Ginko Biloba and Schizophrenia

anon72351231 · November 10, 2015, 4:01pm

Hey guys. So recently I started taking a Ginko Biloba supplement, since I started classes and asked what was the best supplement to increase focus on classes. They told me Ginko Biloba so I tried it.

Since I started taking it I’ve been feeling really well, with a reduction of my positive and negative symptoms that is noticeable.

I have more energy, more concentration in classes and it’s easier for me to spend long hours studying. Also, and most importantly, I have no symptoms since the third day of taking it. I still had intrusive thoughts and some residual delusions but that’s gone.

Just wanted to share my experience, maybe it can also help some of you.

I’m on Invega 75mg monthly shot, I also take Inderal for the shakes and Omega 3 and Ginko Biloba supplements.

Also found this:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Review and meta-analysis of usage of ginkgo as an adjunct therapy in chronic schizophrenia.

V Singh, SP Singh and K Chan, The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology, Mar 2010

This study aimed to review the roles of antioxidants in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, whether the properties of ginkgo can ameliorate symptoms of this illness, and evaluate available literature to test this assumption. This review is based upon published works on antioxidants and ginkgo. A primary electronic search for meta-analysis on the usage of ginkgo or its derived products in schizophrenia was conducted using Pubmed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and AMED. Inclusion criteria were: criteria-based diagnosis of schizophrenia, randomized case assignment, use of ginkgo as an add-on therapy, and assessment using standardized rating scales to measure the state of psychopathology for negative and total symptoms of schizophrenia. Additionally, a detailed review was undertaken to investigate if antioxidants are involved in development of psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia. The six studies that fulfilled the selection criteria were constituted of 466 cases on ginkgo and 362 cases on placebo. They all used the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) to measure negative symptoms, and the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) or the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) to measure total symptoms. Difference between ginkgo and control groups from their pre- and post-trial scores and its pooled standard deviation were used to compute standardized mean difference (SMD). Ginkgo as an add-on therapy to antipsychotic medication produced statistically significant moderate improvement (SMD=-0.50) in total and negative symptoms of chronic schizophrenia. Ginkgo as add-on therapy ameliorates the symptoms of chronic schizophrenia. The role of antioxidants in pathogenesis of schizophrenia has also been explored.

and this
http://sbxsupplements.com/blog/Latest-News-on-Ginkgo-Biloba-and-Schizophrenia

Resilient1 · November 10, 2015, 4:22pm

might try it, is it dangerous in any way?

anon72351231 · November 10, 2015, 4:24pm

my pdoc says it’s fine

Resilient1 · November 10, 2015, 4:27pm

i’m going to see if i can get some right now x

anon72351231 · November 10, 2015, 4:27pm

Good luck, let me know afterwards.

Wave · November 10, 2015, 4:29pm

I am glad that its working for you @Minnii

anon72351231 · November 10, 2015, 4:30pm

Thank you @Wave, always so kind

Resilient1 · November 10, 2015, 5:13pm

just tried it, it was rather expensive but if it helps i am all for it, do you think i could get it free from the nhs? lol probably not but i might ask anyway x

anon72351231 · November 10, 2015, 5:14pm

I have no idea how it works in the UK, here noone helps lol… It’s expensive here too.

Resilient1 · November 10, 2015, 5:25pm

i got 240 tablets at 60mg each for £26 and i think i’ve to take twice a day with food so in morning and at night

anon72351231 · November 10, 2015, 5:27pm

I got a little jar with 60 pills, with 135mg, I take it with breakfast.

It was about 30euros.

everhopeful · November 10, 2015, 5:28pm

It can be.

Resilient1 · November 10, 2015, 5:28pm

i can feel the difference already i think i am more focused x

anon72351231 · November 10, 2015, 5:31pm

Thanks for that. My pdoc only told me that it’s not advisable during pregnancy.

Resilient1 · November 10, 2015, 5:32pm

guess i am safe then lol

Twang · November 10, 2015, 5:38pm

I used it for about a year during the 80’s and thought it was helpful in the same way you have, however it was expensive then, as now, and it seemed like the effects were diminishing so I stopped using it after that.

anon72351231 · November 10, 2015, 5:40pm

Thanks for sharing your experience. Yep, let’s see for how long I can take it.

Jonathan79 · November 11, 2015, 1:07am

I tried gingko for sex drive. I also tried maca, horny goat weed. They all screwed me up mentally and phisically. I can’t even take a multi vitamin as that screws me up mentally and phisically as well. I am glad this works for you though.

jukebox · November 11, 2015, 1:13am

Ginko I was told is bad for schizophrenics along with all the other herbal supplements. I was told this by my pdoc a long time ago. before I was ill I was a strong believer in Ginko. I miss it. good luck but be careful.

anon79999497 · November 11, 2015, 4:18am

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy and safety of extract of Ginkgo biloba as an adjunct therapy in chronic schizophrenia: A systematic review of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies with meta-analysis.

X Chen, Y Hong and P Zheng, Psychiatry research, Jul 30 2015

Our study was to review and evaluate the efficacy and safety of extract of Gb (EGb) as an adjuvant therapy to antipsychotics in chronic schizophrenia treatment. We searched Pubmed/Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, the Cochrane library, and especially the Chinese periodical databases. Finally, eight randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) of 1033 patients were enrolled, with 571 cases in EGb group and 462 in placebo. The result showed that EGb had a significant difference in ameliorating total and negative symptoms of chronic schizophrenia as an adjuvant therapy to antipsychotics. Thus, the EGb therapy plus antipsychotics might be more efficacious. Although the studies describing adverse reactions showed no distinguishable difference between EGb and placebo group in mean total scores of Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) or a Rating Scale for Extrapyramidal Side Effects (RSESE), the results of subscores varied in different studies. In addition, the severity of side effects of EGb might be related to its daily dosage. Therefore, the safety of EGb therapy in chronic schizophrenia treatment might need more evidence. And all of these eight trials were carried out in China; thus, the results might be restricted to the race and we need more high-quality studies of multi-center and randomized double-blind clinical trials to compare, analyze, and confirm the findings further.