Psycho-Babble Alternative Thread 256950

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Re: female hormones » tealady

Posted by JLx on October 26, 2003, at 13:20:30

In reply to Re: female hormones » JLx, posted by tealady on October 12, 2003, at 18:13:32

Sorry for the delay in replying, been busy trying to pull my life together...a more than full time job! :)

> My guess is some women need the cortisol etc. and some of the progesterone does convert to estrogen (if lucky), ..the conversion would be individual...

I had one day on the progesterone where I felt a definite boost of energy. I hauled my bike out of the basement and took it for a spin. First time in many years! I thought, great, this is going to work as increased energy was one of the benefits touted...but it was only the one day that I felt that. Then I felt worse again. Very disappointing.

> > > yep, cortisol will make you crave carbohydrates
> well some people have too low cortisol..where the stress has lasted a long time usually

Aside from "The Cortisol Connection" I haven't read much about cortisol, but the carb craving certainly jibes with my experience. If you have any sites handy about cortisol, I'd appreciate them.

> > > Also Estradiol is not fat soluble so it can't be absorbed thru skin in a cream, only two other estrogens,(estrone, estriol) are but Larrian says " you don't want them because they increase fat and cause prolonged excitation of the estradiol receptors".

Hmm...but estradiol is the one indicated in breast cancer, isn't it? What type does Larrian recommend when she recommends estrogen? (I joined her webpage, but can't afford the pay part of it.)

> <g>..yes, it works. I haven't tried the type they buy though. It's popular in France and Germany...has been for a long time.

What type have you tried?

> None of the companies I contacted would say..the best answer I got was ..whatever is cheapest at the time.

I notice that the Beyond a Century site has magnesium glycinate in the bulk form and the price looks good -- maybe even good enough to justify the overseas shipping for you (if they do overseas shipping). When I run out of my current stash of magnesium, I am going to try their's.

> Thanks, re DHEA I haven't tried....probably will start next weekend. Both DHEA and progesterone are only available under doc's scripts over here..

Have you started, how's it going?

JL

 

Re: female hormones » BarbaraCat

Posted by JLx on October 26, 2003, at 13:28:28

In reply to Re: female hormones, posted by BarbaraCat on October 21, 2003, at 20:20:55

>Even if you are receiving the standard formulary dose of hormone replacment and not getting your levels monitored, might be worthwhile shelling out the bucks and being proactive about your progress. There's too much at stake here, not only the cancer connection, but our hormonal balance is the missing link in our mood disorders. Why the medical profession at large isn't getting this is mind boggling. Take care, y'all. - BCat

I agree that doctor's are mostly missing the boat when it comes to hormonal connections to mood disorders...just as they are frequently missing the nutritional connections too. So, what ARE we paying them for? ;)

I'm sure you're right about the testing (thanks for the link) but it's out of the question for me right now financially. That's one of the things I like about DHEA -- it's not very expensive.

 

female hormones » tealady » JLx

Posted by oreilledemouche on October 27, 2003, at 11:42:32

In reply to Re: female hormones » tealady, posted by JLx on October 26, 2003, at 13:20:30

ouais, mais pour le progestérone les conditions de prélèvement sont le prélèvement de sang veineux (en général au pli du coude). Il n'est pas nécessaire d'être à jeun. Il faut par contre préciser l'âge et la date des dernières règles, le nombre de semaines d'aménorrhée en cas de grossesse.

Quant à l'intérêt du dosage, la progestérone est une hormone produite par le corps jaune en deuxième phase du cycle menstruel, par le corps jaune gravidique puis par le placenta au cours de la grossesse. Son rôle est de préparer l'utérus à la nidation, puis de préparer la glande mammaire à la lactation. Son dosage permet en cours de grossesse, de refléter l'activité placentaire. En dehors de ce cadre, la progestérone sera dosée dans l'exploration de troubles hormonaux Elle est également utile pour la fécondation in vitro.

Bonne chance, tealady et JLx. Je vous embrasse tres fort!

