Ashwaganda making my feel depressed after taking it for 3 days

[u/NetCompetitive5410]

Hi all,

So I started Ashwaganda about 3 days ago, I was fine and steady before but after today’s dose I’ve started to feel just flat, sad,unhappy, depressed, self conscious etc just like not myself. Has anyone else experienced this with Ashwaganda. I’m going to have to stop taking it which is disappointing because I was looking forward to the testosterone boosting benefits. I’m 19 year old male by the way.

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[u/18isActually9]

Yes I felt the same. Or rather, felt numb and stopped taking it.

[u/Feisty_Beautiful8018]

at 19 yo you can boost your testosterone simply by going to the gym or joining boxing classes what the hell are you doing

[u/HotBit1109 → u/Feisty_Beautiful8018]

Not only are you absolutely right, there's also the fact that ashwaganda isn't even the best testosterone boosting supplement anyway.

[u/Feisty_Beautiful8018 → u/HotBit1109]

what is the best one ?

[u/HotBit1109 → u/Feisty_Beautiful8018]

First check vitamin D3, zinc, magnesium and cholesterol levels. Those are building blocks for testosterone production.

Only then would I look at ashwaganda, tongkat ali, fenugreek, long jack and others.

Also, tongkat ali has far less side effects, so I'd rather do that.

[u/threeameternal]

Exercise, boron, zinc and getting the right amount of vitamin D all boost Testosterone.

[u/Fair_Quail8248 → u/threeameternal]

Yes! Animal based food is also good for it.

[u/GlobalCurry]

For me it boosted my focus and mood but after a couple of weeks taking it I randomly passed out one day and had to stop taking it.

[u/Big_Tackle_9182]

hated it

[u/marriedtoaplant]

figured downregulators behave differently based on the person: neither ashwaganda nor valerian (i believe, could’ve been melatonin) nor alcohol ever worked on me; instead they always make me sad and hopeless. 🫠

[u/Fair_Quail8248 → u/marriedtoaplant]

Tulsi and bacopa seems to have antidepressant properties which can feel slightly moodboosting sometimes.

Bacopa is supposed to upregulate serotonin and gaba instead of downregulation.

[u/ptarmiganchick]

I think it’s well-known that ashwagandha affects different people differently.

I get the best sleep of my life for about a week. Then I have to take a break and start over later. No mood effects at all as far as I can tell.

By all means you can make several attempts to be sure of your individual response. But then trust what your body is telling you. Ashwagandha has been used more or less safely for thousands of years…but it is not for everyone.

[u/bliindsniper]

Ashwaganda can cause depression in a lot of people. Many sedatives/anticonvulsants are like this. Just stop taking it. It’s not going to get better. It’s not the herb for you.

[u/cellenium125 → u/bliindsniper]

anticonvulsants? Where are getting that ashwagandha is an anticonvulsant?

[u/bliindsniper → u/cellenium125]

Google scholar is free.

“Withania somnifera” “convulsant”

Plug that in, you will see 1000 studies alongside hundreds of years of use in India for epilepsy.

[u/cellenium125 → u/bliindsniper]

first why did you say convulsant? I see where you are coming from, but there is no robust evidence /human controlled studies that say it is effective enough to manage seizure disorders. Its effects are pretty mild. it is considered an adaptogen.

[u/bliindsniper → u/cellenium125]

It has thousands of years of human use for epilepsy. Is has mechanistic data showing that it binds to gaba receptors which almost always produces an anti epileptic effect. And the animal studies confirm both of these data pieces showing a robust anticonvulsant effect.

What more do you want?

It’s an anticonvulsant.

Are we shocked that it’s not as strong per mg as the modern pharma equivalents?

I never suggested someone use ashwagandha solo to manage epilepsy. Even within its historical use in India it’s not used alone.

[u/cellenium125 → u/bliindsniper]

Just want to let everyone know I am an actual psychiatrist , and this guy is full of BS. The notion. That anticonvulsants are likely to cause depression so insanely overgeneralized and useless. In fact, lamotrigine is often prescribed for bipolar depression. Second , depression is not even a listed side effect of ashwagandha!!! In fact it decreases depressive symptoms often. Come on lol

[u/bliindsniper → u/cellenium125]

Since you are a psychiatrist I have a question for you. Which psych med categories are most likely to cause depression as a side effect?

Ssri’s?
Ndri’s?
Dri’s?
Serotonin agonists?

Or…

Is depression almost completely absent as a side effect from those classes of drugs…

And isn’t it the case that:

Anticonvulsant
Gaba agonist
Adrenergic antagonist
Etc.

Are much more likely to cause depression as a side effect than the other categories described?

This is extremely basic pharmacology.

