5-HTP anyone??

[senorsalvia]

AS JRL has been delving into the realms of ST. Johns lately, and others have spoken of melatonin; I was wondering what You 'Tha Peeps think about the viability of a 5-HTP regimen???    A cursory look through Google seems to look fairly promising.........  Searchin the Serotonin Sanctuary  :wink: ---------  sal

[winder]

I use 5-HTP with melatonin to assist with sleep, not for mood elevation directly.

I cannot say that it would or would not help with mood elevation though.  Restedness and mood seem very related.

[JRL]

I added 5-HTP to my St John's. Early impression is that it evens out the St. Johns a lot. Prolly can cut back the dose of the wort a bit, and I sure slept well last night.

[Stonehenge]

I've used it off and on for a number of years. It seemed to have an effect at first and then I couldn't say for sure. Even after I stopped using it I couldn't say for sure if it was making a difference or not. It's also hard to find in bulk, I've never found any bulk or cheap 5htp.

Phenibut has a tranquilizing effect but it can be habit forming. It's best for just now and then.

[Avery L. Breath]

I here it has the potential to be used in the treatment of obsessive compulsive dissorders........ as opposed to stuff like SSRI's

Quote:
What causes Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

There is no single, proven cause of OCD.

Research suggests that OCD involves problems in communication between the front part of the brain (the orbital cortex) and deeper structures (the basal ganglia).

These brain structures use the chemical messenger serotonin. It is believed that insufficient levels of serotonin are prominently involved in OCD. Drugs that increase the brain concentration of serotonin often help improve OCD symptoms.

Pictures of the brain at work also show that the brain circuits involved in OCD return toward normal in those who improve after taking a serotonin medication or receiving cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy.

Although it seems clear that reduced levels of serotonin play a role in OCD, there is no laboratory test for OCD. Rather, the diagnosis is made based on an assessment of the person's symptoms. When OCD starts suddenly in childhood in association with strep throat, an autoimmune mechanism may be involved, and treatment with an antibiotic may prove helpful.

...... rest of page here, http://www.ocfoundation.org/ocf1010a.htm

[visionarybear]

rhumatic fever is also sometimes caused by strep throat, prophalactic treatment with antibiotics, penecillins usually, to stop further infection and auto immune damage...

[Green2Herman]

I here it has the potential to be used in the treatment of obsessive compulsive dissorders........ as opposed to stuff like SSRI's

Quote:
What causes Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

There is no single, proven cause of OCD.

Research suggests that OCD involves problems in communication between the front part of the brain (the orbital cortex) and deeper structures (the basal ganglia).

These brain structures use the chemical messenger serotonin. It is believed that insufficient levels of serotonin are prominently involved in OCD. Drugs that increase the brain concentration of serotonin often help improve OCD symptoms.

Pictures of the brain at work also show that the brain circuits involved in OCD return toward normal in those who improve after taking a serotonin medication or receiving cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy.

Although it seems clear that reduced levels of serotonin play a role in OCD, there is no laboratory test for OCD. Rather, the diagnosis is made based on an assessment of the person's symptoms. When OCD starts suddenly in childhood in association with strep throat, an autoimmune mechanism may be involved, and treatment with an antibiotic may prove helpful.

...... rest of page here, http://www.ocfoundation.org/ocf1010a.htm

I feel a bit sceptical. If an increase in serotonin by it self help SSRI wouldnt be so much better as medication against OCD compared to a lot of "traditional" AD medication.

SSRI doesnt as we have learn the resent year increase serotonin levels looking at the mean value.

Another theory which makes more sence is that if we view serotonin levels as a function OCD, GAD and a lot of other problems lies in a problem in the delta of this function.

[Cassie]

My doctor sells me this 'Sero-tonic' which contains :
Vitamin B3 (nicotinamide)    35mg
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)        20mg
L-Tryptophan                      25mg
L-Phenylalanine                   50mg
5-HTP                                 25mg
Recommended Dosage:
1-2 capsules twice daily for 5 days or as otherwise directed. Maintain a dose of 1-2 capsules daily in the long term if required.
Do not take with meals containing protein.

 It works for me!  I was using 5htp by itself but this mix is better.  Serotonin levels drop as we age and also drop in times of stress and illness.

[Green2Herman]

My doctor sells me this 'Sero-tonic' which contains :
Vitamin B3 (nicotinamide)    35mg
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)        20mg
L-Tryptophan                      25mg
L-Phenylalanine                   50mg
5-HTP                                 25mg
Recommended Dosage:
1-2 capsules twice daily for 5 days or as otherwise directed. Maintain a dose of 1-2 capsules daily in the long term if required.
Do not take with meals containing protein.

 It works for me!  I was using 5htp by itself but this mix is better.  Serotonin levels drop as we age and also drop in times of stress and illness.

Add some vitamin C to the cocktail. Used together with B6 to transform the aminoacids.

[shaminatrix]

For depression 5-htp combines nicely with GABA and SAMe. First try GABA and if not enough effect add the SAMe. If you're not feeling your 5-htp, most likely you're taking too low a dose. Have someone muscle test for dosage or double up the caps until you feel better. A daily dose of 150mg is not unheard of...most caps come in 50mg dose, so you get the picture....There is no RDA for 5-htp. L tryptophane is great for sleep, but expensive and hard to find.
If you need something to improve "quality" of sleep try "An Shen Bu Xin Wan" (chinese patent medicine, very cheap) @ your local health food store or online. This remedy is excellent for light sleepers and those who just can't stay asleep rather than those with a problem falling asleep. The reason I mention this is that this remedy won't interfere with taking 5-htp, and can also be taken on it's own with good effect. 8 tea pills (they're tiny) 3x a day...but I only use it twice a day (more than enough). Do not mix with anti-histamines unless you want you're heart to race...

[Stonehenge]

Thanks for the tips, shaminatrix. I take gaba for it's calming qualities. It can help you get to sleep too so I take it late in the day. The best thing I found for depression is salvia divinorum. You have to be careful with the dosage but it works like a miracle. Another good mood tonic is st john's wort. That can give you energy, get up and go. It also lifts the mood but I prefer salvia.

[Dozuki]

In regards to 5-HTP, I don't think that it passes the Blood Brian Barrier. If there are any effects from taking it would most likley be from the body creating a different compound with it (ie modifying it). Tryptophan does not pass the Blood Brain Barrier, however the body uses this as a building block to create among other things, tryptamine which will have an effect on you.

-D.

[shaminatrix]

Great article about the benefits on Theanine for relaxation, mood elevation, and relief of PMS. I often recommend Theanine as a help for mild OCD and ADD ADHD...although that isn't mentioned here...
here's an excerpt:


L-Theanine: How a Unique Anxiety Reducer and Mood Enhancer Increases Alpha Waves and Alertness
by Carolyn Perrini, CLS, CNC
Hundreds of studies exist showing the many health benefits of green tea. But what makes it the most consumed beverage in the world after water is its pleasant taste and relaxation effect. Both of these qualitiesâ€"and moreâ€"can be traced to a unique, neurologically-active amino acid in tea called L-theanine (gamma-ethylamino-L-glutamic acid)....

the link:http://brain.web-us.com/l-theanine_anxiety_reducer.htm

[eShirl]

I take 1/4 teaspoon 5-htp every night before bed to stay relatively normal, and if I stop taking it the world slowly but steadily becomes a dark and nasty place to be.  From my readings a few years ago I have a vague recollection that it does pass the blood/brain barrier, but I'm not 100% certain on that.

I buy it under the category of Bulk Wellness Powders from a place that mainly caters to bodybuilders, which can be found by searching google for "bulk nutrition."