![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by McPac on December 12, 2003, at 21:24:01
Wow!
This continues to blow my mind.......tryptophan works better than ALL other supplements COMBINED for me......its AD properties, anti-anxiety, anti-irritability and anti-agitation properties are remarkable in my case (it must be the main missing ingredient in my particular case)....it could, possibly, replace my meds (though I haven't tried attempting that yet).......AD's (ssri's) and Lithium have always been my superb combo but it is possible that tryptophan is all I really need......Pfeiffer Treatment Center put me on a plan with a SLEW of supplements (Haa! LAME, weak supps that don't do diddly)....then along comes tryptophan....voila!.....unreal....if you read Ace's posts on the Babble board, Nardil (MAOI) is his ultimate drug which makes him feel SUPER! I won't say Tryptophan is ALL I need for SURE...but it just might be...it seems to do everything that I need....it's possible that Trypto + lithium in small doses may be needed for me but, again, trypto may do the job all by itself.....I've always believed that serotonin was my key....
Posted by buddhi on December 13, 2003, at 4:12:45
In reply to All Hail The Incomparable Tryptophan!!!!!!, posted by McPac on December 12, 2003, at 21:24:01
Unfortuneatly ! I purchased some tryptophan from biochemicals and it hasn't done anything!!!! Maybe I should try whatever brand your taking! THis is such a disapointment! (by the way what brand are you takinf?) ANyway I have another question for you! You tried picamilon right? WHere did you get it what brand? In the U.S. OR overseas? ANd is that still helping you? I need something desperatly for anxiety and I don't want any drug I can become addicted too!!! Well enough about me I glad you found your Magic Bullet!! Amy
Posted by Larry Hoover on December 13, 2003, at 8:56:15
In reply to All Hail The Incomparable Tryptophan!!!!!!, posted by McPac on December 12, 2003, at 21:24:01
Posted by Ron Hill on December 13, 2003, at 11:55:11
In reply to All Hail The Incomparable Tryptophan!!!!!!, posted by McPac on December 12, 2003, at 21:24:01
McPac,
I'm happy for you! Do you think that the effect is sustainable over the long term? How much do you take? You take it on an empty stomach, correct? Does one dose provide effectiveness for the entire day, or do you take multiple doses? What time of day do you take the dose(s)?
I ask these questions because it has been on my list for a couple months to try it. I would have tried it already if I could run down to the local nutritional store and buy it off the shelf, but I haven't got around to ordering it online. I need to do so. I plan to conduct a trial of tryptophan (probably 500 mg - 1000 mg/day) by itself taken on an empty stomach.
I also plan to conduct a trial of tryptophan and tyrosine. I intend to take each on an empty stomach (to stack the deck to get more across the blood-brain barrier). Further, my current plan is to take the tryptophan at a different time of day than when I take the tyrosine so that they do not compete with each other for a seat on the amino-acid-transporter bus as they attempt to cross the BB barrier.
Thank you for posting your results.
-- Ron
Posted by recumbent on December 13, 2003, at 12:42:22
In reply to Re: All Hail The Incomparable Tryptophan!!!!!! » McPac, posted by Ron Hill on December 13, 2003, at 11:55:11
> McPac,
>
> I'm happy for you! Do you think that the effect is sustainable over the long term? How much do you take? You take it on an empty stomach, correct? Does one dose provide effectiveness for the entire day, or do you take multiple doses? What time of day do you take the dose(s)?
>
> I ask these questions because it has been on my list for a couple months to try it. I would have tried it already if I could run down to the local nutritional store and buy it off the shelf, but I haven't got around to ordering it online. I need to do so. I plan to conduct a trial of tryptophan (probably 500 mg - 1000 mg/day) by itself taken on an empty stomach.
>
> I also plan to conduct a trial of tryptophan and tyrosine. I intend to take each on an empty stomach (to stack the deck to get more across the blood-brain barrier). Further, my current plan is to take the tryptophan at a different time of day than when I take the tyrosine so that they do not compete with each other for a seat on the amino-acid-transporter bus as they attempt to cross the BB barrier.
>
> Thank you for posting your results.
>
> -- RonHi Ron,
I've also been considering a "trial of tryptophan and tyrosine" I've been on 10mg. Lexapro for three months and it has been a life saver. It reduced my OC behavior, I'm more considerate, have a more positive outlook, controls my weight, and it IMPROVED my sex drive. Everyone likes the change in me. Unfortunately, I don't like the idea of being on a manufactured substance. I've resolved to let my current supply of pills run out and switch to something "natural". Since I am paying $30/mo (copay) for Lexapro, I was also hoping not to spend any more money. If you decide to go ahead with your trial, would you post the results? If I go first, I will post mine. I think I will order the Equestrian "brand" that Larry Hoover suggested.
