of time and you have depression and/or tingling or numbness of the extremities, you are very well deficient in biotin and adding biotin to your daily routine will handle the symptom if the deficiency is the cause.

The list of symptoms associated with insulin resistance is quite long. Diabetes and obesity are two of the final results of being insulin resistant but there are other symptoms a person will begin experiencing before the onset of the conditions.

When a person puts back the correct nutrients in the body and allows the body to begin balancing itself once again the positive changes a person feels can be vast and dramatic.

How The Program Works

Your body naturally triggers a self-protective inflammatory process. This natural function responds to normal activities such as exercise, fighting off toxins, allergies, illness, incorrect foods, weight gain, medications - you name it.

For example, a sore throat or infected cut. The area becomes red and inflamed as the body rushes microscopic “fire fighters” to the area to contain and put out the fire and to then start the healing process.

But if your body gets overloaded and can no longer control the in­flammation, or lacks enough “fire fighters” to douse the flames, then an internal switch flips, and your systems can start going awry, ultimately resulting in an overall imbalance.

If you have a physical condition, including menopause, weight gain, diabetes or so many others, and then throw most psychoactive medications on top, you can be adding fuel to an already burning fire. In essence, you flip the switch that overloads your body so it can no longer function as intended.

However, and a big however; using supplements, specifically antioxidants incorrectly, in the wrong amount, combination, or the time of day taken, can cause more harm than help.

The body will produce and release substances called cytokines when the immune system is activated. Depending on your body, these cytokines may have been overly active before you started taking medication or they may have been inhibited once the medication was started. We all react differently when medication is taken. One thing is common though with all of us, that is the need to maintain or to get back to a natural body balance.

Oxidative stress will be significantly higher in the body of anyone diagnosed with anxiety, depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, ADHD and OCD. The brain is most susceptible to oxidative stress and a multitude of clinical trials have shown significantly higher oxidative stress in the brain of bipolar and schizophrenic patients.  The supplement called JNK and JNK Stress will help stop the oxidative stress before it even starts.

The area of nutrition is littered with confusing words and information so technical, it can seem overwhelming. I have tried to simplify and distill what you need to know, so you can proceed with the program while understanding the basic premise and how your body works to counteract the imbalances created by the medication.

Thousands of people worldwide have stood where you now stand; ready to take their lives back and free themselves from psychoactive medication and the resulting side effects. While every person is unique and life offers no guarantees, if you follow this program precisely, you should begin to feel better and do better soon after you start.

“I started your program two weeks ago and what a difference! I didn’t think you were telling the truth about the products, but I feel like a new woman. Can I stay on the products for life after the taper is over? Thank you for your efforts. You all are a godsend” L.V. Reno, Nevada

When I started my research into the psychoactive drug-tapering problem, I relied on available, over-the-counter nutritional products to help people with their tapering. As with any other research, there were ups and downs to this approach, because over-the-counter nutritional products were often either too harsh, or just not of the quality needed to accomplish the task. However, there were a few supplements found that were fully backed by clinical science and each bottle label matched exactly what was inside of the bottle.

What I found is that throwing random, unrelated health products into your body during any form of withdrawal from psychoactive medication, would create at best, a “willy-nilly,” disordered, unpredictable response, or in the worst case scenario extreme illness. While some might benefit from such an approach, the vast majority will not achieve the desired results, even worse, they could create new problems for themselves in the process.

My goal is to help you safely taper off psychoactive medication, while dramatically reducing the side effects of your medication, as well as the side effects of withdrawal.

What works are the correct “nutrients” introduced into your body in the correct amounts at the correct times throughout the day, so the side effects of the medication and the tapering process are minimized, while concurrently the relief is increased.

Specific “nutrients,” taken in an exact order at specific times will counter-balance and eliminate the side effects.