 

Re: female hormones » oreilledemouche

Posted by JLx on October 27, 2003, at 16:02:16

In reply to female hormones » tealady » JLx, posted by oreilledemouche on October 27, 2003, at 11:42:32

> ouais, mais pour le progestérone les conditions de prélèvement sont le prélèvement de sang veineux (en général au pli du coude). Il n'est pas nécessaire d'être à jeun. Il faut par contre préciser l'âge et la date des dernières règles, le nombre de semaines d'aménorrhée en cas de grossesse.
>
> Quant à l'intérêt du dosage, la progestérone est une hormone produite par le corps jaune en deuxième phase du cycle menstruel, par le corps jaune gravidique puis par le placenta au cours de la grossesse. Son rôle est de préparer l'utérus à la nidation, puis de préparer la glande mammaire à la lactation. Son dosage permet en cours de grossesse, de refléter l'activité placentaire. En dehors de ce cadre, la progestérone sera dosée dans l'exploration de troubles hormonaux Elle est également utile pour la fécondation in vitro.
>
> Bonne chance, tealady et JLx. Je vous embrasse tres fort!

I don't speak French, unfortunately, but this is what came up on Alta Vista's Babel Fish Translation:

"ouais, but for progesterone the conditions of taking away are the taking away of venous blood (in general with the fold of the elbow). It is not necessary to be to jeun. It is on the other hand necessary to specify the age and the date of the last rules, the number of weeks of amenorrhoea in the event of pregnancy. As for the interest of proportioning, the progesterone is a hormone produced by the yellow body in second phase of the menstrual cycle, by the yellow body gravidic then by the placenta during the pregnancy. Its role is to prepare the uterus with nidation, then to prepare the gland mammaire with lactation. Its proportioning allows in the course of pregnancy, to reflect the placental activity. Apart from this framework, the progesterone will be proportioned in the exploration of hormonal disorders It is also useful for the in vitro fertilization. Good luck, tealady and JLx. I kiss you very extremely!"

Hmm...that's not too clear, but anyway, thanks! :)

 

Re: female hormones/cortisol link » JLx

Posted by BarbaraCat on October 27, 2003, at 17:56:12

In reply to Re: female hormones » BarbaraCat, posted by JLx on October 26, 2003, at 13:28:28

Be real careful with DHEA. It sounded like a good idea to my husband and me as well. Unfortunately, his was converting to estradiol instead of testosterone. Bummer. According to tests I needed it, but I was deficient in testosterone and the DHEA was converting to estrogen, further adding to my excess. I was just hoping to balance things out but for both of us it made things worse. Even more unpredictable is pregnenolone, so-called 'mother of hormones'. Again, sounds like a magic bullet but it's not and is very erratic in what it converts to down-line.

Here's a very informative link about cortisol, maybe more than you want to know. I'm digesting it very slowly so haven't gotten to the end. Perhaps you're looking for something specifically related to hormones and cortisol in which case, probably just do a web engine search on estrogen+cortisol or progesterone+cortisol or something like that. - Barbara

http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031015/msgs/269703.html

 

Re: female hormones/cortisol link » BarbaraCat

Posted by JLx on October 28, 2003, at 8:20:25

In reply to Re: female hormones/cortisol link » JLx, posted by BarbaraCat on October 27, 2003, at 17:56:12

Thanks for the link, interesting discussion.

I wish I COULD work with a knoweledgeable doctor, and get tested but it's not possible right now. I am without a job or any income whatsoever, surviving on food stamps and charity from my parents, about to have my house foreclosed, etc. I hate guessing at all this, but health care, except by my own efforts, is a luxury I can't afford.

I stopped taking DHEA for a couple months when I started supplementing with magnesium, boron, eating better, etc. because I felt good enough. Then my mood dropped precipitously at the same time that I had pee dripping down my legs when I got up in the morning and my breasts seemed kind of deflated. I also had a period for the first time in 4-5 months. I was reading the natural progesterone books I mentioned earlier on this thread and decided to try progesterone -- Progest-E drops that you use sublingually. I think I inadvertently took too much at first, but then cut it down considerably as I experimented more successfully squeezing out that "3 mg drop". Aside from that one day when I had a burst of energy -- something I usually lack -- I felt rotten, worse as I went along (tried it for about 2 weeks), like I had PMS (irritable, craving carbs, swollen, tender breastst, etc.) so I quit taking it and felt better almost immediately.

Later I resumed the 25 mg/day of DHEA. Now, I've added amino acids and some other things to my daily supplement mix...and I suspect things are chaning hormonally again. DHEA used to give me a libido boost, for instance, but now less so. Now I'm experimenting with the DHEA every other day.

Here's an interesting thing -- to me anyway! ;) The Progest-E nearly cleared up my rosacea....and so does taurine. Taurine blocks or somehow mediates estrogen, I've read somewhere, and perhaps that's why. Or maybe it's related to stress somehow, as stress is related to rosacea, and taurine is calming.

