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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Emme on January 16, 2004, at 9:40:29
Hi. I'm sorry to post incessantly on this topic. I started trying 50 mg 5HTP on Monday. Has anyone found that it actually increased depression??
I seem to have no motivation whatsoever. Any small task is herculean and I just want to curl up and sleep out of sadness and apathy. Getting nothing done isn't helping my mood.
Also I am freezing cold. I'm in the northeast, so we're chilly at the moment. I've got my thermostat set all the way to 66 (can't afford to set it much higher), and am wearing a down jacket inside. I've always been cold-blooded, but this is ridiculous. I'm starting to think that serotonin isn't the way for me to go, but maybe I just haven't been on it long enough?
Perhaps SJW might be a better option? This is a bipolar depression. I do have an MS in place.
An osteopath gave me a script for L-tryptophan, but I won't fill it until talking to my pdoc.
I MISS THE HOOVERMEISTER!!
Thanks.
Emme
Posted by clairey on January 16, 2004, at 13:40:54
In reply to I need more help with 5HTP, posted by Emme on January 16, 2004, at 9:40:29
> Hi. I'm sorry to post incessantly on this topic. I started trying 50 mg 5HTP on Monday. Has anyone found that it actually increased depression??
>
> I seem to have no motivation whatsoever. Any small task is herculean and I just want to curl up and sleep out of sadness and apathy. Getting nothing done isn't helping my mood.
>
> Also I am freezing cold. I'm in the northeast, so we're chilly at the moment. I've got my thermostat set all the way to 66 (can't afford to set it much higher), and am wearing a down jacket inside. I've always been cold-blooded, but this is ridiculous. I'm starting to think that serotonin isn't the way for me to go, but maybe I just haven't been on it long enough?
>
> Perhaps SJW might be a better option? This is a bipolar depression. I do have an MS in place.
>
> An osteopath gave me a script for L-tryptophan, but I won't fill it until talking to my pdoc.
>
> I MISS THE HOOVERMEISTER!!
>
> Thanks.
> Emme
>Alot of things increase depression and anxiety to start with! i tried inositol and man was i on edge when i first started to take it.
tryptophan can actually be better than 5htp many say, and it has less side effects which you may experience when you increase the dosage on 5htp.They are very much the same in their mechanism, i would go for the tryptophan (if you want to that is) :)
Posted by Simus on January 17, 2004, at 0:55:08
In reply to I need more help with 5HTP, posted by Emme on January 16, 2004, at 9:40:29
You're colder than usual? Have you had your thyroid checked?
Posted by Emme on January 17, 2004, at 17:22:48
In reply to Re: I need more help with 5HTP, posted by Simus on January 17, 2004, at 0:55:08
> You're colder than usual? Have you had your thyroid checked?
Oh yea. It's fine. Celexa made me cold as an ice cube. My pdoc says it's a side effect with some meds - and I recall reading that one of the serotonin receptors had to do with thermoregulation - but I can't recall any of the details of what I read. I was thinking that perhaps 5HTP or tryptophan might have the potential for doing that. But I haven't seen anyone else say anything about it. Of course I can't recall seeing much discussion about Celexa making people cold and the effect for me was absolutely unmistakable.
Posted by Emme on January 18, 2004, at 8:43:12
In reply to I need more help with 5HTP, posted by Emme on January 16, 2004, at 9:40:29
6 days on 5HTP and I'm much more stuporous and very despondent compared to before taking it. Not to mention freezing cold.
Posted by SLS on January 18, 2004, at 11:15:32
In reply to Re: I need more help with 5HTP » Emme, posted by clairey on January 16, 2004, at 13:40:54
Hi.
> i tried inositol and man was i on edge when i first started to take it.
How much inositol are you taking? What did you experience when you first started it? In what ways do you think it has helped?
Thanks.
- Scott
Posted by clairey on January 18, 2004, at 11:28:02
In reply to Re: I need more help with 5HTP » clairey, posted by SLS on January 18, 2004, at 11:15:32
> Hi.
>
> > i tried inositol and man was i on edge when i first started to take it.
>
> How much inositol are you taking? What did you experience when you first started it? In what ways do you think it has helped?