Supplements Used in the Program

Body Calm

One of the most common complaints of people on either psychoactive medication or those who are trying to come off their medication is daytime anxiety and the inability to achieve a normal sleep at night. Sleep is an integral part of life, it helps to stabilize mood, foster clear thinking and assist with reaction time. Sleep gives the body a chance to rebuild. Even though your body is doing a lot of work while you sleep, you should not be. Without plenty of restful sleep, daily functioning can be miserable.

Different from any prescribed medication you may be on or have taken in the past, Body Calm does not knock you out or turn you into a zombie. Taken during the day, Body Calm will help relieve anxiety without making you tired, foggy or having a feeling of not being there. Body Calm taken at night, about an hour before bed, will help you fall asleep naturally. Upon waking in the morning, you should not feel groggy, weary or have to drag yourself out of the sheets.

The ingredient in Body Calm is a tart cherry, made into a powdered form and put in a veggie capsule. This type of tart cherry is a COX-2 enzyme inhibitor. Stress during our daily life promotes the production of the enzyme COX-2 and inhibiting this enzyme reduces the anxiety associated with stress.

Body Calm Supreme

Severe anxiety, stress and insomnia are common withdrawal side effects, comprising the most common side effects for all psychoactive medication, especially during withdrawal. Body Calm Supreme was formulated for use in conjunction with Body Calm to handle anxiety, stress and insomnia. Body Calm Supreme combines 50 mg Body Calm and 200 mg of the herb passion flower.

You might be tempted to go to your local store or search online and purchase a passion flower supplement. It is strongly suggested that you only use the TRB Health brand of passion flower. There are over 500 species of passion flower and Body Calm Supreme is only made from one of the species. The herb extraction process is completely different from other passion flower supplements and the strength of Body Calm Supreme is the highest you can find. This is why only 200 mg of passion flower is needed in a capsule.

Passion Flower has been shown in several clinical trials during the past decades to handle such things as generalized anxiety, insomnia, hypertension, withdrawal off benzodiazepines, withdrawal off opiates, narcotics, alcohol and several other addictive substances. Every clinical trial was successful. The same type of passion flower used in the clinical trials has been used to formulate Body Calm Supreme.

JNK

The JNK supplement is a combination of 5 veggie capsules in 1 packet. There are 30-packets in each bottle and you will take 1 packet first thing in the morning.

There are two types of JNK supplements used in the program, JNK and the other is called JNK Stress. Additional information can be found on JNK Stress in the next supplement heading.

The human body has a gene called JNK and the supplement is named after the gene. When the JNK gene becomes over activated a person will likely feel additional stress, anxiety or panic attacks, gain weight, feel depressed or any of the hundreds of medication side effects.

Antidepressants actually make the JNK gene more active and this activation has been found to be the cause of antidepressant induced diabetes or insulin resistance at the very least.

People diagnosed with mood disorders are usually prescribed Lithium, Depakote or any of the common drugs prescribed for this feeling. The drugs are actively suppressing the over activation of the JNK gene. When these drugs work for a person, the suppression of the JNK gene is why they work.

The JNK supplement is stronger than the JNK Stress supplement and should not be used if you have anxiety or insomnia. If you have anxiety or stress, use the JNK Stress formula.

If you have gained weight while taking medications, the answer and solution will be the JNK supplement. Just take 1 packet in the morning, but remember, if you have anxiety or insomnia use the JNK Stress formula.

JNK Stress

JNK Stress is formulated to be used by individuals feeling stress, anxiety and panic attacks. As mentioned in the JNK supplement above, the JNK gene becomes over activated when drugs are used and the over activation of this gene can lead to all of the side effects from psychoactive medication. If you are not sure which JNK supplement you need, start with the JNK Stress.

Power Barley Formula

The Power Barley Formula is comprised of three simple yet powerful ingredients: young green barley, Aktivated Barley™, and carrots all blended into an easily assimilated powdered form. Easy assimilation is key to the nutritional effectiveness of this product.