I'm feeling pretty good on my latest regimen, but I can tell that as some things get "righted" some others get out of whack. I don't sleep as well as I used to before I added tyrosine and I'm having the devil of a time figuring out a good magnesium/calcium ratio which I suspect is related to the sleeping. I used to always be a nightowl, who needed 8 hours sleep, until in my 40's when I started sleeping less and/or wildly irregularly. My understanding is that sleep before midnight is more valuable than after so now I force myself to go to bed very early, which has felt good until lately when I am wake up periodically throughout the night. I'm also having these weird hot/cold fluctuations (like mini and mild hot flashes/chills), both at night and during the day. Nor have I had a period for a few months now.

Not sure where cortisol might fit in to that whole picture but I certainly WISH I had the kind of energy that I had that one day. (If you have any thoughts or insights, they'd be most welcome.)

> Be real careful with DHEA. It sounded like a good idea to my husband and me as well. Unfortunately, his was converting to estradiol instead of testosterone. Bummer. According to tests I needed it, but I was deficient in testosterone and the DHEA was converting to estrogen, further adding to my excess. I was just hoping to balance things out but for both of us it made things worse. Even more unpredictable is pregnenolone, so-called 'mother of hormones'. Again, sounds like a magic bullet but it's not and is very erratic in what it converts to down-line.
>
> Here's a very informative link about cortisol, maybe more than you want to know. I'm digesting it very slowly so haven't gotten to the end. Perhaps you're looking for something specifically related to hormones and cortisol in which case, probably just do a web engine search on estrogen+cortisol or progesterone+cortisol or something like that. - Barbara
>
> http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031015/msgs/269703.html

 

DHEA

Posted by loolot on October 28, 2003, at 10:38:40

In reply to Re: female hormones/cortisol link » BarbaraCat, posted by JLx on October 28, 2003, at 8:20:25

I read in one study about hypoadrenal function that patients who had less cortisol actually had more DHEA in their blood. So taking DHEA may be misleading. It might be better to supplement with cortisol? Im guessing.
Ill try to find the article and post it

 

Licorice and adrenals » JLx

Posted by BarbaraCat on November 1, 2003, at 16:53:23

In reply to Re: female hormones/cortisol link » BarbaraCat, posted by JLx on October 28, 2003, at 8:20:25

Licorice is one of the best adrenal tonifiers around. Not the stringy crap but the real thing. There's been some bad press about licorice raising blood pressure. That seems to be true only with American licorice and should be avoided. The kind you want is European (glycyrryiza glabra) or Asian (glycyrrhiza uralensis). You might have to go online to find it. If you can get licorice extract all the better. Wise Woman Herbals puts out a good one and 1/4 teaspoon per day is a great adrenal support, boosts DHEA levels and regulates cortisol up or down.

As for DHEA being inversely proportional to cortisol, that's what I've noticed too - my husband whose cortisol is very low has normal DHEA, and my DHEA is very low but my cortisol is normal. But really, if you could spring $150 for the saliva test (ZRT Laboratories is the best I've found), you'd know the state of your cortisol, DHEA and sex hormones and save yourself alot of time, frustration and money. - Barbara

 

Re: Licorice and adrenals » BarbaraCat

Posted by Larry Hoover on November 2, 2003, at 8:20:37

In reply to Licorice and adrenals » JLx, posted by BarbaraCat on November 1, 2003, at 16:53:23

> Licorice is one of the best adrenal tonifiers around. Not the stringy crap but the real thing. There's been some bad press about licorice raising blood pressure. That seems to be true only with American licorice and should be avoided. The kind you want is European (glycyrryiza glabra) or Asian (glycyrrhiza uralensis). You might have to go online to find it. If you can get licorice extract all the better. Wise Woman Herbals puts out a good one and 1/4 teaspoon per day is a great adrenal support, boosts DHEA levels and regulates cortisol up or down.

Licorice blocks the breakdown of cortisol, and inhibits testosterone synthesis. It's indicated for adrenal fatigue, but I wouldn't use it for adrenal excess.

See:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021108/msgs/126943.html

 

Re: Licorice and adrenals » Larry Hoover

Posted by BarbaraCat on November 2, 2003, at 11:12:01

In reply to Re: Licorice and adrenals » BarbaraCat, posted by Larry Hoover on November 2, 2003, at 8:20:37

> Licorice blocks the breakdown of cortisol, and inhibits testosterone synthesis. It's indicated for adrenal fatigue, but I wouldn't use it for adrenal excess.
>
**Thanks Larry. I didn't know about the testosterone thing. Goes to show how taking anything based on heresay of desired benefits can have anything but the desired effect. I think about all the claims made for very powerful OTC hormonal substances like melatonin, DHEA, progesterone creams, phytoestrogen supplements and how many people are taking them on trust without getting any baseline hormonal values. Not a good thing. Thanks for your input. - Barbara

 

Home cortisol tests » BarbaraCat

Posted by loolot on November 2, 2003, at 15:13:40

In reply to Licorice and adrenals » JLx, posted by BarbaraCat on November 1, 2003, at 16:53:23

Is that a home test? Do those work? I have thought about trying that

 

Re: Home cortisol tests » loolot

Posted by BarbaraCat on November 2, 2003, at 15:50:41

In reply to Home cortisol tests » BarbaraCat, posted by loolot on November 2, 2003, at 15:13:40

> Is that a home test? Do those work? I have thought about trying that

**They work quite well. I've only done the tests through naturopaths but they're easy to do and interpret for home use. The one she uses is ZRT Laboratores and you can order them yourself for your own monitoring. Here's the website again:

http://www.salivatest.com


 

Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!!

Posted by morel1 on December 27, 2003, at 17:37:02

In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!!, posted by matthhhh on September 24, 2003, at 17:47:49

Just a concern but i read that tryptophan can cause bladder cancer and/or run a risk of developing diabetes if it runs your family anyone heard of this

 

Re: Tryptophan adverse effects? » morel1

Posted by Larry Hoover on December 30, 2003, at 10:05:48

In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!!, posted by morel1 on December 27, 2003, at 17:37:02

> Just a concern but i read that tryptophan can cause bladder cancer and/or run a risk of developing diabetes if it runs your family anyone heard of this

There were some clues that linked tryptophan metabolic products (via the kynurenine pathway) to bladder cancer recurrence (not causing cancer, promoting recurrence), but that was later found to be due to genetic inability to process vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), or to deficiency in B6. I see no evidence that tryptophan is a risk factor for bladder cancer.

The relationship between tryptophan (serotonin) metabolism and diabetes is inverted to what you suggest. Diabetes disrupts serotonin synthesis, rather than tryptophan inducing diabetes.

Lar

 

Re: Kava Kava 5-HTP dangers!!!

Posted by Brown_cow on January 7, 2004, at 16:19:58

In reply to 5-HTP, posted by Penny on September 4, 2003, at 13:32:53

I don't think anyone should take Kava Kava ... it made me feel like poop first of all and I read that it can easily damage your liver.

I do like 5-HTP and think it works too, but the tendency for self prescribed herbal meds is to over-prescribe. DON'T DO THAT!

Large doses of 5-HTP should be avoided as it can result in the formation of excessively high levels of serotonin in tissues other than the brain, resulting in significant adverse reactions.

5-HTP should not be taken concurrently with anti-depressants except under the supervision of a physician, because 5-HTP increases the activity of these drugs.

This defeats the purpose by subjecting your body to too much serotonin and also making you too sleepy to feel good. It can produce side effects which make you feel more wacky than you are. :D

That's why I play online video games these days. adrenaline rush here I come!

 

Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!!

Posted by april8 on May 1, 2004, at 9:23:53

In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!! » matthhhh, posted by Larry Hoover on September 13, 2003, at 9:05:39

I have read that some people respond to 5 htp and others respond well to Trytophan. So you may be one of the people who responds to Trytophan. it is worth checking out, seriously.
There is a book called the mood cure that has info in it about both and the difference. Trytophan is much more expensive, but that doesnt' mean not worth a try!

 

Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!! » april8

Posted by Teknohead on May 15, 2004, at 6:59:38

In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!!, posted by april8 on May 1, 2004, at 9:23:53

Tryptophan not only converts into serotonin but lots of other tryptamines aswell - including your own natural DMT! 5-HTP only converts into serotonin. Read Patrik Holford's "Natural Highs" book.

 

5-HTP vs. tryp? Tryp!!! » Penny

Posted by BarbaraCat on May 16, 2004, at 16:04:06

In reply to 5-HTP, posted by Penny on September 4, 2003, at 13:32:53

My two cents. 5-htp made my depression and anxiety worse. Trytophan had an immediate anti-anxiety effect, helped sleep but most telling was the difference it made in fibromyalgia pain and muscle cramping. I don't have the particulars on the subject but found out that 5-htp goes directly to brain serotonin and bypasses the conversion step that effects serotonin receptors in the gut and muscles.

