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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by McPac on October 25, 2003, at 19:49:13
Lar,
on 2 separate occassions I tried a dose of tryptophan (about 1200 mg's per dose).....both times I felt a good bit better within 2-3 hours of taking each dose (happier, less anxious)....is that a placebo response or could tryptophan effect somebody that quickly??
Thanks!
Posted by Larry Hoover on November 2, 2003, at 7:47:59
In reply to Larry, question about tryptophan, posted by McPac on October 25, 2003, at 19:49:13
> Lar,
>
> on 2 separate occassions I tried a dose of tryptophan (about 1200 mg's per dose).....both times I felt a good bit better within 2-3 hours of taking each dose (happier, less anxious)....is that a placebo response or could tryptophan effect somebody that quickly??
> Thanks!First, I wouldn't care if it was placebo or not, if you felt better. Second, yes it can have an effect in 2-3 hours.
Lar
Posted by joebob on November 3, 2003, at 2:22:08
In reply to Re: Larry, question about tryptophan » McPac, posted by Larry Hoover on November 2, 2003, at 7:47:59
would it be dangerous?
how to spot seratonin syndrom before it becomes a problem?
best,
joebob
Posted by Larry Hoover on November 3, 2003, at 8:38:19
In reply to what about supping trypto while using lexapro » Larry Hoover, posted by joebob on November 3, 2003, at 2:22:08
> would it be dangerous?
>
> how to spot seratonin syndrom before it becomes a problem?
>
> best,
> joebobYou get tryptophan every day, in food. Using supplements is not like taking a drug. That said, you *could* develop symptoms from combining them, but that would depend on dose (of both substances), and your unique biochemistry. If you don't go overboard, you should be safe combining the two. I know you're wondering, how much is "overboard"? A gram a day should be safe, a couple *might* be pushing it.
serotonin syndrome:
http://members.aol.com/atracyphd/syndrome.htmLar
Posted by McPac on November 5, 2003, at 0:50:11
In reply to Re: what about supping trypto while using lexapro » joebob, posted by Larry Hoover on November 3, 2003, at 8:38:19
Geez...and I'm on Lexapro (ssri), lithium (which was also mentioned in Larry's link) and Remeron...and of course I've been using tryptophan intermittently and hesitantly...I don't like combining the tryptophan with these other meds because who knows what could happen...it's not tryptophan per se that I'm worried about, it's the interaction of the tryptophan w/ the others that concerns me....Lar, has tryptophan been used successfully for severe ocd? I believe it has for some, though most ocd'ers use the ssri's or Anafranil...it seems that it should work well for many ocd'ers, seeing how the ssri's often do. Just a couple of months ago I was not on any ssri...I would have LOVED to try the tryptophan then to see if that could have worked as well as the ssri's...unfortunately, I was feeling so badly at the time that I couldn't even wait for the tryptophan to arrive (it was sloooow arriving via delivery), I gave in and began taking the Lexapro that I had on hand.......I wonder if by taking tryptophan I would be able to successfully lower my Lexapro dosage very gradually...AND if taking the tryptophan would help diminish the withdrawal effects of lowering the Lexapro? In the same way that you can lower one med without feeling the dreaded withdrawal reaction by adding another med. This tryptophan seems like a tremendously helpful supplement for me...but, as usual, the ever-present catch-22 situation HAS to exist, i.e. it works great but serotonin syndrome risk....it's like I've always said with regards to these mental illnesses and treatments---you can't win, always a catch-22...later!
Posted by Larry Hoover on November 15, 2003, at 6:40:51
In reply to Lar, what about supping trypto while using lexapro, posted by McPac on November 5, 2003, at 0:50:11
> Geez...and I'm on Lexapro (ssri), lithium (which was also mentioned in Larry's link) and Remeron...and of course I've been using tryptophan intermittently and hesitantly...I don't like combining the tryptophan with these other meds because who knows what could happen...it's not tryptophan per se that I'm worried about, it's the interaction of the tryptophan w/ the others that concerns me....Lar, has tryptophan been used successfully for severe ocd? I believe it has for some, though most ocd'ers use the ssri's or Anafranil...it seems that it should work well for many ocd'ers, seeing how the ssri's often do. Just a couple of months ago I was not on any ssri...I would have LOVED to try the tryptophan then to see if that could have worked as well as the ssri's...unfortunately, I was feeling so badly at the time that I couldn't even wait for the tryptophan to arrive (it was sloooow arriving via delivery), I gave in and began taking the Lexapro that I had on hand.......I wonder if by taking tryptophan I would be able to successfully lower my Lexapro dosage very gradually...AND if taking the tryptophan would help diminish the withdrawal effects of lowering the Lexapro? In the same way that you can lower one med without feeling the dreaded withdrawal reaction by adding another med. This tryptophan seems like a tremendously helpful supplement for me...but, as usual, the ever-present catch-22 situation HAS to exist, i.e. it works great but serotonin syndrome risk....it's like I've always said with regards to these mental illnesses and treatments---you can't win, always a catch-22...later!
Your plan sounds reasonable to me.
Good luck,
Lar
This is the end of the thread.
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