Power Barley Formula is U.S.D.A. approved and certified 100% organic. Based on the contents of this formula and an FDA issued statement in December 2005, TRB Health can make the following health claim regarding the Power Barley Formula: “Soluble fiber from foods, such as Power Barley Formula, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. A serving of Power Barley Formula supplies two grams of the soluble fiber necessary per day to have this effect.”

Power Barley Formula is only used if you are taking an antidepressant, have fatigue and do not have daytime anxiety or insomnia.

Omega 3 Supreme

The use of omega 3 fish oil is now scientifically documented, through a multitude of clinical trials to help people overcome the symptoms associated with several psychiatric disorders. The successful trials have used an omega 3 fish oil that is higher in EPA than DHA content. The EPA fraction of the fish oil helps with brain function. When a person is taking a psychoactive drug, specifically antidepressants, ADHD medication and antipsychotics, the uptake and turnover of the fatty acids can be altered and that results in head side effects.

EPA enhances the electrical functions and communication between all the systems in your brain, which your body relies on to function properly.

DHA helps build the brain structurally, and as such, is a much-needed nutrient for the correct brain formation during growth. Both EPA and DHA are critical compounds for a person on psychoactive medications. With these compounds stripped from the body, the communications or electrical impulses from one nerve ending to another do not flow smoothly, but rather jump in all directions creating such things as “brain zaps,” “fogginess,” irritability, agitation, forgetfulness and more.

The amount of EPA and DHA taken during your taper will directly affect how well, or how poorly, you do on the program.

If you will be tapering off an anti-depressant, anti-psychotic, or ADHD medication, it is doubly important that you use the correct quantity and quality of omega 3 fish oil. The Omega 3 Supreme fish oil sold by TRB Health was specifically created for high EPA and has been cleaned of toxins generally associated with fish oil.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is commonly found in regular foods, such as vegetable oils, nuts, whole grains and leafy vegetables. As discussed earlier, though found in many foods consumed on a regular basis it is difficult, if not impossible, to derive the total Vitamin E needed from diet alone.

Further, pollution, fried foods, bad carbohydrates, drugs, birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy and so many other bad influences test the vitamin E that we do have in our bodies. Vitamin E is an anti-oxidant, a natural compound that protects the body from toxins, and also helps protect other anti-oxidants in the body from being destroyed. It further helps the body eliminate circulating toxins or poisons. When taking the Power Barley Formula you are causing a mild detoxification process – a good thing. Vitamin E helps your body neutralize these toxins and as these toxins are removed from the body you will start to feel better with more energy.

The components making a complete vitamin and distinguishing available vitamin E’s are staggering, having filled volumes. This program assists a person off medication and in the process ensures there will be no drug/supplement interactions with our recommendations. Beyond the correct mixture of vitamin E is the quality or purity of a natural vitamin E. Some forms of vitamin E will create higher plasma concentrations of vitamin E while other forms will create vitamin E in the tissue. While Vitamin E is an antioxidant, the incorrect vitamin E can become an oxidant and cause inflammation and in some cases create a drug/supplement interaction.

The A.C. Grace Company has been manufacturing vitamin E for more than 46 years. We recommend their Unique E with mixed tocopherols because of their manufacturing process.

Optional Supplements

There are optional supplements that can be used to help with specific symptoms. I have found 80% of the people we work with on the program do just fine with the supplements listed earlier, but 20% needed a little extra help with specific symptoms. I have listed the optional supplements below and what they can be used for.

Beta 1, 3-D Glucan

The human immune system includes a substance called IL-2. Individuals with low levels of IL-2 will have anxiety and problems with sleep. Stage 2 of sleep requires a sufficient level of IL-2 for a deep restful sleep.

Beta 1, 3-D Glucan has been clinically proven to not only increase levels of IL-2 in the human immune system but also to keep the IL-2 levels increased for an extended time after the product is discontinued.

