I resisted the idea of using niacin for a long time, and fenugreek for even longer, in the arrogant quest to come up with some rational explanation for POIS on my own. I toyed with the dopamine theory the longest, and took mucuna, L-tyrosine, green tea supplements to help L-theanine better reach the brain, etc, all because the dopamine theory seemed like something tangible. They affected me in various ways (I've kept my theanine - that was a nice little discovery), but I could never tell how much of a dent they made in POIS. Probably none.
When I finally decided to try flushing on niacin before O, there was absolutely no guesswork about whether it worked. The relief was profound and the causality clear. I wish I knew why it is such a silver bullet, but am just grateful that one is exists, and that it is natural and inexpensive.
However... as many others have found, the symptoms were reduced by maybe 80-90%. I actually felt no brain fog, and no longer became ill after O, and I always used to get cold sores afterwards - which no longer happens. I still felt a powerful lack of motivation during the normal POIS period, though, and since a lot of my work is self-starting, I remained on the prowl for further remedies. Fenugreek and garlic were those for me.
Now, in addition to the niacin, I take fenugreek and garlic capsules before O, and after at any point when I might feel that vague, fuzzy, sink-into-your-chair-and-never-get-up feeling, and, although I never swear, I have to now: by God it works! I've been productive with almost all of my time ever since, and am again wholly grateful that I can get my panacea for a pittance, and that it's all of it natural.
This post has no other purpose than to rejoice. And perhaps, also, to join the befuddled chorus of those for whom these apparently random herbs and vitamins make an ocean of difference. Thank you all for pointing me the right way, even after I so prodigally looked elsewhere.