Posted by Larry Hoover on December 13, 2003, at 13:01:46
In reply to Re: All Hail The Incomparable Tryptophan!!!!!!, posted by recumbent on December 13, 2003, at 12:42:22
> I think I will order the Equestrian "brand" that Larry Hoover suggested.
I think we should hear what McPac's time is over 6 furlongs before we all jump in....
Anybody had the guts to buy the gallon of fish oil for $14.47?
Lar
Posted by Ron Hill on December 13, 2003, at 14:34:25
In reply to Re: All Hail The Incomparable Tryptophan!!!!!!, posted by recumbent on December 13, 2003, at 12:42:22
Hi Recumbent,
> I've also been considering a "trial of tryptophan and tyrosine" I've been on 10mg. Lexapro for three months and it has been a life saver. It reduced my OC behavior, I'm more considerate, have a more positive outlook, controls my weight, and it IMPROVED my sex drive. Everyone likes the change in me. Unfortunately, I don't like the idea of being on a manufactured substance. I've resolved to let my current supply of pills run out and switch to something "natural".
I hear what you are saying, but at the same time there is something to be said for the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" approach. Occasionally, a med that works initially will not work the second time around if the patient discontinues it and then attempts to restart it.
> If you decide to go ahead with your trial, would you post the results?
Sure, but initial results are not always indicative of long-term efficacy.
The following quote summarizes the reasons why I want to try a combination or tryptophan and tyrosine.
<start quote>
Van Praag’s research has shown that for many people suffering depression, combining the amino-acid tyrosine with tryptophan works much better than taking tryptophan alone. These would be Young’s "apathetic inhibited" types, where both the serotonin tranquillity/ well being circuits and the "get up and go" vigorous action dopamine/ noradrenaline circuits are underactive.
<end quote>The quote is taken from: http://www.smartnutrition.info/JamesSouth-tryptophan.htm
Best wishes Recumbent.
-- Ron
Posted by Francesco on December 14, 2003, at 5:32:09
In reply to Re: Tryptophan and Tyrosine Combination » recumbent, posted by Ron Hill on December 13, 2003, at 14:34:25
Supposing one wants to try both which is the suggested schedule ?
Posted by McPac on December 14, 2003, at 21:42:40
In reply to Re: All Hail The Incomparable Tryptophan!!!!!! » McPac, posted by Ron Hill on December 13, 2003, at 11:55:11
Do you think that the effect is sustainable over the long term?
Hi Ron......well, here's the deal.....I have NOT been taking the trypto on ANY kind of REGULAR basis.....due to being on an ssri (Lexapro) and lithium, and due to this possible serotonin syndrome #!@$! (<swearing) crap, I don't want to risk taking the trypto on any kind of frequent, regular basis....how do you like that for luck---ANY of the other supps that I've been taking I am able to take with my meds without any real interactions...and, of course, those supps don't do much for me....but then I find ONE supp that REALLY does make a significant difference and I have this serotonin syndrome $%#@! to worry about...so I only got the trypto to experiment with a bit....when I got the trypto, I had been on the Lexapro for a little while BUT it had NOT kicked in for the full effect yet..I was NOT feeling too good at the time of my first trypto dose (depressed, physical nervous anxiety)....I was NOT feeling very good....I took 1 dose, about a scoop (about 1,200 mg) of the trypto that Larry had a link for (the "SeaBiscuit" brand, lol)....not long at all after I took that 1st dose (on an empty stomach with some orange juice), I really did feel a very nice anti-dep effect (my mood was LIFTED) and I felt much less nervous...it was VERY noticeable and significant....I think many times on these boards you get folks having placebo effects or folks "stretching" things (i.e., I took some Vitamin C last night and today I can see so much better or I noticed that when I take additional calcium that I feel totally confident but if I skip a dose I become agoraphobic again and can't leave the house...lol)....or many folks will only have very mild problems and when they say that a certain supp totally wiped out their symptoms, well, there wasn't much to 'wipe out' to begin with (and the supp may not even had ANYTHING to do with it being 'wiped out', more psychological)....anyway, I sure as H#ll wasn't expecting the trypto to have the significant effect that it did and I certainly wasn't thinking that 1 lousy dose was going to do much of anything...so I didn't want to become too excited...I asked myself if I was pulling a 'placebo' effect on myself---but the difference in the 'before and after' was just TOO significant (started to feel a GOOD bit better after 2-3 hours...I thought THAT was 'impossible')...I had to see if this was reproducable...I waited a while, perhaps a week or so, making sure that I once again felt depressed and felt the physical nervousness return..in other words, I waited to let the same symptoms return again...another dose...again the same positive, NOTICEABLE effects....I remember thinking, "I DON'T believe this!"....I did the SAME thing again and again (spaced out)with the same results....my other supps have pretty much been a BUST...sure, they may be doing very good things inside my body but I really don't FEEL too much of a positive, noticeable difference (I do like magnesium glycinate and fish oil...but NOTHING, H#ll ALL of my supps COMBINED haven't come close to what I can FEEL that the trypto does....but, again, I CAN'T take the trypto daily...and I certainly do NOT have any idea if the trypto would CONTINUE to give me these positive effects LONG TERM...or that the trypto would be enough ON IT's OWN....so I'm really not overly excited...yes, I can't believe it had such a strong, positive effect but it's not like I'm ready to stop my AD and totally replace it with trypto...maybe I could, maybe I couldn't (I'm not ready to try THAT).