Thanks for the bulk source, Larry Hoover. I get my 500mg capsules of veterinary pharm grade from www.biochemicals.com but I think this horsey brand is alot cheaper! - BarbaraCat

 

tryptophan better again

Posted by LOOPS on May 17, 2004, at 20:01:07

In reply to 5-HTP vs. tryp? Tryp!!! » Penny, posted by BarbaraCat on May 16, 2004, at 16:04:06

Tryptophan is presently being a life-saver. The difference I felt was deep. I never got this much relief with 5-htp - in fact with 5htp I would get tired and irritable.

I would say tryptohphan should probably be combined with a few other key nutrients to get maximum relief/positive results.

I don't know why this stuff isn't more widely available.

Loops

 

Re: tryptophan better again » LOOPS

Posted by BarbaraCat on May 18, 2004, at 16:02:19

In reply to tryptophan better again, posted by LOOPS on May 17, 2004, at 20:01:07


> I don't know why tryptophan isn't more widely available.
>
**Back in the late 80's there was an attempt by Denko Pharmaceuticals to hurry along the fermenting procedure by which tryp is made by doing some DNA splicing. This process caused a condition called Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome — EMS. It was only a relatively small batch and the procedure was banned but it killed some people. Since then tryp is back to being produced the old safe way, but the public and FDA never recovered from the scare and tryp was taken off the shelves and banned for human use. This all happened just around the time SSRI's were the new wonder drug - coindidence? I think not. Getting it from vet supplies is about the only way outside of a compounding pharmacy prescription to get it.

I've been doing research on tryp for some time and it's much more crucial to enzyme and cellular functioning than just serotonin production in the brain. 5-HTP bypasses an important precursor step and completely misses the point of tryp's many functions. Most sources say that 'it's just as good if not better than tryptophan'. T'aint so.

 

Re: tryptophan better again » BarbaraCat

Posted by LOOPS on May 18, 2004, at 18:31:02

In reply to Re: tryptophan better again » LOOPS, posted by BarbaraCat on May 18, 2004, at 16:02:19

>
> >5-HTP bypasses an important precursor step and completely misses the point of tryp's many functions. Most sources say that 'it's just as good if not better than tryptophan'. T'aint so.

It definitely isn't! Just ask my husband what I was like on 5-htp compared to now on l-tryptophan - and my situation hasn't changed either. Urm...angry outbursts, fatigue, agitation - the only thing it did do was curb my apetite. However I could never predict it's effect on me. With l-tryptophan I know exactly what's going to happen, and I know my brain is in control of how much it uses etc.

Good stuff.

Loops

 

Re: tryptophan better again » LOOPS

Posted by Nemo2 on May 30, 2004, at 12:19:11

In reply to Re: tryptophan better again » BarbaraCat, posted by LOOPS on May 18, 2004, at 18:31:02

> > Interesting stuff, you guys. My story is this: 54 year old man with busy life and stressful career found myself clinically depressed with terrible digestive symptoms growing over last 3 years. My Internist and GI doc suggested Anti-depressant drugs independently last fall and winter. I tried Amitryptiline with horrible side effects and quit in 4 days. Tried Lexapro 4 months later and found se's tolerable. Also brought me out of depression with nasty side effects of brain fog and trembling. I stayed with it and worked a full schedule for 11 weeks. Finally said the hell with this and read some books on amino acid and other supplement approach. Found clearly positive results with 5 HTP if taken alone on a very empty stomach with nothing else for at least an hour. Also tried several other amino's and really like the energy and clear thinking that DLPA and Tyrosine provide. I just ordered L-Tryptophan from Hopewell Pharmacy and look forward to trying it in a few days instead of 5 HTP. Thanks for your input. Wish me luck. I also changed my job from managing 200 distribution operations people to a sales exec position. My old career, really. Same company now for 25 years. More fun, less stress. That took a year to complete. Now I'm seeing gradual improvement on all the digestive problems developed over too many years. Hope to continue to improvement. Final point on all this is STAY AWAY from SSRI's. My God, what a horrible joke they play on millions of people when natural amino's administered correctly can do you better without all the agony of screwing up your body and your brain and your life. Nemo2
> > >5-HTP bypasses an important precursor step and completely misses the point of tryp's many functions. Most sources say that 'it's just as good if not better than tryptophan'. T'aint so.
>
> It definitely isn't! Just ask my husband what I was like on 5-htp compared to now on l-tryptophan - and my situation hasn't changed either. Urm...angry outbursts, fatigue, agitation - the only thing it did do was curb my apetite. However I could never predict it's effect on me. With l-tryptophan I know exactly what's going to happen, and I know my brain is in control of how much it uses etc.
>
> Good stuff.
>
> Loops
>

