advice re. SERATONIN supplements needed!

[SugarSkyHigh]

i stopped antidepressants and now take st johns wort instead - all going very well so far....(have been on AD's for over 7 years as well)

i do get these awful cravings for chocolate, could it be the seratonin that was in the antidepressants that needs to be replaced, because seratonin is in chocolate? it's all very well coming off AD's but if it makes you want choc, i'm just going to get fatter and fatter...

any ideas / advice? I saw some seratonin supplements on the web and I'M THinking of getting some....

and if i get fat, i'm going to be as depressed as i was this time last year (well, maybe not)

Hi SugarSkyHigh

I've been on paroxetine for years too. Had to come off them 2 years ago because of an other illness, and I lasted 4 months. I was so pleased because I'd tried to wean myself off a number of times, but couldn't make that last step to stop totally. Coming off cold turkey wasn't as bad as I'd expected, and I can't say I had any cravings like yours.

However, I did get very depressed again and eventually went back to my GP, who decided that I must be one of those people who will always need seratonin in drug form.

If you aren't depressed, you're doing very well. Don't worry about the choccy cravings....you can easily get over that. It's nothing major. You're doing so well! Supplements may help, but won't you miss them when you come off them too?

Keep on as you are and have some sweet fruit instead of chocolate. The less choc you eat, the less you crave it!

Nannypep - the last time i visited my GP for AD repeat prescription, after some discussion he said perhaps i would be one of those people who would just be on them very long term, even for life. I had sort of accepted that, when one day i realised i hadn't taken them for ages and when i did take them, they were making me feel nauseous, just like when i initially started them.

well my GP was pleased that i have stopped taking the AD (sertraline in my case)but has said they are always there if i feel i need them again.... so i'm not totally out of the woods but perhaps no one ever is!

You're right - the more you eat choc the more you crave it & perhaps i'm overanalysing and blaming it on seratonin levels instead of admitting i'm a greedy pig when it comes to anything sweet! Although i do recall when i went on the AD's the first time, my cravings vanished.

Hi, how are the sugar cravings ?

I am in the same boat - having come off citalopram.

My appetite is odd at the moment. I usually eat very weel, but the last 5-6 mths I just want to eat chocolate.

Have just completed some research & it seems chromium is the way ahead. You need to take 600 mcg a day. SO take 2 x 200mcg at breakfast & 1 x 200mcg at lunchtime. Don't take any later because apparently it can cause sleepless.

I am requesting some blood tests, because I believe the stress/adrenals have drained me nurtitionally & I may need some supplements.

I've also been reading about 5 htp which I can't take because I am still bf.

Have a look at brainbiocentre.com

There are also links to NHS supported websites.

HTH