S = serotonin
D = dopamine
NE = norepinephrine

Our bodies are designed to get vitamins and minerals from food. But when you take a single vitamin or mineral, especially more than the DV, you can alter the level and balance of your neurotransmitters. This can be either good or bad. Norepinephrine can reduce the effectiveness of SSRIs. On the other hand it can ease SSRI side effects. Serotonin can increase the effectiveness of SSRIs. On the other hand it can increase SSRI side effects. When trying something for the first time, if you start with a very lose dose, you can always increase the dose later. Pill cutting is OK. The older I get the more I need supplements, even though I eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Might make OCD, anxiety, low S or high NE depression better.

5-HTP - Magnesium, vitamin B6, vitamin C and zinc are needed to make the enzyme, aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase, which is needed to convert 5-HTP to serotonin as well as L-dopa to dopamine. The manufacturer cautions that combining 5-HTP with antidepressants might produce serotonin syndrome. A dose of 50 mg. 3 times a day was used in one study on depression. Reported side effects include gastrointestinal upset (gas, nausea, diarrhea, and cramping).
(Niacin => L-tryptophan => 5-HTP => Serotonin)
(50 mg. 5-HTP is roughly equivalent to 500 mg. of L-tryptophan)

Calcium - Needed to make 5-HTP.

GABA - Inhibits glutamate.

Garlic - Helpful with anxiety.

Inositol - Increases the sensitivity of serotonin receptors.

L-tryptophan - Needed to make 5-HTP.

Magnesium - Especially helpful with OCD and anxiety. Also good for agoraphobia and bipolar disorder. It makes the highs less high and the lows less low. Taking more than 350 mg/day from supplements for a long time is considered risky. Magnesium is also a glutamate antagonist.

N-acetylcysteine - Helped a patient with refractory OCD when combined with an SSRI. ⁴ Good stuff.

Vegetables (especially leafy greens and carrots) - Helpful with anxiety.

Vitamin B3 - Needed to make 5-HTP.

Vitamin D - It increases neurotransmitters in general which is good for OCD, but it also increases the need for zinc and 5-HTP, at least for me.

Zinc - Especially helpful with OCD and anxiety. In addition to being required for S synthesis, zinc is a glutamate antagonist. Also it can inhibit copper from being used by the body to make the enzyme that converts D to NE, therefore it can raise the ratio of D (calming) to NE (stimulating) by inhibiting NE synthesis. Caution: Zinc and copper normally need to be balanced (the recommended ratio for the average person is 7.5 to 1 zinc/copper but someone with OCD might be better off to avoid copper). Taking more than 40 mg/day from supplements for a long time is considered risky.

Might make high S or low NE depression better

Vitamin B6 - Needed to make S, D and NE. Promotes NE more than S, at least for me. Watch out for mega doses.

Vitamin C - Needed to make S and D. Also needed to convert D to NE. Very mild effects on OCD or mood. Probably good for depression.

Vitamin D - Vitamin D increases the need for zinc and 5-HTP. (Your skin can make 5000 to 10,000 IU of D3 when exposed to summer sunshine for 15 to 30 minutes while wearing a T-shirt and shorts. But sunscreens almost completely block vitamin production. ⁵) Vitamin D seems more helpful for agoraphobia than anything I've tried.  

Copper - Is needed to balance zinc, but too much makes OCD and anxiety worse. It's required in order to convert D to NE. Some people don't need any copper at all in their multi.

Folic acid - Needed to make 5-HTP, L-dopa and histamine. Good for depression.

Manganese - Watch out for mega doses.

Omega-3 fatty acids - Is especially good for depression. Probably doesn't help or hurt OCD.

L-phenylalanine
L-phenylalanine => L-tyrosine => L-dopa => Dopamine => Norepinephrine

What I do

1. Raise neurotransmitter levels in general.
   • A multivitamin - Since most of the vitamins are involved in neurotransmitter synthesis. (if I don't get enough magnesium, I have a low tolerance for multivitamins).
   • Extra vitamin D3. It seems to do more than any other vitamin or mineral to raise neurotransmitters in general. The 400 IU in the multivitamin isn't enough so I take more, but the recommendation of the Vitamin D Council of 5000 IU is far too much for me.
   • I also take minerals (especially magnesium - about 300 mg.) but separately to avoid getting too much copper or iodine.
2. Improve the balance between neurotransmitters. (If I don't do the things in step one I have a low tolerance for the things in step two.)
   • Make more serotonin
     • 5-HTP - 50 mg. a day.
   • Inhibit glutamate and norepinephrine
     • Vegetables - For me it has a similar effect to zinc.
     • Zinc - a pinch as needed.
   • Block histamine and acetylcholine receptors
     • Benadryl (diphenhydramine) - 12.5 mg. as needed.
   • Increase natural opiates (endorphins)
     • Aerobic exercise - walk a least 30 minutes a day

Bibliography

1. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Wikipedia
2. Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase, Wikipedia
3. 5-htp needs Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin C to form Serotonin, Understand-AndCure-AnxietyAttacks-PanicAttacks-Depression.com
4. Lafleur DL, Pittenger C, Kelmendi B, et al. "N-acetylcysteine augmentation in serotonin reuptake inhibitor refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder.” Psychopharmacology, 2006;184:254-256.
5. The Vitamin D Council
6. Natural Healing of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Safe Harbor (More ideas to experiment with)

Disclaimer: There is no one size fits all treatment for OCD, so I don't know if these things will help anyone else. What I wrote about using supplements for OCD, anxiety and depression is based on the scientific literature, my personal experience and clues from other sources, some of which am I am not 100% sure of their accuracy. We are like two neighbors talking over the fence. Read other sources. Talk to your doctor. What you decide to do with this information is your responsibility.

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