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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by qbsbrown on July 24, 2005, at 19:47:44
Just curious. Seems like it would be a good thing, one increasing the serotonin levels, the other utilizing it.
What other supplements are good to take with an SSRI (paxil)?
And here goes my sexual functioning. Any advice on that end, to combat the SSRI sexual side effects?Thanks guys and gals
Posted by spriggy on July 25, 2005, at 12:21:03
In reply to Can you take Tryptophan and an SSRI?, posted by qbsbrown on July 24, 2005, at 19:47:44
I am no expert (unless you are asking on how to deep fry-- then, I am the one to come to!), but I have read a bit and I do recall reading you shouldn't mix 5htp with any SSRI.
I can't explain the mechanics of like all these smart folks here, but I know it increases the risk of seratonin syndrome.
If you want to read about axis, and brushing receptors, and capitalized letters that mean nothing to me, ask someone much brighter. LOL
Posted by Tom Twilight on July 25, 2005, at 15:23:54
In reply to Re: Can you take Tryptophan and an SSRI?, posted by spriggy on July 25, 2005, at 12:21:03
I combined Effexor with Tryptophan and lived to tell the tale.
Having said that be very careful, taking to much tryptophan with an SSRI could be fatal.
A lower dose of tryptophan will be more powerfull if your on an SSRI
A combination of Tryptophan and SSRI is sometimes used in the UK
Posted by linkadge on July 25, 2005, at 15:28:47
In reply to Yes, but be very carefull, posted by Tom Twilight on July 25, 2005, at 15:23:54
paxil is the most potent of the SSRI's. Be very carefull. I had a bad reaction to 5-htp and celexa.
PLus, it didn't improve the depression any.
Linkadge
Posted by qbsbrown on July 25, 2005, at 16:08:15
In reply to Re: Yes, but be very carefull, posted by linkadge on July 25, 2005, at 15:28:47
So what dosage of tryptophan should i be down to when i begin paxil (500-1000mg)? I typically take 3000mg at night.
I personally believe that i am serotonin deficient, therefore a ssri by itself would do nothing for me. It seems like a good combo to me.
And we're talking real tryptophan, not the 5htp stuff u buy in stores, but the stuff that good ole larry recommends.Thank you for your feedback,
Brian
Posted by Tom Twilight on July 26, 2005, at 11:31:27
In reply to Re: Yes, but be very carefull, posted by qbsbrown on July 25, 2005, at 16:08:15
It funny I've heard bad things about 5htp to
> So what dosage of tryptophan should i be down to when i begin paxil (500-1000mg)? I typically take 3000mg at night.
I would start with a very low dose of Trypt, 250mgs at the most
The Paxil will really potentiat the tryptophan, if your experience is anything like mine
Posted by qbsbrown on July 26, 2005, at 12:16:10
In reply to Re: Yes, but be very carefull, posted by Tom Twilight on July 26, 2005, at 11:31:27
If i've been at 3000mgs nightly, do i need to come down for a while, or stop, before i take the paxil? Or can i immediatly start the paxil, and either no tryp or 250mgs?
Thank you
Brian
Posted by Declan on July 26, 2005, at 17:18:37
In reply to Re: Yes, but be very carefull, posted by Tom Twilight on July 26, 2005, at 11:31:27
When I raised the thing about 5htp not being an endogenous body chemical (is that right?), and was it some anxiety about arteries or heart valve defects?....Was this a generalisation from the Ponderax (fenfluramine)+Phentermine combination?
Anyway when I raised this with my nutritional dr he said that if patients were on decent doses of Vit C (A couple of grams/d) there was no problem.
Are the anxieties about 5htp resolving?
Declan
Posted by Mistermindmasta on July 27, 2005, at 11:48:08
In reply to Tryptophan vs 5htp, posted by Declan on July 26, 2005, at 17:18:37
> When I raised the thing about 5htp not being an endogenous body chemical (is that right?), and was it some anxiety about arteries or heart valve defects?....Was this a generalisation from the Ponderax (fenfluramine)+Phentermine combination?
> Anyway when I raised this with my nutritional dr he said that if patients were on decent doses of Vit C (A couple of grams/d) there was no problem.
> Are the anxieties about 5htp resolving?
> Declan5-HTP actually is an endogenous body chemical, being an intermediate step between trypophan and serotonin, but generally doesn't last long in the body, since its quickly converted to serotonin.
The problem with the Fen-Phen combo indeed was with heart valve problems... wasn't safe to take.
In response to everyone else's messages... yeah, too much serotonin floating around is what causes serotonin syndrome. This can be caused from too high dose of an SSRI, a combo of an SSRI and a MAOI, the combo of tryptophan and an SSRI, or the combo of 5-HTP and an SSRI, not to mention many other combos. Bottom line is that you don't want to risk serotonin syndrome, in that it can be fatal.
However, the theoretical benefits of using 5-HTP and an SSRI is that it could minimize the side effects of SSRIs by having to use a lower dose. The biggest problem with such a combo is that we all differ as to how soon serotonin syndrome occurs and we don't really know how much 5-HTP and what dose of an SSRI to use... there's been no studies that I know of that combine the two.
However, I think that combining 5-HTP and an SSRI yeilds no higher risk of serotonin syndrome than SSRI's alone. It's just a matter of what doses to use. And guessing doesn't seem wise.
However, a decent idea would be to start out at an ultra low dose of 5-HTP and a lower dose of SSRI and very slowly raise the doses until a positive effect is felt. You'd have to be very careful and know the symptoms of serotonin syndrome though, to do this. The same would go for tryptophan, but I think I've heard of more doctors combining tryp and an SSRI than 5-HTP and an SSRI.
This is the end of the thread.
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