seratonin HTP5?

[tansyflower]

any success stories with this supplement? my MW just recommended it to me. how much and for how long did you take it? when did you notice improvement?

[katiedidbug]

I've heard that lactating women shouldn't take it, but the source may be wrong. Not sure. I've avoided it because of that. My mom, though, takes it. She suffers from major depression and says it helps tons.

[Surfacing]

katiedidbug, what dosage of 5HTP is your mom taking?

I've been taking 2x50mg in late afternoon (when I get home from work) and 2x50 mg before bed. My dh says he's noticed a subtle improvement in my mood (about 30-40%). I notice I'm more level and some of the incessant chatter in my head ("I'm not a good enough mother", etc.) has quieted. I get a wee bit of heartburn but I'm willing to put up with it.

Julia Ross talks about this and other supplements in her book, The Mood Cure. She also talks about taking other things like a multivitamin, B vit for stress, calcium/magnesium, fish oil, eating nutritious foods, esp. high protein foods like meat, vegetables...etc...and ones high in the "calming" amino acid tryptophan (found in turkey, for example).

There was a string on here somewhere about The Mood Cure that included discussion about whether it was safe for nursing....seemed many mothers did use it, but there was confusion about it. I'd suggest speaking more with your MW about it.
Here's the link: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=195601

[kaydee]

I had an unsuccess story. Got very very sick. Be careful with dosages if you decide to try.

[teachermom]

5htp is a precurser to l-tryptophan, an amino acid which helps regulate sertonin levels. I have used tryptophane for years. when it wasn't on the americian market my mother went to canada to get it because it is the only thing she can use to control her depression. she is allergic to the sertonin reuptake inhibitors, ie. paxil zoloft and whatever that other one is called (I forget). I find that tryptophane works really well for me. I have tried 5htp, because it is more readily available but it does not seem to work as well for me. I end up taking twice as much and it still doesn't keep me as level. just another view.

[Blancanieves]

Hi!

I take 5htp 400 mg daily. You should start with 50 mg daily.

It can help you if the cause of your Depression is lack of serotonin.
I also take bioidentical Progesteron, because I also have a lack of it.
Both 5htp and Progesteron help me..I also take vitamins and minerals.

5htp, L-Tryptophan, L- Tyrosin, SAM-e, GABA or St. Johns Wort can help.
This product should be a good one: http://www.purecaps.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=HYD11

http://www.raysahelian.com/5-htp.html

I would like to recommend you this book:
"What your doctor may not tell you about depression"
A wonderful book..the autor (a psychiatrist) describes all suplemments and nutrients that can help and be necessary to treat and heal depression, mood swings, panik disorder etc. etc. http://www.mbschachter.com/

Bye, Blanca

[katiedidbug]

Emese's mom, I'm not sure what dosage my mom takes. I'll ask her. Also, is this okay for lactating women? Like I said, I've heard that it's not, but my source may be wrong.

[tansyflower]

*update*

I started with 100mg and was noticeably calmer and feeling lighter by day three. It has been so refreshing to breath deeply and think clearly again!

My MW said not to worry if you are lactating, but my milk totally dropped the first 24 hours so I would recommend pumping first or starting at a lower dosage. My baby was so fussy over the lack of milk I almost gave up! Thankfully, though, it regulated again within 72 hours

I can't imagine ever going back to the severly anxious and depressed place I was so I'm planning on taking it for life or at least until I get PG again and maybe even then if it is still ok

[Surfacing]

tansyflower - so glad to hear it's been helpful for you! It's the only thing I've found so far that gives me a noticeable (though slight) improvement. Thanks for the feedback on milk supply/nursing.

Blanca - does 5HTP give you an upset tummy? What times of day do you take it? I've been thinking about uping my dosage slightly but don't want the additional heartburn/diahhrea....though I may do it anyway.... just wondering.

kaydee - am curious about your story....what happened?

[funkygranolamama]

5htp worked miracles for me. It helped with my depression, anxiety, and actually stopped my migraines, too (these were going 4-5 days out of the week). I took it when I was nursing and my supply actually increased. I think it was because my stress levels were reduced so much. I'm pregnant now, so not taking it, but my progesterone is pretty much taking care of emotional issues right now.

[Blancanieves]

Hi!

I started with 50 mg..now after 2 month I am taking 400 mg daily.
200mg at 7 am and 200 mg at 3 pm.. at night I do not take it because 5htp maked me not sleepy..I once taked it at 10 PM and I stayed awake till 4 am.

When I started taking 5htp, I had to go many times to the toilet but I did not get diarrhea..now I have no problems

I think that it is very important to start with 50 mg than you can increase the dosis..for example: after 3 days 100mg, after 4 days 200mg, after a week 300mg, after 2 weeks 400 and so on..all depends on how you feel..

And if you become resistant you should take L-Tyrosin. A doctor noticed, that some people became resistant to 5htp and he maked some tests. The serotonin level was ok, but the other neurotransmitter were low..They gave the patients L-Tyrosin along with 5htp..and they felt good again...

