Posted by Elizabeth on June 4, 2001, at 16:29:01
In reply to Re: tryptophan depletion challenge, posted by Lorraine on June 4, 2001, at 9:57:09
> There was also that drug or diet they did that caused tryptophan deficiency. Can't remember more--part of the disease. Anyway why not do a tryptophan challenge--just take it and see if it changes anything. (5HTP is all you can get now). I did this challenge--it didn't help.
I wouldn't expect 5-HTP to help anyway, certainly not immediately. Tryptophan is probably an effective AD in some depressions, apparently the same types that are affected by TDC, although it's highly debatable whether it acts more rapidly than TCAs. (Catecholamine precursors, such as tyrosine, may have more rapid effects.) Addition of another drug to reduce peripheral metabolism may increase the effect of tryptophan.
Some reports have found that TDC has effects in bulimia nervosa, autism, aggression, drug addiction, panic disorder, and cluster B personality disorders as well as some depressions. Subtypes of depression noted to be affected include SAD and depression associated with the above conditions.
Response to TDC may predict response to serotonergic ADs such as SSRIs and MAOIs. Also, studies have indicated that TCAs and sleep deprivation may be more effective for nonresponders or partial responders to SSRIs.
> I have also tried tyrosine, phenylalmine, glutamine, gaba, choline. They all have immediate and fairly profound effects on me.
Can you describe the effects of each of these and how much you use? At least a couple of them are not supposed to have noticeable effects when used by themselves (for reasons related to metabolism -- which can of course vary among individuals).
-elizabeth
poster:Elizabeth
thread:59082
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010530/msgs/65380.html