How much do you take?
>>>>> I've ONLY done it in this 'experimental' type way...NOT on any regular basis.
You take it on an empty stomach, correct?
>>>>>>>>>> Yep, usually with orange juice ( but the trypto does NOT mix well AT ALL! You may want to stir it in some applesauce instead???
Does one dose provide effectiveness for the entire day, or do you take multiple doses?
>>>>>>>>> Hard to answer this due to being on other meds also...1 dose seemed to make a difference for about 2, maybe 3 days (strong initial effect, gradually lessening may be the way to put it...would be much easier to answer that if not for other meds...but it was NOT some 2 or 3 hour short-lived effect for me...1 dose lasted a good while...but I just don't know, if I were med-free, if the dose would perform similarly or not.
What time of day do you take the dose(s)?
>>>>>>> Again, only in this experimental type way...not very often....I believe each time was either the evening or night.
I ask these questions because it has been on my list for a couple months to try it.
I would have tried it already if I could run down to the local nutritional store and buy it off the shelf, but I haven't got around to ordering it online. I need to do so. I plan to conduct a trial of tryptophan (probably 500 mg - 1000 mg/day) by itself taken on an empty stomach.>>>>>>>>>> I tried taking only about 1/2 a scoop (about 600mg's or so) and it still had a very nice effect.
I also plan to conduct a trial of tryptophan and tyrosine.
>>>>>>>>>> Yeah, I've read about taking both....but I only did the trypto.
Thank you for posting your results.
>>>>>>>No problem Ron....I'm sorry that I can't give really great, exact answers....what I can say, without a doubt, is that the trypto, in these few, repeated trials, DEFINITELY made a STRONG, NOTICEABLE and SIGNIFICANT difference in my symptoms....that is FOR SURE....and I really was NOT expecting that to happen, NOT to that degree and certainly not after single doses.....of course, what DOES remain in question is would it do it long term for me or would it lose its ability? could it provide ENOUGH of an AD effect and anti-anxiety on its own, without other meds? many other questions I can ponder also. It also seemed D@mned good at knocking out the agitated bipolar-type agitation for me....but because of that F$%#@!$ serotonin syndrome crap, I really can't utilize it too much...I HAVE meds which do what I need...whether or not I EVER see if trypto can replace them remains to be seen....take care!!!
Posted by McPac on December 14, 2003, at 21:50:56
In reply to Re: Tryptophan and Tyrosine Combination » recumbent, posted by Ron Hill on December 13, 2003, at 14:34:25
(Geez...being a one-finger typist REALLY sucks! I've really got to teach myself how to type correctly).......anyway, I just wanted you all to know that after ordering Hoover's "SeaBiscuit" brand of Equine Tryptophan that I have been eating between 60-75 apples per day and consuming over 35 pounds of oats a day too...furthermore, I can run the mile in just under 40 seconds!!!!!Later!!!!
Posted by Ron Hill on December 14, 2003, at 23:03:14
In reply to Re: Tryptophan and Tyrosine Combination » Ron Hill, posted by Francesco on December 14, 2003, at 5:32:09
Francesco,
> Supposing one wants to try both which is the suggested schedule ?
It is my understanding that tryptophan and tyrosine use the same amino acid transporter to get ferried across the blood brain barrier. If that's the case, then it seems logical to me that the most optimal dosing schedule would be to take the tryptophan and tyrosine separately and on an empty stomach. However, others on this board (Larry Hoover, for example) know much more about these kinds of things than I do, so you might ask others.