If you have anxiety and or insomnia, use the Body Calm and Body Calm Supreme first and if these symptoms do not subside within 2 weeks you may have low IL-2 and supplementing with the Beta 1, 3-D Glucan would be in order. Taking three of the 100 mg capsules in the morning will usually do the trick.

Biotin

The B vitamin biotin is used in the program if you have taken a benzodiazepine or any anti-anxiety medication for an extended period. What an extended period is, is a subjective time in the clinical trials, so you will need to determine the need of biotin based on your symptoms. If you are taking a benzodiazepine or anti-anxiety medication and have depression and or a tingling or numbness of the extremities, the odds are very high you have been depleted of biotin by the medication and you should include biotin during the program. The biotin from TRB Health is a pure grade biotin and the capsules are a therapeutic strength at 5,000 mcg a capsule. Taking 1 capsule in the morning may be all you need. Results happen within 3 days if you are taking the correct amount of biotin. Some people may need 3 capsules a day, morning, noon and again around 5 pm.

B6, B12 and Folate

B6, B12 and folate will be deficient in most diets of the 21^st century. The ramifications of this deficiency may be one of the factors associated with the high percentage of the population experiencing prolonged depression. Several clinical trials have shown low levels of these 3 required vitamins to be directly related to depression and the severity of the depression.

Clinical trials have also shown antidepressants to be more effective when the patient also takes B6, B12 and folate along with the antidepressant. We will let others debate if the successful result is only from the B6, B12 and folate or if the success really comes from the combination of supplement and medication.

The master antioxidant glutathione plays a critical role with detoxification of all toxins. There are several ways to increase glutathione levels in the body but the most natural way is to have ample B6, B12 and folate levels and the body will convert certain amino acids to help production of glutathione.

CalesiumD

CalesiumD is a proprietary blend of calcium citrate, magnesium and a trace of vitamin D3. The calcium’s non-ionic form reduces the chance of calcium induced anxiety or insomnia. Many people taking medication are calcium deficient and have a need for calcium but an ionic form of calcium causes increased anxiety. For the best absorption of calcium, include a pre-biotic called Calsorption.

Essential Protein Formula

The Essential Protein Formula is excellent when you have anxiety or insomnia. This product is also effective when you are having a problem with blood sugar and that is part of the anxiety or insomnia problem.

TRB Health misnamed their Essential Protein Formula completely. Please do not believe you should go to a store and purchase a whey protein for this program. The whey protein in this formula is no more than a base for other nutritionals to be added for easy mixing. The real benefit of the formula comes from a type of barley in the product, as well as wheat germ and lecithin.

Probiotic Supreme

Clinical trials have shown that at least 18% of the people who have taken an antidepressant have Candida yeast overgrowth. Three possible side effects of Candida yeast overgrowth are depression, weight gain and bloating. If you have ever used an antibiotic, a birth control pill, or most other medications, you have immensely increased the chance of Candida yeast overgrowth.

Other symptoms of Candida yeast overgrowth include – fatigue, recurring infections, mental fog, headaches, sore throat, abdominal pain, muscle tension and pain, joint pain or swelling, as well as digestive issues, such as heartburn, indigestion and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

RenewPro

To further lower the inflammation marker IL-6, remove toxins and supply the body with all natural amino acids, you can use a product called RenewPro. A complete book could be written on RenewPro and what it does within the human body.

First, RenewPro contains an exceptional amount of the amino acid cysteine. Cysteine lowers IL-6 significantly. RenewPro will greatly increase the intracellular levels of our master antioxidant glutathione. Glutathione will also help lower IL-6. A protein called lactoferrin is higher in RenewPro than any other whey protein product. Lactoferrin lowers IL-6.

If you are lacking energy or feeling dull, RenewPro is worth the try.

RenewPro is a whey protein concentrate made from disease-free, pesticide-free, chemical-free, hormone treatment-free and natural grass pasture fed cows.

Packages and individual supplements are available at TRB Health. www.trbhealth.com or 1-866-810-3809.