Posted by JLx on November 15, 2003, at 6:00:18
In reply to Re: Dopamine/serotonin » JLx, posted by DSCH on November 13, 2003, at 10:53:47
>tryptophan will lose out unless there is a fair amount of blood insulin also present (carbs therefore indirectly boost tryptophan uptake).
I read Judith Wurtman's book, "The Serotonin Solution" about that, which is where I got the idea to eat potatoes to boost serotonin. She said that the carb to protein ratio should be 5:1. She also said that starchy-carbs and sugar would give this trypto-boosting effect but that fruit would not. I don't recall WHY not, though.
The problem for me is that I'm one of those who crave carbs more the more I eat them, so this is not a good general solution.
> > For limbic problems, to raise norepinephrine and dopamine: tyrosine, DLPA and SAM-e.> He recommends limbic problems be treated with SSRIs as well, so they can be serotonergic as well.
Yes, I noticed that too. They can't be very serotonergic though, or I think I'd be sleeping better, as I was before I started taking tyrosine.
> IIRC, the only DIRECT neurotransmitter boost from SAMe is epinepherine/adrenaline. But there are plenty of other indirect things going on I do not understand so well yet.
What I noticed about SAMe was the physical boost of energy it seemed to give me.
> You've already got the main idea: Reserve tyrosine for first-thing-in-the-morning. Gradually add on more 5-HTP until sleep improves. That's all I can suggest at this point.Weirdly enough, if I take 100 mg of 5-HTP instead of 50 at night, I feel worse in the morning (and haven't slept any better either). I ordered some tryptophan because it sounds like from my reading here and there that it is considered better for insomnia than 5-HTP. I'm hoping....
> If you are luckly, TMG will smooth things out and you might be able to drop precursor loading altogether. But that's only if your problem is elevated homocystiene/depressed SAMe.I suspect that it's more complicated than that, especially as I have hormone fluctuations into the mix as well.
> You can see why I am glad I can just take TMG and not have to worry about balancing these effects out over the course of the day.
Indeed.
Thanks for your help.
JL
poster:JLx
thread:272902
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20031104/msgs/279953.html