has anyone heard of 5-HTP ?

[xkatyx]

I have been looking at way's to beat deppression i.e through diet etc, and each time 5-HTP keeps popping up. does anyone kniow anything about it?

[GetDownYouWillFall]

I think it's got something to do with serotonin. Not really sure. Have heard of it but never really looked into it.

Watching with interest.

[xkatyx]

I've read it is suppose to help with deppression and aniexty. everywhere i look it's mentioned be very keen to see if anyone has tried it and it worked?

[arcadia96]

I'm on the same track as you. Have just skim read this article www.smart-drugs.net/ias-tryptophan-article.htm which mentions it. It may help you. Let me know how you get on.

[topsi]

It is a precursor of seratonin the happy hormone.
You can treat depression naturally by taking these amino acids along with some vitamins with or without St Johns Wort.
A good book is 'The Way Up From Down' by Pricilla Slagle who explains it all.
I am following her basic program along with som SJW and feel better than ever with no real side effects.
Check the book, out alot of it is available free online.
I sleep better and my head feels clearer than it has for years and believe me I have tried alot of AD to compare this against.

[Lucyellensmumma]

and the good thing is 5-HTP is present in chocolate

St Johns's wort is meant to be very effective, however, do be aware that you absolutely must not take this if you are on certain ADs such as prozac and citalopram.

Best of luck with it

[xkatyx]

That sounds good, i like the idea of chocolate :-)

[MegSophandEmma]

I tried it for a few weeks, bought from Holland and Barrett. It made me feel awful. Really spacy. So now I'm back on Citalopram.

[xkatyx]

i'm on citalopra.m . i personally think it's some kind of miracle drug lol BUT would love if there was something else i could do to help myself get off the tabs and still feel good

x

[cheerfulvicky]

I know someone who has tried it and found it helped somewhat. The stronger strength the better, apparently. But this info was via her mum who has helped and supported her a lot in not wanting to take prescription AD's, so I don't know how reliable it is.

[Lucyellensmumma]

i would check with your GP regards the 5'HTP if you are on citalopram as citalopram affects seretonin uptake in the brain, and 5'HTP is a seretonin pre-cursor. Also, do NOT take St Johns wort, that is a definate no no.

you have to just take a bit of care what homeopathic drugs you take when on prescription medication.

[topsi]

Yes don't take anything if you are currently on AD but if you are not then there is alot you can do to help yourself

[xkatyx]

Well i was kinda looking for an alternative to AD's as me and DH are hoping to TTC soon.
But i dont think it is safe in pregnancy either.

[Lucyellensmumma]

SJW is a no no in pregnancy.

Are the issues that made you need to go onto ADs still there? How long have you been on them? What dose are you on at present?

Nosey aren't i? I ask becuase i have been on them for two years now and am struggling to come off them. I still have stress factors in my life and its not working for me - my doctor assures me they are safe, however i am not having any more children - no no no no

I would be very dubious about taking "natural" remedies whilst trying to concieve - they have not be tested as thoroughly as actual pharmaceuticals. SSRI's like citalopram have a defined mode of action - i think the use of 5'-HTP is a bit hand wavy, yes its a pre-cursor or building block of seratonin, but whether or not it would be transported to the brain i don't know. Also, the problems that anxious and depressed people have is that the brain doesn't produce enough seratonin when its needed. SSRIs help the brain to utilise the seratonin it produces and stimulate more natural producion. Im not convinced about these "building block" supplements, but that is just a personal opinion.

Ideally i want off the meds to, but these things have to be done slowly - have you spoken to your doctor about TTC - there are drugs that are safER to use but i wouldnt want to be using ADs whilst pregnant.

Good luck with the TTC xx

[mii]

I have been treating my anxiety/OCD with high dose inositol (a B vitamin)

I will track down the research that I read, but in a double-blind trial taking either placebo or inositol, after 4 weeks the patients using inositol were showing vast improvements over those taking placebo for a range of problems depression/panic disorder/OCD

This has been replicated a number of times in other trials.

It was actually my GP who told me about it in the first place.

