Orthomolecular medicine is a system of medicine practiced by MD doctors in the United States and throughout the world.  It is a system of medicine using compounds that are non-toxic, natural, and safe in a wide range of dose.  It uses mainly vitamins, minerals, and herbs.

The leader of orthomolecular medicine is Abram Hoffer, MD, and Ph.D.  He has organized orthomolecular conferences for decades, including key speakers on cutting edge orthomolecular developments.  At most of these conferences he is a keynote speaker on the subject of schizophrenia.

Many doctors and scientists consider Dr. Hoffer, as the world’s foremost expert on schizophrenia.  He as treated over 5,000 schizophrenics and says he as probably restored about 75 per cent back to normal living.  He describes any schizophrenic, who pays income tax as probably reestablishing a normal lifestyle, so uses those criteria to describe his successes and failures.  He does not consider over medicating a schizophrenic, to control behavior, as reestablishing a schizophrenic back into society.

Dr. Hoffer uses many nutrients to help schizophrenics.  However, he says the key substance is the vitamin B-3, called niacin.  He says the usual dose is 2 grams a day.  Sometimes it has been much higher, on one occasion describing a lady who reached 60 grams a day to help control her behavior.  Eventually she was able to lower the dose to 3 grams of niacin a day and remain normal behavior.  Niacin can cause a flush effect.  Dr. Hoffer says niacinamide, another B3 vitamin, can also work in place of vitamin B-3 niacin and does not cause a flush. 

Although Dr. Hoffer did not mention it, a schizophrenic using niacin therapy, could consider vitamin B-3 hexanicotinate niacin.  This is no flush niacin considered much more potent than other vitamin B-3.

Furthermore, we have mentioned Dr. Bob on this web site many times.  He was an orthomolecular doctor for 7 decades.  He advised 2-3 B-50 vitamins along with niacin therapy.  He said this would help to balance the B vitamins, since large doses of niacin could deplete other B vitamins and a B-50 would help prevent this from happening.  He also said the B-50 could help schizophrenics, especially the new ones.

One more note, Dr. Hoffer recommends high doses of vitamin C along with the niacin therapy.  There is a listing of orthomolecular doctors on this web site.  They would all be familiar with these ideas.  Good luck.

Summary of Dr. Hofer’s ideas:

1.      2 grams or more a day of niacin or niacinamide, both a form of B3, to control symptoms.  Dr. Hoffer says you can use either one for symptoms of schizophrenia.  The high limit of both is when you experience nausea and vomiting.  Niacin can cause itchy red flushes and niacinamide does not, so many people prefer niacinamide.  Dr. Hoffer found most adults could only take about 6 grams of niacinamide before nausea and vomiting made it impossible to increase the dose.  Dr. Hoffer also found children on niacinamide stop eating when the dose is too high.

2.      No added sugar.

3.      Check for allergies.  Allergies can stop any nutrient therapy from working.

4.      Supplement manganese – to prevent tardive dyskinesia.  Dr. Hoffer described a survey of psychiatrist by Dr. David Hawkins.  Collectively, these psychiatrists treated over 60,000 schizophrenics.  The psychiatrists used orthomolecular methods.  Not one patient could be recalled that had tardive dyskinesia.

5.      Supplement 3-6 grams of vitamin C daily (Dr. Hoffer on occasion has said he uses up to 30 grams for a schizophrenic).

6.      Supplement zinc.

7.      Supplement selenium.

8.      Supplement B complex vitamins, such as described by Dr. Bob – B50 or B100.

Warning - Be sure to consult with a doctor with excellent knowledge of nutrients, for high doses of nutrient therapy.  The doctor  should know how to regulate medications (especially tranquilizers) and nutrients.  We recommend orthomolecular doctors.

Laboratory analysis – you can measure manganese, vitamin C, zinc, selenium, and B vitamins.  This testing can determine not normal ranges.  You can then consult with a doctor with excellent nutritional skills, for appropriate supplementation.

Note – Dr. Abram Hoffer has no knowledge and has not given permission to use any information from his keynote speech at the orthomolecular annual conference, for the RUWC web site.

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WARNING:  DO NOT STOP ANY TREATMENT OR MEDICATION YOU CURRENTLY USE.  CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE STARTING THE USE OF SUPPLEMENTS. 

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Page Last Updated: 21JAN02