>
> Thanks.
>
>
> - ScottI only took it for 2 days! i know i should have stuck it out but i dont think i feel prepared to be on something long term! Think i will just take some kava kava every now and again.
It does increase anxiety to start with as the serotonin receptors are being desenstized, but within a week 2 max!! the extra anxiety would have gone. If you want to try it stick it out! and i have herd from so many people that its great for anxiety!! some take 700mg (small dose) and some use up to 12grams!! see what suits you best, only you will know that.
Posted by joebob on January 20, 2004, at 21:09:53
In reply to Re: I need more help with 5HTP » SLS, posted by clairey on January 18, 2004, at 11:28:02
Posted by joebob on January 20, 2004, at 21:11:57
In reply to I need more help with 5HTP, posted by Emme on January 16, 2004, at 9:40:29
Posted by Emme on January 21, 2004, at 17:57:56
In reply to take the real trypto......d.o.'s can be very hip (nm) » Emme, posted by joebob on January 20, 2004, at 21:11:57
Stopped it at exactly 1 week. Because my experience with 5HTP has been negative, my pdoc and I have decided not to pursue L-trypophan just yet.
Posted by john1022 on January 21, 2004, at 18:18:24
In reply to Re: take the real trypto......d.o.'s can be very h » joebob, posted by Emme on January 21, 2004, at 17:57:56
I had really good success with 5htp when I first started taking it for my condition. Then I seemed to develope some kind of sensitivity for 5htp along with the other meds I tried (elavil and effexor) and also fish oil, fish and multivitamins. I tried 5htp again a couple of nights ago and felt worse. I have no idea what is going on with me because I had such a good reaction to it the first time
Posted by LynneDa on January 22, 2004, at 11:53:13
In reply to Re: I need more help with 5HTP » Simus, posted by Emme on January 17, 2004, at 17:22:48
This is very sketchy, but I remember reading somewhere that taking tryptophan supplements will not help increase serotonin production because the tryptophan molecules are too big to go thru the brain barrier - it takes a long time for them to get their turn to get through at least. This article said that tryptophan from natural sources is better because of the way it is metabolized. I may not have my facts straight, so don't quote me, but look into it, anyone who wants to take a tryptophan supplement!
~ Lynne
Posted by jotho on January 23, 2004, at 15:47:59
In reply to Re: I need more help with 5HTP, posted by LynneDa on January 22, 2004, at 11:53:13
Folks....
do yourselves a favor and use the search engine that accompanies this site. There is much info to be obtained on tryptophan, but i can tell you that it competes heavily for access through the blood-brain barrier and is the last of 7-8 competing amino acids to gain entry, THEREFORE, it is best not to take tryptophan within 2-3 hours of ingesting any protein. BUT, tryptophan absorbtion will be enhanced if it accompanies carbohydrates (which help clear away any other amino acids present). ALSO, the tryptophan should be taken with B-vitamins (I believe it's B-6...this is why you should use the search engine...the much-more-complete info is all there.)
This will give the optimum environment for proper absorbtion of tryptophan.
Posted by LynneDa on January 23, 2004, at 15:51:15
In reply to Re: I need more help with 5HTP » LynneDa, posted by jotho on January 23, 2004, at 15:47:59
> Yes, Jotho, thanks! That was the info. I had read on trypto and it bears much more explaining as can be found by doing a search. It just seems a more complicated way to get what we need - unless everything else is either not working or giving off such unfavorable s/e's. Thanks and have a great weekend!
~ Lynne
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Folks....
> do yourselves a favor and use the search engine that accompanies this site. There is much info to be obtained on tryptophan, but i can tell you that it competes heavily for access through the blood-brain barrier and is the last of 7-8 competing amino acids to gain entry, THEREFORE, it is best not to take tryptophan within 2-3 hours of ingesting any protein. BUT, tryptophan absorbtion will be enhanced if it accompanies carbohydrates (which help clear away any other amino acids present). ALSO, the tryptophan should be taken with B-vitamins (I believe it's B-6...this is why you should use the search engine...the much-more-complete info is all there.)
> This will give the optimum environment for proper absorbtion of tryptophan.
This is the end of the thread.
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