Natural fatigue remedies???

[Geniphur]

I just started Methotrexate on Monday. I don't know if it's from staying up too late for the past 3 or 4 nights or the medicine or probably a combination of the two. Does anyone know of natural things found in foods that will help with fatigue? I'm not really in to buying things from the health food store and all of that, but if say, apples help with fatigue.... that's what I want to try. Thanks in advance!

By the way.... I posted it on the PA thread.... I was diagnosed with PA on Monday.

[GitOverIt]

You'll be taking folic acid ...? right?If I were you I would make sure I had the other B complex vitamins as well as the folic acid ( a B vitamin) they should be taken all together as they act synergistically .....the Viamin Shoppe has the sublingual for under the tongue in a complete total B complex.
The B vitamins are for energy....the body holds on to the B vitamins for short periods of time like a day...so you need to replace them daily....it might take a while to get your levels up but they will work....
As for foods...sugar in the form of fruits are good (white sugar gives a temporary high then a big drop, making a person sleepy)...meat is energy, vegies......if you eat a good diet you may not get tired...its the sugary foods that are killers! Avoid carbs in the form of cakes, pies, rolls etc...sure disaster for a nap! :p

[GitOverIt]

Something else I would like to suggest.......NEVER GIVE UP OR GIVE IN to autoimmune diseases...
I have read some interesting articles on arthritis....have you considered along with your doctors ok any supplements for arthritis?
I woke up with a swollen knee and swollen thumb last month as well as sore knee joints and back aches.....I started checking everything out that I found....ended up with TWINLABS..glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and a fairly new antioxident astaxanthin...you can read all about it here.......

http://www.newstarget.com/002037.html

I know you are being treated by your doctor now with mx but you might run this past him....some doctors are great and tell you to go ahead and try it...whatever helps...etc others will say things like "if you want to waste your money"....
I've run the gamut with such doctors....but i'll tell you this stuff knocked my problems for a loop.....no more pain, soreness, or swelling...I'm not saying it will work for everyone what I am saying is DON'T GIVE UP OR GIVE IN!

[soloist]

Geniphur: I don't know about the drug you mentioned, but it may be the cause of your fatigue. Why don't you do a search and find out the possible side effects? Many drugs cause fatigue.

It's really important that you eat healthy foods every day. Also, go for daily walks or other exercise such as yoga.

Cayenne pepper is good for fatigue. Use it on food or take it mixed in water or juice. Fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, seeds, and nuts. Avoid energy robbers like sugar, alcohol, fats, caffeine, white flour products, and processed food. Eat less red meat and more white fish.

There are lots of supplements and herbs you can try. Look through the board or do a search. Good luck.

[Geniphur]

I've only been to one appointment with this rheumy and she didn't say anything about other supplements. Although I have considered the glucosamine and chondroitin before. I have some Centrum vitamins, but I don't know if I should take them or not. The folic acid I'm taking is 1 mg per day. I think that's the highest that you should take without being over the toxcitity level and the Centrum has 400 mcg of folic acid. (1000 mcg = 1 mg) Just wondering if anyone knew about that. My gyno wants me to take the Centrum especially because it has lycopene. But that would also give me the vitamin B supplement.

[GitOverIt]

I really don't think there is a toxicity level with folic acid...my doctor prescribed 50 mg tablets (not mcgs) because I showed her a study done showing it helped people with psoriasis.....it is a water soluble vitamin which means it gets washed out in the urine that is why we need B complex vitamins daily....
I will post a site that tells you all about folic acid....and they point out the need for B12 to be included with the folic acid as too much of folic acid can mask the symtoms of a B12 deficiency!

excerpt.....
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/folate.asp


Unfortunately, methotrexate can be toxic, producing side effects such as inflammation in the digestive tract that may make it difficult to eat normally [56-58]. Leucovorin is a form of folate that can help "rescue" or reverse the toxic effects of methotrexate [59]. There are many studies underway to determine if folic acid supplements can help control the side effects of methotrexate without decreasing its effectiveness in chemotherapy [60-61]. It is important for anyone receiving methotrexate to follow a medical doctor's advice on the use of folic acid supplements.

