As I was talking to my doctor about all the genetic testing I’d had done, he exclaimed that he had failed to see that I didn’t have the enzyme that converts Folic acid to Folate (Vitamin B9) , and he should have prescribed Deplin for me! That is what Nestlé Health Science calls L Methylfolate. They call it medical food.
Folate (http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/folate) is necessary for making nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) and it is the precursor of many neurotransmitters, such as Dopamine, Norepinephrine, and Serotonin! Illustrations of all are below.
Wow! I’d say that was an important omission! Ummmm Dopamine, Serotonin, Norepinephrine!? Depression much? I asked him how, without L methylfolate, how in the world was I even alive? I mean DNA and RNA are pretty necessary for cellular and organismal life! He said I’d gotten enough in my diet, (meat, chicken, fish have L Methylfolate in them) therefore I had survived. But if I took it orally, it may well reduce my level of depression by at least 10%! So of course I asked him for a prescription. I then happily went to pick up my “Deplin” from the pharmacy. When it came time to swipe my credit card, the bill was $297.00! Medical food, huhn, pretty expensive medical food. The total bill was close to $900.00 for a 3 month supply. My insurance paid for over $500.00 and my portion was almost $300.00. Well I returned it and now I am looking for cheaper medical food online. And when I find it, I will let you know, so all of you can get it and try the L Methylfolate and see if it helps with your depression.
Egad, drug companies!
Bipolar1Blog 
Aw come on, girl, you can synth that one in your kitchen, can’t you??? I’m only half kidding, you know.
I’m intrigued. What kind of genetic testing did you have?
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Hahaha I think I can! I had a whole panel of tests done to see which meds would work for me and one of the results was that I don’t have the enzyme that coverts folic acid to methyl folate. I’ll get the bane of the testing company next time I see my doctor.
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Damn, I wonder why no one has tested me??? Probably because my shrink was in excruciating neuropathic pain and couldn’t think. He retired, and was replaced by a nurse practitioner who is very sweet but doesn’t know much. But when I get where I’m going (wherever that is) I’ll get a new shrink, so it will be good to know what to ask for, if they don’t bring it up themselves. Let me know how the synthesis goes 🌞
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Is it just me who finds the acronym MTHRFR amusing?
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Hahaha. Thanks for pointing it out. What were they thinking?!?! 🙈🙈🙈
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Very interesting! Thank you
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Reblogged this on Bipolar1Blog and commented:
Relevant again as my yearly summer depression is in full swing.
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