This doctors treat their patients with amino acids, vitamins, minerals, bioidentical hormons etc:
http://www.raysahelian.com/tyrosine.html
http://www.raysahelian.com/
http://www.5htp.com/
http://www.mbschachter.com/

Chao, Blanca

[Surfacing]

Hi Blanca, thanks for your dosage details, I was just curious. Right now I am taking 200 mg/day and it seems to be helping some. I used to get heartburn when I took it and the man at the health food store suggested I try another brand. That seems to help. Though....I've noticed I seem to get a funny tummy when I take it with or near cod liver oil. Anybody else notice that? It's frustrating trying to get it all worked out, but oh well.

[Blancanieves]

Hi Emese'sMom!

Which brands have you tried?

This is a very good product:
http://www.purecaps.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=HYD11

Unfortunately I can not order it from Germany...it is too expensive. But I am looking for a supplier in Europe.

Try to take 5htp on an empty stomach..side effects do not last so long..

Blanca

[Surfacing]

Blanca, I was reading some of the Ray Sahelian links...he seems quite adamant that 100mg itself is a very high dose, and 5HTP should be taken under supervision. This is a very different tone than Julia Ross' "The Mood Cure". Are you "under supervision" by a doctor or naturopath or something?

I found the info about side effects interesting. I'd been having anxiety attacks, insomnia, "weird feelings" recently and decided to stop taking the 5HTP. Now my hubby is asking when I'll start up again as I'm more frustrated, sarcastic, impatient, etc. I thought maybe I was OD-ing on B Vits and experiencing toxicity....or the 5HTP...? Anybody else have something like that happen to them?

[Blancanieves]

Hi Emese'sMom!

Dr. Sahelian is very careful..one should starts with a low dosis...but you can increase it, till you fell better. I also sartet with 50 mg daily.

Dr. Murray http://www.5htp.com/ has another opinion. He starts with 50 or 100 mg 3 times a day..all depends on the symptoms you have. Against obesity one should take 300 mg 3 times a day..you see, it can not be toxic!!

All depends on how you feel and how much you need..

Here in Germany only doctors that have studied antiagig medicine know all about 5htp...the other doctors do not know it.. For example my neurologist..he does not know what 5htp is..So a am alone with my therapy..but I don´t mind.. I know that 5htp is good for me and that I am not wrong...5htp is better than taking an antidepressant for years..
5htp is not strange to your body because your body produces it from Tryptophan. When one has a lack of serotonin it is better to try 5htp

I know a women that has beenn taking 300 mg daily for 2 years now..she feels very good with it..and she has not have any problem till know..she is in the menopause..Her doctor is a very important doctor and person in Germany..so I am sure, he knows what he gives to his patients..

Why are you so insecure? 5htp is a very good thing
In the USA is a nutrient and you can buy it without a recipe..what does it mean? it means that 5htp is safe and not toxic...

Do you live in the USA?

[Panicked]

Hi! My doc put me on an SSRI for GAD. I was having many panic attacks every week and migraines although not as often as the p.a. I am aslo bfing as well. I took 3 doses of the SSRI and had some very bad side effects, tremors and HR up to 140. My dh and I decided that I would not be taking that again. And to tell you the truth I do not know if I want to take another SSRI, it scared me that bad. So I guess my question being is has anyone taken this for GAD?

April

[kaydee]

Originally Posted by Blancanieves

Why are you so insecure? 5htp is a very good thing
In the USA is a nutrient and you can buy it without a recipe..what does it mean? it means that 5htp is safe and not toxic...

No, it does not mean it cannot be toxic. All kinds of supplements can be toxic if you take too much, and 5-HTP is no exception. (IIRC, Ross, Sahelian, and Murray all talk about this—as does some of the research you can find on PubMed).

If taken in too great a quantity, 5-HTP can lead to serotonin syndrome, which (in rare cases) can be fatal.

I had a very serious reaction to 5-HTP that nearly led me to the emergency room (shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, heart palpitations). And, sadly, it seemed to help my anxiety and depression for two days, and then never again.

The difficulty with 5-HTP is 1) we don’t know how different people will react to different dosages and 2) there is insufficient research to establish how 5-HTP works, what levels are effective, etc. That’s probably because pharmaceutical companies wouldn’t be able to patent it, but regardless, there is a lot we don’t know about it.

[Surfacing]

You mentioned some good points Kaydee, I remember reading some of those by Sahelian. I think the important thing to realize is that people respond to it differently, and perhaps that's why the suggestion is to do it under supervision.

[kaydee]

Originally Posted by Panicked

Hi! My doc put me on an SSRI for GAD. I was having many panic attacks every week and migraines although not as often as the p.a. I am aslo bfing as well. I took 3 doses of the SSRI and had some very bad side effects, tremors and HR up to 140. My dh and I decided that I would not be taking that again. And to tell you the truth I do not know if I want to take another SSRI, it scared me that bad. So I guess my question being is has anyone taken this for GAD?

AFAIK, it has not been studied as a treatment for GAD, only for depression (including anxious depression).

I have GAD, and I have taken 5-HTP, but my experience was not positive.

[Blancanieves]

Hi!

Of course! if you take too much of every thing, can be toxic! everyone has to be careful..For that reason you should always start with a low dosis...

Kaydee you had problems with 5htp, the same happens with medicine!! there are people who have also a very serious reaction to antidepressants..

And very important: when the cause of the depression is lack of serotonin, 5htp can help...


Blanca