[topsi]

Depression is not always caused by not producing enought neurotransmitters but can be a utilisation problem or that the body has too much mono amine oxidase which breaks the neurotransmitters down too quickely.
There have been a few documented cases of women taking SJW through pregnancy safely, though of course no one can advise you on that.
The vitamin supplements can be taken safely through pregnancy but probably not the amino acids.
Some AD are safe at low doses through pregnancy but your GP should be able to advise on that

[strawberry17]

Another thought, I'm sure I read somewhere that SJW must not be taken if you are on the contraceptive pill, it makes the pill less effective.
If you are interested in the 5HTP I have an unopened bottle of it from Holland and Barratt, still well in date, which I'm never likely to use as I'm withdrawing from prozac, if you would like it I'm happy to send it to you, hate seeing things go to waste. e mail me if interested [email protected]

[arcadia96]

Have just bought some 5HTP to try but have read that in high doses (more than 100mg) it is likely to give you stomach problems (nausea etc.). Apparently the 'pure' form of Tryptophan doesn't cause such problems but I haven't been able to find it to buy. Do you buy yours online, topsi?

[topsi]

It's wierd I thought you couldn't get tryptophan in the UK any more but have recently found some from Revital - you can buy it online.

Take the tryptophan at night before bed, it will help you sleep but at high doses can make you a bit drowsy and queezy in the morning. I take 220mg which is a low dose, but take it along side my SJW last thing at night and sleep better now than I have for years.

I take Tyrosine during the day which helps produce noradrenaline, which is the neurotransmitter that gives you your 'get up and go'.

If you take 5HPT or Tryptophan during the day it can make you very tired.

Have had to come off my contraceptive pill as it won't work with the SJW.

Mii very interesting about the B vitamins, deficiency is common in depression, do you take vit C as well?? Also another important vit if you are depressed

[xkatyx]

Lucyellensmumma no your not being nosey at all .. i'm the same i like to know, just so i can understand deppression a bit more, and also i dont know anyone else that has been on AD'S.

I am on citroplam (spelling?) 20mg have been sonce nov 09, i was suffering from terrible panic attacks mind deppression, terrible anxiousness and a moajour worrier!!

It kind of started when i had my daughter 4 years ago , but after 6 months went!!
Last year sadly my dad died he was only 55, and i watch him get sicker sicker and sicker and eventually die in intensive care, from then on i saw life very precious and vunrable so any illness i imediatley assumed something bad would happen.

And no all my issues have gone sice being on the tabs , infact i feel great, i admit during my period time i get slight anxious but really nothing i cant handle. i just worry if i get pregnant i may go loopy or something? sounds silly doesnt it, but it's my big fear (along with the health of the child)

[foxinsocks]

I remember 5htp from moons ago. It used to be touted as some diet thing from memory. Was all over the shops at that stage (maybe 15 years ago?)

[topsi]

interesting article arcadia, seems like Tryptophan will be better tolerated by the intestine than 5HTP.
Also the bit at the end saying that Tryptophan and SJW ca work well if taken together.
Also about SJW being both an SSRI and MAOI. It certainly seems to me to be both a powerful yet gentle AD. Recent trials have proved it to be effective in more serious cases of depression as well.

[Lucyellensmumma]

blimey xkatyx, you sound like you could be me - It really all started for me when i lost my dad. My dad was 73 and i felt cheated, you must be devestated It was health anxiety that crippled me so i can fully empathise with how you must have been feeling.

Maybe if your anxiety is now linked to your cycle, it might be worth taking evening primrose - ive not taken it but I have a friend who has been on and off ADs all her life and she has kept off them for two years due to evening primrose.

Have you had any counselling for the health anxiety? Could you ask your doctor about CBT? I am really really pleased you are feeling so much better now - and its very exciting for you TTC xx

[xkatyx]

Thank you lucyellensmumma i am book in for CBT for tuesday im very excited because i really hope it sort's me out!

I feel so cheated as he wasn't suppose to die, he had an operation for lung cancer but the operation killed him and he was on all sorts of nasty machines and i still see it when i try to sleep. not to mention how many people you see die because we were there for 4 weeks so sad. I'm sorry you had to go through loosing your dad too, it's never fair no matter what age, every gorl needs there dad.

Oh i shall def try evening primrose, only prob i have when i take a multi vitamin it gives me heart palpatations, i have no idea why i had to stop my pregnacare.

I am so excited about TTC but the whole "will i cope with pregnancy hormones" is holding me back

x

[Lucyellensmumma]

you really are me aren't you - multi vits gave me palpitations - how odd. Palpitations are a symptom of anxiety. My dad died from lung cancer too

The preg hormones im sure will be kind to you - i felt pretty sick and horrible when i was pregnant but emotionally glowing

[xkatyx]

Oh my god ha ha how strange your my twin lol
I hope they will be kind to me, but i bet they dont lol ill just by your exsperience we are both similar lol.

im sure if im on medication i wont go loopy? surely??