Folic Acid and Methotrexate for Non-Cancerous Diseases
Low dose methotrexate is used to treat a wide variety of non-cancerous diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, asthma, sarcoidoisis, primary biliary cirrhosis, and inflammatory bowel disease [62]. Low doses of methotrexate can deplete folate stores and cause side effects that are similar to folate deficiency. Both high folate diets and supplemental folic acid may help reduce the toxic side effects of low dose methotrexate without decreasing its effectiveness [63-64]. Anyone taking low dose methotrexate for the health problems listed above should consult with a physician about the need for a folic acid supplement.


Caution About Folic Acid Supplements
Beware of the interaction between vitamin B12 and folic acid
Intake of supplemental folic acid should not exceed 1,000 micrograms (μg) per day to prevent folic acid from triggering symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency [10]. Folic acid supplements can correct the anemia associated with vitamin B12 deficiency. Unfortunately, folic acid will not correct changes in the nervous system that result from vitamin B12 deficiency. Permanent nerve damage can occur if vitamin B12 deficiency is not treated.

It is very important for older adults to be aware of the relationship between folic acid and vitamin B12 because they are at greater risk of having a vitamin B12 deficiency. If you are 50 years of age or older, ask your physician to check your B12 status before you take a supplement that contains folic acid. If you are taking a supplement containing folic acid, read the label to make sure it also contains B12 or speak with a physician about the need for a B12 supplement.
What is the health risk of too much folic acid?
Folate intake from food is not associated with any health risk. The risk of toxicity from folic acid intake from supplements and/or fortified foods is also low [65]. It is a water soluble vitamin, so any excess intake is usually excreted in urine. There is some evidence that high levels of folic acid can provoke seizures in patients taking anti-convulsant medications [1]. Anyone taking such medications should consult with a medical doctor before taking a folic acid supplement.

[Geniphur]

Beware of the interaction between vitamin B12 and folic acid
Intake of supplemental folic acid should not exceed 1,000 micrograms (μg) per day to prevent folic acid from triggering symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency [10]. Folic acid supplements can correct the anemia associated with vitamin B12 deficiency. Unfortunately, folic acid will not correct changes in the nervous system that result from vitamin B12 deficiency. Permanent nerve damage can occur if vitamin B12 deficiency is not treated.


Because of that paragraph, that means I can't take the Centrum vitamin that my gyno wants me to to take. This sucks. I have to choose which doctor to follow and in this case, it's the rheumy I'll follow. Maybe there's a Centrum that doesn't have folic acid. Anyway, thanks for the info.

[GitOverIt]

I don't think that is the case...what they are saying is what I told you at the beginning of my answer to you...make sure you take B12 as well as folate...it is important to take all the B's together...I like the one from the Vitamin shoppe it is liquid for under the tongue...quick, and easy.....

If you are taking a supplement containing folic acid, read the label to make sure it also contains B12 or speak with a physician about the need for a B12 supplement.


What is the health risk of too much folic acid?
Folate intake from food is not associated with any health risk. The risk of toxicity from folic acid intake from supplements and/or fortified foods is also low [65]. It is a water soluble vitamin, so any excess intake is usually excreted in urine. There is some evidence that high levels of folic acid can provoke seizures in patients taking anti-convulsant medications [1]. Anyone taking such medications should consult with a medical doctor before taking a folic acid supplement.

[Geniphur]

What I am saying is that I can't take the Centrum (which already has the B12) because of the folic acid content.

[GitOverIt]

Here read this...Centrum has nothing to do with this everyone takes vitamins...altho I prefer the non chemical for personal reasons...

maybe this can explain it better than I can!

http://64.233.187.104/search?q=cache:eNUS5kDxSdEJ:www.lef.org/magazine/mag98/jan-research98.html+folic+acid++B12+toxic%3F&hl=en&ie=UTF-8