posted
I was all delighted to begin 5HTP and then an RN friend of mine said it's got its drawbacks.
I've tried researching it and found a few warnings, but gee... I feel really good and it's allowing me to sleep!!
I am getting off of Trazodone and wasn't sleeping all that great. With the 5HTP, I sleep well and wake up feeling fine.
What do you guys know about it??
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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jamescase20
Unregistered
posted
5-HTP IS trazadone, but without a drug company. Serious, they copied 5-htp.
I read this in a anti depressant book, written by an MD. He should know. St Johns wort was also copied to become prozac. Interestingly, both prozac and st johns where suggested to be a very weak mao inhib. And prozacs long half life suggests that.
Trazadone usually causes clogged nose. 5htp dont.
There has been rumors that 5-htp may contain some impurities. Also, someone on here, told me to take 5-htp powered (from a cap) and put under tounge, rather then swallowing it, leave it soak in for 15 mins, and spit it out. workd for me!!!
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I have taken 5htp for years with no side effect.I have a great book on 5htp and it has way less side effects than antidepressants.By the way you shouldnt take 5 htp if you are on an antidepressant.I have tried a few brands and the best by far has been douglass labs.What i take now more than 5htp is theanine.Theanine does the same as 5htp for me and is cheaper and doesnt effect your stomache at all.they both really calm my mind down and help me sleep.
Posts: 308 | From new bedford,Ma. | Registered: Dec 2004
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posted
One more thing,you can get 5htp and theanine together in a product called somnolin(over the counter).It worked great for me but a little pricey.The theanin is much cheaper and it is pretty much what a use now.I believe it is theanine by Sunthenine(company name),180 capsules for 40 bucks or so.
Posts: 308 | From new bedford,Ma. | Registered: Dec 2004
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posted
Thanks, Joe! I've heard a few good things about theanine.
I'll check it out.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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5-HTP is a form of an amino acid, tryptophan.
I think 5-HTP or ANY form of tryptophan should be regarded VERY cautiously for those at this site. Now, some may take it and do fine and have nice effects.
In that case, great - as it can have some very helpful properties if it can be properly metabolized. If not . . . and if anyone takes it and feels like they were doubly run-over by a truck, the information below may be of help.
If this is going on, such a reaction might be a clue - and a hint to discontinue. Patients with CFS/Lyme/Cpn / chronic hepatitis can have secondary porphyria - a matter of a dangerous level of excess porphyrins due to the stress on the liver - overwhelming detox pathways, especially that of the Cytochrome P-450 pathway.
Not everyone will have the same liver issue and some may have better liver detox function.
As those with chronic hepatitis can have have a chronic porphyria, it may also be that other chronic infections can result in the same. The Cpn (Chlamydia Pneumonia) protocols all address chronic or secondary porphyria during the protocols to minimize dangers from excess porphryin damage.
I deal with two kinds of chronic porphyria - and always wondered why supplements of 5-HTP or L-tryptophan really knocked me out.
Science 2 December 1983:_Vol. 222. no. 4627, pp. 1031-1033 DOI: 10.1126/science.6648517
Science, Vol 222, Issue 4627, 1031-1033 Copyright � 1983 by American Association for the Advancement of Science
L-tryptophan: a common denominator of biochemical and neurological events of acute hepatic porphyria?
DA Litman and MA Correia
Excerpt:
These findings suggest that increased tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptamine [serotonin - see Wikipedia definiton below] in the nervous system may be responsible for the neurologic dysfunctions observed in humans with acute attacks of hepatic porphyria.
Biochem Pharmacol. 2008 Feb 1;75(3):704-12. Epub 2007 Oct 2.
Hepatic alteration of tryptophan metabolism in an acute porphyria model Its relation with gluconeogenic blockage.
Lelli SM, Mazzetti MB, San Mart�n de Viale LC.
Laboratorio de Disturbios Metab�licos por Xenobi�ticos, Salud Humana y Medio Ambiente (DIMXSA), Departamento de Qu�mica Biol�gica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Aut�noma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Excerpt:
This study focuses on the alterations suffered by the serotoninergic and kinurenergic routes of tryptophan (TRP) metabolism in liver, and their relation with gluconeogenic phosphoenolpyruvate-carboxykinase (PEPCK) blockage in experimental acute porphyria.
==================================
J Assoc Physicians India. 2002 Mar;50:443-5.
Respiratory failure in acute intermittent porphyria.
Tyagi A, Chawla R, Sethi AK, Bhattacharya A. Department of Anaesthesiology, UCMS and GTB Hospital, Shahdara, Delhi.
