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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by janejane on February 13, 2009, at 17:27:01
Hi all! Does anyone have an opinion about whether different formulations of 5-HTP may be better tolerated by people who are susceptible to gastric upset? The kind I have now is Natrol 5-HTP TR Time Release 100 mg tablets and they're giving me cramps and the runs. (I'm taking one per day, with food). Is it likely that an immediate release enteric coated product would be gentler than the 12-hour release? I was hoping that whatever makes the TR tablet dissolve slowly would also have a buffering effect, but maybe I'm just making things worse by letting it stay in my system longer. What do you think? The Natrol is the only type I have ever tried.
While shopping around iherb today I came across Carlson Labs 5-HTP Elite 50 g Tasty Tablets. They look like they can be taken sublingually (directions are "Take or dissolve one tablet in mouth 1 to 4 times daily"), which seems like a possible way to avoid my stomach upset, but I'm suspicious of the sorbitol and mannitol in them since sugar alcohols can give me gas. (Just what I need!) Can I try taking a non-enteric coated product sublingually, or does a tablet have to be specially formulated to work that way?
Posted by SLS on February 14, 2009, at 6:53:20
In reply to 5-HTP stomach woes - would changing types help?, posted by janejane on February 13, 2009, at 17:27:01
I really can't answer your questions because I never took a close look at taking 5-HTP.
How long after you take the 5-HTP do you feel discomfort? Maybe an instant-release formulation would treat you better.
One alternative is to take tryptophan on an empty stomach. It will cross the blood-brain barrier as long as it doesn't have to compete with other amino acids. There are plenty of studies demonstrating the effectiveness of plain-old trypophan, expecially when combined with medication. While it is true that 5-HTP is one step closer to being converted to serotonin and avoids the rate-limiting step, if you just can't get 5-HTP to work for you, I think the tryptophan would be an acceptable substitute.
- Scott
Posted by Netch on February 16, 2009, at 7:54:48
In reply to Re: 5-HTP stomach woes - would changing types help?, posted by SLS on February 14, 2009, at 6:53:20
A safer/better option would be tryptophan.
Posted by Sigismund on February 18, 2009, at 13:12:38
In reply to Re: 5-HTP stomach woes - would changing types help?, posted by Netch on February 16, 2009, at 7:54:48
I can't remember having any gut trouble from 5htp.
Posted by janejane on February 18, 2009, at 16:59:56
In reply to 5-HTP stomach woes - would changing types help?, posted by janejane on February 13, 2009, at 17:27:01
Thanks everyone for your input. The reason I decided to try 5-HTP before tryptophan was because I didn't want to take something that might make me sleepy during the day. (My understanding is that if you take it at night, it's more likely to convert into melatonin than serotonin, which is not really what I'm looking for.) I may yet try it, though. I'm still curious about sublingual 5-HTP, though I haven't found many references to it.
This is the end of the thread.
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