topic Re: Berberine? in Wellness

Berberine?

Mom2Dogs — Fri, 27 May 2022 21:20:07 GMT

Yes...I will speak with my doctor, but....

has anyone taken berberine? It is to help lower cholesterol.

What I read says it works by inhibiting a enzyme called PCSK9, supposedly leads to more LDL being removed from the blood stream.

Just curious is anyone has tried it and if it worked.

thank you

Re: Berberine?

pinkcrystal — Fri, 27 May 2022 21:30:42 GMT

The safety of using berberine for any condition is not adequately defined by high-quality clinical research.[7]

Its potential for causing adverse effects is high, including untoward interactions with prescription drugs, reducing the intended effect of established therapies.[7] Berberine weakly inhibits the CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 enzymes which are involved in metabolism of endogenous substances and xenobiotics, including many prescription drugs.[8]

It is particularly unsafe for use in children.[

I'd not take it until more studies have been done. But that's just me.

Re: Berberine?

SilleeMee — Fri, 27 May 2022 21:32:55 GMT

I've been taking it for about 3 years. It brought my LDL and A1C numbers back down to normal.

Berberine comes from a plant similar to metformin and it also acts like metformin does, too. Some time ago, while researching berberine, I ran across an article (on the FDA website) about the possibility of berberine becoming a Rx drug sometime in the future. That article was discussing the similarities between metformin and berberine plus that berberine also reduces bad cholesterol. That bit of info perked my ears up and then I decided to try it and never looked back.

At one time I had elevated LDL levels and so my doc put me on statins which in turn caused my A1C to go up. Then my doc wanted me to go on metformin to bring my A1C down. Ridiculous! One drug caused me to have to take another...I said no and found a way out of that situ for good.

Re: Berberine?

Shelbelle — Fri, 27 May 2022 21:43:23 GMT

I also lower my cholesterol naturally, no statins. I take plant sterol caps, policosonal, panthenine and beta glucans.

Re: Berberine?

on the bay — Sat, 28 May 2022 00:22:27 GMT

@Mom2Dogs,

Since Berberine has some of the same properties as metformin, just like red yeast rice has some of the same properties and side effects as statins, I like to take garlic or ginger.

I lowered my bad cholesterol 30 points with garlic capsules.

I had a primary care doctor tell me he had high cholesterol but would never take statins.

I also have mostly a plant based diet too but some high cholesterol is genetic and changing a diet doesn't always help.

You can read a lot about vitamins/supplements lowering cholesterol and which to avoid for different reasons.

I've also tried Niacin (b3) but you have to be very careful not to take too much of that.

It does seem that so many doctors are quick to prescribe the rx that is mostly prescribed without acknowledging the bad side effects and then yes, may prescribe another to offset those!

I think a good doctor should be very aware of natural ways to treat things no matter what kind of doctor they are. If they aren't trained in that and nutrition, I still think they should read enough to be aware of these alternatives to so many dangerous medications. Of course some you have to weigh the treatment vs the side effects because they are life saving.

Re: Berberine?

Mom2Dogs — Sat, 28 May 2022 00:12:55 GMT

@on the bay thank you, I need to make an appt with my nurse practicioner...it will probably be 6 weeks before I can get in!

Re: Berberine?

GenXmuse — Sat, 28 May 2022 00:59:37 GMT

My GI doctor recommended I take it for intestinal health and it helps with that, I read up on all the other benefits so that was a bonus since I'm already taking it.

Re: Berberine?

wagirl — Sat, 28 May 2022 01:57:17 GMT

Yes, I take berberine-- as per my cardiologist, along with policosanol, citrus bergamot and red yeast rice. Helps me with my high cholesterol and blood pressure. I can't take any statins as I have side effects from them. I have a family history of high cholesterol and a very high HDL, also hereditary.

Re: Berberine?

SeaMaiden — Sat, 28 May 2022 11:17:16 GMT

@SilleeMee Hope you are well! Say, how much berberine mg wise do you take a day? Thankyou !❤️

Re: Berberine?

SilleeMee — Sat, 28 May 2022 12:06:28 GMT

@SeaMaiden wrote:
@SilleeMee Hope you are well! Say, how much berberine mg wise do you take a day? Thankyou !❤️

@SeaMaiden

I take one 500mg cap twice or three times daily (with food), depending what I have eaten that day.

Re: Berberine?

Shelbelle — Sat, 28 May 2022 13:31:14 GMT

I stay away from Red Yeast Rice, it is a form of a statin.

Re: Berberine?