 

Re: tryptophan better again

Posted by KarenRB53 on May 7, 2008, at 14:10:23

In reply to Re: tryptophan better again » LOOPS, posted by Nemo2 on May 30, 2004, at 12:19:11

> > > Interesting stuff, you guys. My story is this: 54 year old man with busy life and stressful career found myself clinically depressed with terrible digestive symptoms growing over last 3 years. My Internist and GI doc suggested Anti-depressant drugs independently last fall and winter. I tried Amitryptiline with horrible side effects and quit in 4 days. Tried Lexapro 4 months later and found se's tolerable. Also brought me out of depression with nasty side effects of brain fog and trembling. I stayed with it and worked a full schedule for 11 weeks. Finally said the hell with this and read some books on amino acid and other supplement approach. Found clearly positive results with 5 HTP if taken alone on a very empty stomach with nothing else for at least an hour. Also tried several other amino's and really like the energy and clear thinking that DLPA and Tyrosine provide. I just ordered L-Tryptophan from Hopewell Pharmacy and look forward to trying it in a few days instead of 5 HTP. Thanks for your input. Wish me luck. I also changed my job from managing 200 distribution operations people to a sales exec position. My old career, really. Same company now for 25 years. More fun, less stress. That took a year to complete. Now I'm seeing gradual improvement on all the digestive problems developed over too many years. Hope to continue to improvement. Final point on all this is STAY AWAY from SSRI's. My God, what a horrible joke they play on millions of people when natural amino's administered correctly can do you better without all the agony of screwing up your body and your brain and your life. Nemo2
> > > >5-HTP bypasses an important precursor step and completely misses the point of tryp's many functions. Most sources say that 'it's just as good if not better than tryptophan'. T'aint so.
> >
> > It definitely isn't! Just ask my husband what I was like on 5-htp compared to now on l-tryptophan - and my situation hasn't changed either. Urm...angry outbursts, fatigue, agitation - the only thing it did do was curb my apetite. However I could never predict it's effect on me. With l-tryptophan I know exactly what's going to happen, and I know my brain is in control of how much it uses etc.
> >
> > Good stuff.
> >
> > Loops
> >
>
>

Just found this post, is tryptophan still working for you, better than antidepressants?

Thanks, Karen

 

Re: tryptophan better again

Posted by Loops on May 7, 2008, at 19:15:08

In reply to Re: tryptophan better again, posted by KarenRB53 on May 7, 2008, at 14:10:23

Hi Karen -

not sure if you're talking to me??

No, I don't take tryptophan/5htp at the moment. I eat a lot of protein though.

I basically stick to some core supplements which help me long-term (I find single aminos only help in the short term) -

chelated zinc (20mg-30mg/day), chelated magnesium (as needed - usually around 600mg/day)(calcium to balance when I'm not eating cheese - 600mg/day), B complex (25mg 2-4xdaily), vit C (250mg 2-4x daily), taurine (500mg/day), multivit, cod liver oil, fish oil(2-4caps daily), GLA (1-3 caps)(not all the time), melatonin (1mg/night).

That's what I've been taking for the past couple of years. I switched back to eating a very low carb diet/high animal fat and have been doing great ever since. Low-carbing stimulates GABA production - one of my main problems.

My sleep has been solid - still have a few residual problems with depression but nowhere near as severe as I used to have. The magnesium balanced with calcium and melatonin is the greatest thing I found for sleep.

If I took tryptophan now I would most likely fall straight asleep. I don't feel like I need more serotonin.

I still feel though that tryptophan is far superior to 5htp - for some people at least. I would definitely try that one first. 5htp just bypasses too many steps.

Loops

 

Re: tryptophan better again

Posted by SLS on May 13, 2008, at 5:12:17

In reply to Re: tryptophan better again, posted by Loops on May 7, 2008, at 19:15:08

Hi.

My doctor has had some success adding Deplin to tryptophan.


- Scott


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