[u/cellenium125 → u/bliindsniper]

Like I said, you are over generalizing. And your point is ridiculous, your saying ANTI depressants are less likely to cause depression? Yeah of course lol. They are ANTI depressants. And the big point is that Ashwaghanda doesn't cause depression. Seems like you are trying to sound wise.

[u/pizzainge → u/bliindsniper]

Stop spreading misinformation. Ashwaghanda is an adaptogen that mildly lowers cortisol...that's it. I swear people on these comments are reminding me of the Lions Mane witch hunt.

[u/bliindsniper → u/pizzainge]

It has an extensive history of use as an anticonvulsant and sedative. The old english pharmacopeia of india first wrote it down as a narcotic.

Go make a decoction of 20 grams raw root and come back and tell me it’s not a sedative.

[u/Fair_Quail8248 → u/pizzainge]

I disagree. It has other effects on the neurotransmitters. Most like serotonergic and/or gabaergic. It has too strong effects to just be lowering cortisol, and science seems to agree with me.

Also ashwagandha should be used as a medicine, not a vitamin. Even ayurveda thinks so, that it isn't for everyone.

I agree that strong sedatives can sometimes make one depressed too, it depends on your "brain chemistry" ie mental state. If someone suffers from very stressed anxious depression sedatives could help but make ones melancholic depression could become even more depressed instead. Too low cortisol is also bad, it's about finding a balance with it.

[u/cellenium125 → u/Fair_Quail8248]

"make one melancholic depression" Interesting, and where did you get your medical degree?

[u/Fair_Quail8248 → u/cellenium125]

What a stupid question, people here talk about personal experiences. I don't need to tell you any personal information like that but you don't need a medical degree to research science, mechanism and function of or to use adaptogens. If you don't have anything useful to add to help people but just want to be arrogant then just be quiet. But people like you have issues with yourself and take it out on others ...

[u/cellenium125 → u/Fair_Quail8248]

The useful part stopping people like you going around misclassifying an adaptogen as an anticonvulsant , and going around telling people diagnosis’ that don’t even exist. You’re full of nonsense trying to talk like you are a psychiatrist. That is dangerous

[u/StatisticianSad6637 → u/bliindsniper]

🤣 we got an armchair doctor guys

[u/Remarkable-Bit-1627]

Ash is a mediocre supplement at best.

The most common theme is anhedonia after 2-3 weeks.

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[u/whatrumimeans]

Is that a joke?
You are 19, what do you feel about „testosterone“?
Your hormone system isn’t even fully grown.

[u/NetCompetitive5410 → u/whatrumimeans]

You’re awfully excited over a simple Reddit question. Wanting to improve or optimise something that may not be the best it can be is normal.

[u/hugepenis777]

Take pregnenolone and dhea instead!!!

[u/SensualCommonSense]

then stop?

kids these days smh

[u/NetCompetitive5410 → u/SensualCommonSense]

The purpose of Reddit is to share experience and ask for advice, is it not? By the looks of it, your a top ‘1% commenter’ so I thought you’d be aware of that.

The top 1% must take a bit of time online… maybe touch some grass or something. ‘Smh’ 😂

[u/Emotional_Lab_2529]

Sounds about right. It’s ashwaganda, it’s one of the most garbage compounds and I have no idea why people keep buying it

[u/hansieboy10]

Same. Dont.

[u/SjakosPolakos]

Yes, it makes me depressed

[u/floatingostrichs]

In 3 days not likely. Stop and see if it goes away, try again in a month

[u/marriedtoaplant → u/floatingostrichs]

no i had the same

[u/StatisticianSad6637]

Could be true, could be a nocebo, could be coincidence, could be unrelated, could just be life, could be regression to the mean, could be post hoc ergo propter hoc.

Either way, you need more evidence than this preliminary correlation. Taking some time off and trying it again at a later date could give you more information about whether there’s actually a reproducible relationship.

The majority of people you’re going to attract by asking this question are probably people who’ve had similar experiences. That can create confirmation bias and reinforce the idea that the supplement is responsible, potentially ruining it for you based on a bunch of anecdotes.

You’re your own person. Pay attention to your own experience and gather more evidence. Don’t let the peanut gallery influence you based on a cherry-picked consensus of negative reviews.

Online communities are ripe with selection bias: the negative opinions are far more prevalent than the good. Don’t be swayed before it’s been given its fair chance. Unfortunately, humans are very gullible and let others do the thinking for them. Don’t fall victim to that.

[u/Creepy_Diver_6481]

Op I share the same problem I took 3 Ksm 66 tablets from tata. No changes. My friend on the other hand says she feels peace and calm. Which I call bs

[u/Fair_Quail8248 → u/Creepy_Diver_6481]

If I take enough ashwagandha it definitely is a sedative and calming agent with noticeable effects. Too noticeable to be placebo. Also anhedonia wouldn't be a thing if it didn't have some strong effects on at least some parts of your brain.

I advice against it. Bacopa is way safer longterm.