-- Ron
Posted by Ron Hill on December 14, 2003, at 23:22:08
In reply to Ron, Re: All Hail The Incomparable Tryptophan!!!!!, posted by McPac on December 14, 2003, at 21:42:40
Posted by tealady on December 14, 2003, at 23:48:51
In reply to One other thing to add guys and gals!, posted by McPac on December 14, 2003, at 21:50:56
That much? Whoa boy
You must be at least 17 hands
Posted by McPac on December 15, 2003, at 17:28:06
In reply to Great news, mac! (nm) » McPac, posted by Larry Hoover on December 13, 2003, at 8:56:15
Lar,
quick question. We've talked about how tryptophan + an ssri (and lithium) increases the risk of serotonin syndrome (which is why I DON'T take the tryptophan regularly).
BUT...does 5htp carry the SAME risk of serotonin syndrome when combined with an ssri and lithium as the tryptophan does?
Or does 5htp possibly carry a LOWER risk (or none at all?)? I don't know if I would respond as well to 5htp as I do trypto...but IF I did, could I possibly SAFELY use 5htp with my ssri & lithium? Or would the risk be the same? Thanks!!!
Posted by DSCH on December 15, 2003, at 21:48:48
In reply to Larry Hoover, Re: Great news, mac!, posted by McPac on December 15, 2003, at 17:28:06
McPac, definately a yes there. Think about it, the difference between tryptophan and 5-HTP is that 5-HTP comes between tryptophan and serotonin in the body's synthesis route.
Posted by McPac on December 15, 2003, at 22:12:35
In reply to 5-HTP + SRI and serotonin syndrome » McPac, posted by DSCH on December 15, 2003, at 21:48:48
I just want to be clear---you're saying that 5htp WOULD carry the same serotonin syndrome risk, right?
Yeah....I figured it most likely would (for the reason you mentioned, i.e. trypto>5htp>serotonin..just wanted to make SURE....I was hoping maybe there would be some kind of physiological "quirk" or something that might (for some odd reason) make it NOT so.
Thanks!
Posted by DSCH on December 15, 2003, at 22:24:31
In reply to DSCH, Re: 5-HTP + SRI and serotonin syndrome, posted by McPac on December 15, 2003, at 22:12:35
Posted by Larry Hoover on December 16, 2003, at 9:35:51
In reply to DSCH, Re: 5-HTP + SRI and serotonin syndrome, posted by McPac on December 15, 2003, at 22:12:35
> I just want to be clear---you're saying that 5htp WOULD carry the same serotonin syndrome risk, right?
> Yeah....I figured it most likely would (for the reason you mentioned, i.e. trypto>5htp>serotonin..just wanted to make SURE....I was hoping maybe there would be some kind of physiological "quirk" or something that might (for some odd reason) make it NOT so.
> Thanks!As always, though, one critical factor is dose. The risk increases with dose.
Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on December 16, 2003, at 9:42:03
In reply to Larry Hoover, Re: Great news, mac!, posted by McPac on December 15, 2003, at 17:28:06
> Lar,
> quick question. We've talked about how tryptophan + an ssri (and lithium) increases the risk of serotonin syndrome (which is why I DON'T take the tryptophan regularly).
> BUT...does 5htp carry the SAME risk of serotonin syndrome when combined with an ssri and lithium as the tryptophan does?
> Or does 5htp possibly carry a LOWER risk (or none at all?)? I don't know if I would respond as well to 5htp as I do trypto...but IF I did, could I possibly SAFELY use 5htp with my ssri & lithium? Or would the risk be the same? Thanks!!!I can't tell you that X dose of 5-HTP would be safe, or not. I can't tell you if 5-HTP would give you a similar effect. Taken with an SSRI, both tryptophan and 5-HTP carry some risk of serotonin syndrome.....but, used as you're using it, the tryptophan should be entirely safe. In fact, I think taking the tryprophan intermittently may be a good way to take it, for some people. Your body can't adapt to the increased intake of tryptophan if you have periods where you're back at baseline intake levels. Your body gets all ready to adapt, and then decides it doesn't need to adapt....over and over again. So, you get the enhancement, without risk of developing anything like tolerance. Just my philosophy....but who knows.
Lar
Posted by McPac on December 16, 2003, at 17:07:51
In reply to Re: Larry Hoover, Re: Great news, mac! » McPac, posted by Larry Hoover on December 16, 2003, at 9:42:03
Posted by McPac on December 16, 2003, at 19:50:30
In reply to Re: Larry Hoover, Re: Great news, mac! » McPac, posted by Larry Hoover on December 16, 2003, at 9:42:03
"Your body gets all ready to adapt, and then decides it doesn't need to adapt....over and over again. So, you get the enhancement, without risk of developing anything like tolerance. Just my philosophy....but who knows".
>>>>>> Makes sense Lar....the only problem is that I don't really even NEED the trypto now, since my Lexapro has kicked in and, for the most part, does the job. Plus, the big thing for me would be to see if I could ever totally replace the Lexapro with the trypto, and that would require taking the trypto daily I'm sure.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Alternative | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.