Posted by Tomatheus on July 25, 2006, at 13:47:44
In reply to Re: question re mixing l-tryptophan with EMSAM » laima, posted by Tomatheus on July 25, 2006, at 12:47:46
I should probably add that combining l-tryptophan *supplements* with an SSRI or an MAOI could potentially induce serotonin syndrome. It's my understanding that l-tryptophan doesn't cross the blood-brain barrier very easily, especially when other amino acids are also crossing the blood-brain barrier. So, for example, eating turkey (a source of l-tryptophan) will not trigger serotonin syndrome in someone taking an MAOI or an SSRI because 1) the amount of l-tryptophan in turkey is relatively low, especially in comparison to the amount that's found in most supplements, and 2) turkey contains other amino acids that compete with l-tryptophan when crossing the blood-brain barrier. As I understand it, most l-tryptophan supplements contain high doses of the amino acid -- enough to allow a significant amount of l-tryptophan to get across the blood-brain barrier.
Just wanted to clarify...
Tomatheus
poster:Tomatheus
thread:670345
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20060704/msgs/670373.html