We report two patients of acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) who presented with acute respiratory failure. Only one such previous report could be found. Occasionally, neuropathy may be the presenting feature in AIP which may progress to respiratory embarrassment.
The cause of this neuropathy has been hypothesized to be direct neurotoxicity of delta-ALA by interaction with GABA receptor, altered tryptophan metabolism and may be heme depletion in nerve cells.
5-Hydroxytryptophan or 5-HTP is a naturally-occurring amino acid, a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin and an intermediate in tryptophan metabolism. . . .
5-Hydroxytryptophan is decarboxylated to serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) by the enzyme aromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylase with the help of Vitamin B6.[1]
This reaction occurs both in nervous tissue and in the liver.[2] 5-HTP crosses the blood-brain barrier, while 5-HT does not. . . .
The psychoactive action of 5-HTP is thought to derive from its effect on serotonin synthesis in central nervous system tissue. It is believed that an artificially high supply of 5-HTP causes the brain's serotonin-producing neurons to increase production.
Increased serotonin production then leads to increased serotonin release. . . .
Risks and side effects:
5-HTP raises blood serotonin levels, and because of the risks associated with elevated levels it should only be taken under the advice of a medical professional (See Chronic diseases resulting from serotonin 5-HT2B overstimulation).
For instance, elevated blood serotonin levels are associated with cardiac valve failure and acute or chronic pulmonary hypertension.
. . . 5-HTP, which is found in minute amounts in certain foods like turkey and cheese, is often sold as an over-the-counter therapeutic supplement. In this case, it is usually sourced from the seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia.
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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thinking about this again, I just wanted to be clear that IF someone feels totally fine with it, that's great.
you did say: "With the 5HTP, I sleep well and wake up feeling fine."
You might enjoy seeing the articles at www.vrp.com has a library with several articles on both 5-HTP and tryptophan (and L-tryptophan) and benefits. Generally, VPR uses a good number of medical sources and they give citations so you know where they got there information.
About 20 years ago, as someone above mentioned, there was a problem with a contaminated batch. Overreaction causes too much of a stir for the product itself.
The abstracts above are for those who don't process it well but keep trying it anyway because it's supposed to be so good. I was of those - until I realized my body just couldn't process it and I could not interpret my reactions.
kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
I took 5HTP when I was working and had trouble sleeping. I also was taking other supplements from a naturalist??
I know that is not the correct title, but can't recall her title right now.
This was before I came down with lyme.
Then, after lyme I went years without sleep.
Figured not getting sleep was worse than taking something for it.
Recall 5HTP helped me in the past. Went to local health food store and purchased a bottle.
It did not help.
Started on the generic for restoril...I think. I don't want to get up and look at the bottle right now...too exhausted.
That worked for a short while and then started not having sleep again.
So contacted my old resource and had her send out the 5HTP that she sold me years ago.
It works along with the generic sleeping meds.
haven't quite figured out how much to take. I think I am averaging one pill in the evening and then one at bedtime when I take the generic sleeping meds.
Asked local health food stores if they had access to the brand she is sending me. They did not.
Thankful she is sending it to me. I know it is extra work for her.
I also had an NP tell me not to take the 5HTP. She did not know what it was at first. So looked it up and then told me not to take it.
This was while I was still working but was having strange health issues.
She was not able to help me with those strange health issues but was able to tell me what she thought I should not be doing so did not listen to her.
Tried the other sleeping meds taht were mentioned here or antidepressant that is supposed to be the same as 5HTP.
But, they did nothing for me.
Sorry, low functioning this am. Hope this helps.
Bottom line...I think they are helping. Help is good. Sleep is good.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
I have tried 5htp two different times. I doesn't do anything for me. Have worked up to 300 mgs. (3 capsules). Currently tapering off it. I do everything very slowly.
However, trazadone did help me sleep for a few years. Wasn't working so well anymore, and I couldn't raise the dosage without getting rapid heartbeat, etc.
Just wanted to say in my experience, trazadone and 5htp did not affect me the same way.
Posts: 175 | From SW PA | Registered: Mar 2008
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jamescase20
Unregistered
posted
I have literally taken 3 or more anti depressants at the same time. In fact, often phycyatrists use multiple anti depressants at the SAME time. The certain danger is the seratonin "overdose", and its life threatening, but its VERY RARE. I mean extremely rare to occur. But it has happened. Again, doctors experienced with anti depressants often use more then one, even 2 of the same action.
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But 5HTP shouldn't be taken with SSRI's or MAO's. I can understand that.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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up as there is a post with a similar question for which this thread may be helpful. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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