Gracies Mom — Sun, 29 May 2022 20:29:04 GMT

Our internist had my husband take Berberine for his high cholesterol as he cannot tolerate ANY of the statin drugs. It didn't help much with his cholesterol---and he had constant diarrhea as a side effect-----which is a common side effect of metformin (which happeed to me when I was put on metformin years ago). Once my husband came off of the Berberine, the diarrhea stopped. He's also taking Kyolic garlic tablets--he hasn't had any side effects from it, but it also isn't working much on his lipids. Not impressed with any of those supplements.

Re: Berberine?

10sluvr — Sun, 05 Jun 2022 09:58:54 GMT

if you are taking berberine, would you mind giving a brand name? there are so many out there, it's confusing. i would like to try something recommended. thank you.

Re: Berberine?

granddi — Sun, 05 Jun 2022 14:32:55 GMT

Berberine seems to be helpful in controling IBS-D and SIBO.

I'm having problems attaching links but there are multiple sources such as NIH.

Re: Berberine?

SilleeMee — Sun, 05 Jun 2022 15:03:11 GMT

@granddi wrote:
Berberine seems to be helpful in controling IBS-D and SIBO.

I'm having problems attaching links but there are multiple sources such as NIH.

Berberine is a very mild antibiotic and when taken in certain doses it can cause constipation or diarrhea in some people. When I take too much of it then I get constipated. You just have to find the right amount to take which works for you in the best way possible. That might take some trial and error but eventually you'll get it right.

Re: Berberine?

SilleeMee — Sun, 05 Jun 2022 15:16:29 GMT

@10sluvr wrote:
if you are taking berberine, would you mind giving a brand name? there are so many out there, it's confusing. i would like to try something recommended. thank you.

@10sluvr

I started with Andrew Lessman's and then went to PipingRock dot com. AL's are 250mg caps and PR's are 500mg caps. Dosage is partly diet dependent so you'll need to know how your system will use the berberine. If you get gastro issues then you probably need to go to a lower dosage or stop taking it for a few days to let your system get back to normal.

I take one 500mg cap twice daily with food and sometimes I take three caps b/c of what I've eaten. Just depends on diet mostly. I like to take berberine for 7 consecutive days and then stop for two or three days then start up again. My gut does better when I do that but yours won't be the same as mine. Find what dose and method works best for you. HTH.

Re: Berberine?

SilleeMee — Sun, 05 Jun 2022 15:24:35 GMT

Berberine takes about 3 months to see results in your blood tests. You will also experience a little weight loss during that amount of time, too...maybe 10 to 15 pounds.

I had to go off my berberine for almost a month for medical reasons and I gained almost 8 pounds!

Re: Berberine?

10sluvr — Sun, 05 Jun 2022 20:28:22 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
@10sluvr wrote:
if you are taking berberine, would you mind giving a brand name? there are so many out there, it's confusing. i would like to try something recommended. thank you.

@10sluvr
I started with Andrew Lessman's and then went to PipingRock dot com. AL's are 250mg caps and PR's are 500mg caps. Dosage is partly diet dependent so you'll need to know how your system will use the berberine. If you get gastro issues then you probably need to go to a lower dosage or stop taking it for a few days to let your system get back to normal.

I take one 500mg cap twice daily with food and sometimes I take three caps b/c of what I've eaten. Just depends on diet mostly. I like to take berberine for 7 consecutive days and then stop for two or three days then start up again. My gut does better when I do that but yours won't be the same as mine. Find what dose and method works best for you. HTH.

one more nosey question. Do you get the ones with cinnamon? They are having a good sale right now. Thanks for your help!

Re: Berberine?

SilleeMee — Sun, 05 Jun 2022 21:08:03 GMT

@10sluvr wrote:
@SilleeMee wrote:
@10sluvr wrote:
if you are taking berberine, would you mind giving a brand name? there are so many out there, it's confusing. i would like to try something recommended. thank you.

@10sluvr
I started with Andrew Lessman's and then went to PipingRock dot com. AL's are 250mg caps and PR's are 500mg caps. Dosage is partly diet dependent so you'll need to know how your system will use the berberine. If you get gastro issues then you probably need to go to a lower dosage or stop taking it for a few days to let your system get back to normal.

I take one 500mg cap twice daily with food and sometimes I take three caps b/c of what I've eaten. Just depends on diet mostly. I like to take berberine for 7 consecutive days and then stop for two or three days then start up again. My gut does better when I do that but yours won't be the same as mine. Find what dose and method works best for you. HTH.

one more nosey question. Do you get the ones with cinnamon? They are having a good sale right now. Thanks for your help!

@10sluvr

No and your're welcome.