Posted by JohnL on November 6, 1999, at 3:19:38
In reply to Phen/Fen -> Depression -> St. John's Wort -> Glauc, posted by Kay on November 6, 1999, at 1:19:57
Hi Kay. Since you are dealing with weight gain, depression, and a reluctance to take prescrip medications, you might consider 5HTP. It is the raw material converted directly by the body into real serotonin. It is known to relieve depression, relieve insomnia, and decrease appetite. In a book on 5HTP it is used for weight control with or without accompanying depression. I say from personal experience it does indeed cause decreased appetite and weight loss. Especially if the brand is non-enteric coated. Enteric coated capsules are absorbed in the intestines. Non-enteric capsules dissolve in the stomach and "can" cause enough transient nausea to really stifle appetite.
Concerning St Johnswort and glaucoma, I've never heard of that. I would think that risk has to be so small as to be irrelevent, especially at normal everyday doses. Even if I was predisposed to glaucoma, I wouldn't let such a rare risk as that get in the way of treating more serious problems. I just think any glaucoma risk has got to be miniscule. Or else we would have heard more about it.
The best natural remedy I know of for your symptoms is a combination of St Johnswort AND 5HTP. I tried that once and was truly amazed how good I felt. And no appetite. The 5HTP caused some sort of strange intolerable urine burning that caused me to quit. That was so rare and unusual I have yet to find anyone that's heard of it or could begin to explain it. Anyway, for you, 5HTP with or without St Johnswort sounds to me like a very good treatment to try. It would address every single concern you mentioned in your post.
poster:JohnL
thread:14655
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19991028/msgs/14657.html