Home› Advice

SAD Lamps or Bulbs

christina83christina83 Posts: 11,115
Forum Member
✭✭
in Advice #1
Hey everyone, I think I'm suffering a bit of season affective disorder this year and I can't decide between buying a SAD lamp or bulb?
Has anyone else bought any of these and which do you prefer?

I'm looking at this Argos lamp http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4327318.htm

or

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ecozone-Biobulb-Energy-Saving-Daylight-Bayonet/dp/B000F5FNXE/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1353296269&sr=1-1-catcorr

I've had a bulb before and it was ok (I don't think I felt bad that year) but I'm wondering whether the Lamps are better or not?

Comments

  • ElanorElanor Posts: 13,326
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    #2
    I was told that it was only worth getting medically certified lamps with minimum 10,000 Lux if it's going to work. How true that is, I don't know. But that Argos lamp is only 1,240 Lux. For an extra tenner you could get a full on medically approved one from Amazon.

    As far as I'm aware, the brighter it is, the less you have to dose. You'd probably need to sit in front of the Argos one all day to get some effect. I've got this one from Amazon.
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0011D3606/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00
    It arrived on Friday, I've had it on for a couple of hours each day since then (just having a quick dose now before I get ready for work) and I have definitely noticed a difference.

    Edit: Oh, that's odd! I bought it on Thursday, and it was £48 with free postage.

    I don't know about the bulbs, but I'd have thought you can't get close enough to dose properly, and you obviously can't take them to work with you, or to another room easily.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 514
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    #3
    I'm currently sitting here with the lamp in your first link on. I bought it last year and used it for a while but don't think it really helped too much. I'm not optimistic about it working now either but have been feeling really low over the weekend.

    Sorry not to be more positive about it. Could be just me.
  • christina83christina83 Posts: 11,115
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    #4
    Elanor wrote: »
    I was told that it was only worth getting medically certified lamps with minimum 10,000 Lux if it's going to work. How true that is, I don't know. But that Argos lamp is only 1,240 Lux. For an extra tenner you could get a full on medically approved one from Amazon.

    As far as I'm aware, the brighter it is, the less you have to dose. You'd probably need to sit in front of the Argos one all day to get some effect. I've got this one from Amazon.
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0011D3606/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00
    It arrived on Friday, I've had it on for a couple of hours each day since then (just having a quick dose now before I get ready for work) and I have definitely noticed a difference.

    Edit: Oh, that's odd! I bought it on Thursday, and it was £48 with free postage.

    I don't know about the bulbs, but I'd have thought you can't get close enough to dose properly, and you obviously can't take them to work with you, or to another room easily.
    Stormsorrow wrote: »
    I'm currently sitting here with the lamp in your first link on. I bought it last year and used it for a while but don't think it really helped too much. I'm not optimistic about it working now either but have been feeling really low over the weekend.

    Sorry not to be more positive about it. Could be just me.

    Thanks for the replies both :)

    Elanor I looked at that lamp and it does look good, I think I'll save up for it :)

    Storm sorrow, thanks for the input :) Maybe I will go for the more expensive one then :)
  • nw0307nw0307 Posts: 10,920
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    #5
    I've got the Philips Go-Lite one but it's very expensive (around £200) but if you look at the reviews on Amazon most people really rate it highly. It uses the blue range of the colour spectrum which is the one that your eyes react to the most and thus producing more serotonin. I have it on for 20 minutes a day at my desk in a morning and it's supposed to be equivalent of 3 or 4 hours in normal daylight.
  • RealityRocksRealityRocks Posts: 4,215
    Forum Member
    ✭✭✭
    #6
    I have this lamp http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002MRS5OW/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00 (temporarily out of stock). For under £30 it's a brilliant lamp, and I certainly feel revitalised using it for about half an hour every morning. Plus, it's very slim and can be popped in a drawer :)
  • Adam DAdam D Posts: 5,124
    Forum Member
    ✭
    #7
    Maplin sell the same one as amazon for a little cheaper and you could probably get it from a store too .

    http://www.maplin.co.uk/sad-light-box-226759
  • littlebootieslittlebooties Posts: 2,320
    Forum Member
    ✭✭✭
    #8
    These ones are excellent. We have two in our family. The inventor of them has SAD himself.
    http://www.britebox.co.uk/

    Do some research you have to get one that is the correct spectrum and is strong enough (in lux) to work.
    Some of the cheaper ones are not strong enough.

    This is a great resource http://www.sada.org.uk/treatment-1.html
  • christina83christina83 Posts: 11,115
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    #9
    Thank you for all the information, I have a lot to go on now. It's just deciding which one is right for me and which one I can afford :o
  • mickmarsmickmars Posts: 7,438
    Forum Member
    ✭
    #10
    a light bulb can cure a modern made up fictional modern illness - Outstanding !
  • ElanorElanor Posts: 13,326
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    #11
    mickmars wrote: »
    a light bulb can cure a modern made up fictional modern illness - Outstanding !

    With respect - if you don't know what you're talking about, then shut the hell up.
  • nw0307nw0307 Posts: 10,920
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    #12
    Elanor wrote: »
    With respect - if you don't know what you're talking about, then shut the hell up.

    I second that. SAD is a recognised condition now and it has been scientifically proven that certain lamps of 10,000 Lux or more can help produce serotonin (the chemical that we are short of in winter). And it is serotonin that improves mood, sleep patterns etc which gives us good health.
  • christina83christina83 Posts: 11,115
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    #13
    Sorry to bump the thread but I went ahead and purchased this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/LIGHT-THERAPY-DAYLIGHT-SUNLIGHT-LAMP/dp/B0011D3606/ref=sr_1_2?s=drugstore&ie=UTF8&qid=1354230741&sr=1-2

    Apparently I'll get it tomorrow :)
  • ElanorElanor Posts: 13,326
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    #14
    christina83 wrote: »
    Sorry to bump the thread but I went ahead and purchased this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/LIGHT-THERAPY-DAYLIGHT-SUNLIGHT-LAMP/dp/B0011D3606/ref=sr_1_2?s=drugstore&ie=UTF8&qid=1354230741&sr=1-2

    Apparently I'll get it tomorrow :)

    Yay!

    Mine arrived ridiculously quickly - I ordered it at about 10pm on a Sunday, and it was there when I got home from work on Monday!

    I've been using mine most days, and I think it's helping. It's hard to tell for sure, but I definitely feel a bit better, and I'm noticeably less better on the days when I've not used it.
  • christina83christina83 Posts: 11,115
    Forum Member
    ✭✭
    #15
    Elanor wrote: »
    Yay!

    Mine arrived ridiculously quickly - I ordered it at about 10pm on a Sunday, and it was there when I got home from work on Monday!

    I've been using mine most days, and I think it's helping. It's hard to tell for sure, but I definitely feel a bit better, and I'm noticeably less better on the days when I've not used it.

    It came :D It's bigger than I thought, but very bright. I bet the neighbours wonder what's going on,lol.
    I'll use it every morning now :)
    I'm glad to hear its helped you.
Sign In or Register to comment.