Food items and their impact on neurotransmitters

Whenever I consume the following foods items, I experience the following feelings.

1. Refined sugar - increased stuttering
2. Brown sugar/Jaggery - slightly increased stuttering
3. Full cream milk powder - reduced anxiety
4. Roasted ground nut with/without skin - Reduced anxiety/slightly increased energy/Slightly reduced stuttering
5. Roasted green peas - Increased stuttering
6. Butter consumption at dinner - slightly increased energy next morning, reduced stuttering next day
7. No sugar consumption - wrinkles on nails, dry skin, easy bruisability of skin, increased vocal blocks, reduced loudness of voice, good initiation to start a work, good concentration and focus to remain in a task

Effect of Omega-3 fatty acids

I was taking 2 capsules of mega-3 from Dr Reddy's Laboratories (Each softgel capsule contains Eicasopentaenoic acid - 180 mg and Docosahexaenoic acid - 120 mg) in the night after dinner. It used to give somewhat better sleep in the night than ashwagandha. The next morning, I had stuttering issues such as repetition of words, smaller vocal blocks and stuttering on certain words and a bit anxious. When I skipped the dose one night, the stuttering was markedly less next day with less repetition of words and less vocal blocks. It appears that omega-3 fatty acids increase dopamine in the speech circuit area. Apart from stuttering effects, it improved the mood and motivation a little.  

Effect of Vitamin E

I took Vitamin E (250 IU; d-alpha-tocopherol 167.5 mg) in the morning for few days. I experienced severe headache for almost the whole day. However, I observed one strange effect. If I take vitamin E together with a boiled egg, then I did not get any headache.

Positive effects:

• Reduced anxiety
• Able to work continuously with focus and concentration without getting much tiredness and it was helpful for writing articles at one stretch.

Negative effects: 

• Stuttering was mild. However, mild vocal blocks were there during the conversation. The speech was easy to start but after talking for 10-15 minutes, suddenly I was stuck with a vocal block in which I was unable to produce any sound from my throat. I could not even stutter. This vocal block was similar to the one I observed with DL-phenylalanine.
• Severe headache on right side of my head (indicating dopamine deficiency)

This vocal block might be probably due to the low level of dopamine. There is a research paper supporting this hypothesis.

Lazzarini M, Salum C, Del Bel EA.

Combined treatment of ascorbic acid or alpha-tocopherol with dopamine receptor antagonist or nitric oxide synthase inhibitor potentiates cataleptic effect in mice.

Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2005 Aug;181(1):71-9. Epub 2005 Oct 15. 

Effect of Bupron (Bupropion SR) - 150 mg

I discontinued fluoxetine and then I took bupropion 150 mg extended release once daily in the morning along with neurogistics multivitamin capsules for 3-4 weeks.

Positive effects:

• Improved mood - No negative thoughts, No depressed mood
• Improved energy
• No procrastination - I could meet the deadline in my job first time in the last 3 years.
• More focus - can remain in a task for more period of time enabling me to complete the work.
• More concentration - can think faster and do faster processing
• No sexual side effects - but no increased libido or strong erections
• Maximum resolution of anxiety - After 2-3 weeks, I experienced a maximum resolution of anxiety which was haunting me for more than 10 years. No worrying thoughts before driving the car. No worrying thoughts before the class. Sometimes, I used to feel tachycardia. This tachycardia went off after taking few deep breaths.
• My eye vision improved. I was not taking omega-3 supplements. Even then my vision did not deteriorate. I could see more brightness in the night while driving. Earlier, this lack of brightness was causing me more anxiety while driving in the night.
• Improved olfactory functions - Taste and smell sensation improved.

Negative effects:

• More aggressiveness - led to more fights with my wife.
• No difference in the affection. I was not able to like and love my family (This condition was there before taking medicines. So no improvement in this part.)
• Music was not enjoyable as like before.
• Dizziness and syncope

Suggestion:

• I may need a less dosage of bupropion to reduce the side effects
• OR I have to include 5-HTP once daily (either morning or in evening) to counteract the probable decrease in serotonin and GABA due to elevated dopamine levels.