Posted by BarbaraCat on November 12, 2002, at 23:05:50
In reply to Barbcat Re: Lamictal + Lithium, posted by McPac on November 9, 2002, at 1:15:53
Hi Mike,
Yes I have taken 5-HTP. It's supposed to work the same and be 'one step closer' to serotonin synthesis, but it didn't work very well for me. It made me feel more depressed like I get taking an SSRI. I'm not sure why, maybe it's that first step that tryptophan hits and 5-HTP misses that are important to my body. I read somewhere that tryptophan goes to the body first and then the brain, whereas 5-HTP bypasses the body on it's little highway to the brain. Tryptophan also converts to Niacin which is probably no bit deal, but also another thing called kyalauronic acid, or something like that, in this first step. No one seems to know what it does, but it's probably important. I've seen some studies whereby 5-HTP helped fibromyalgia pain alot, but it didn't for me and tryptophan does. I think I'm getting used to it, though, cause unfortunately I'm not getting the bedtime sleepy effect like I used to.> Barb, have you ever taken 5-HTP? If so, did you find its effects similar to tryptophan?
> Thanks!
poster:BarbaraCat
thread:126189
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021108/msgs/127450.html