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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by michele b on March 21, 2000, at 19:27:43
does anyone know how i can obtain 5-htp in australia.
paxil makes me fat and asexual.
thanks a lot
Posted by johnC on March 21, 2000, at 20:02:22
In reply to 5htp availability in australia, posted by michele b on March 21, 2000, at 19:27:43
Sorry, I'm late getting in on this. I take Paxil.
What is 5 htp????
Posted by KarenB on March 22, 2000, at 11:41:14
In reply to Re: 5htp availability in australia, posted by johnC on March 21, 2000, at 20:02:22
Michele,
5HTP is available in almost all health food and vitamin stores.
Are you in Australia and having a hard time finding it? I know you can order it through Mothernature.com here in the US.
I'm curious: have you used it before and with good results? How much is suggested as a starting/max dosage? What are the symptoms you felt it helped with...or are you just trying this for the first time?
Karen
Posted by Linda on March 28, 2000, at 9:00:30
In reply to Re: 5htp availability in australia, posted by KarenB on March 22, 2000, at 11:41:14
> Michele,
>
> 5HTP is available in almost all health food and vitamin stores.
>
> Are you in Australia and having a hard time finding it? I know you can order it through Mothernature.com here in the US.
>
> I'm curious: have you used it before and with good results? How much is suggested as a starting/max dosage? What are the symptoms you felt it helped with...or are you just trying this for the first time?
>
> KarenHi
I've read that 5HTP increases the production of tryptophan which is the precursor to serotonin. It should help with sleep and depression, and there may be other uses. I have been thinking of trying it for sleep problems. I have tried several antidepressants to help with sleep, but I seem to be extremely sensitive to all of them and have had to discontinue them due to side effects. I am currently trying out Trazadone. Has anyone had experience with 5HTP?
Linda
Posted by JB on March 28, 2000, at 19:41:26
In reply to Re: 5HTP, posted by Linda on March 28, 2000, at 9:00:30
I'm taking Remeron, Wellbutrin, and Adderall.
I decided to try tyrosine, 1-2gm and 5-HTP, 50mg
twice a day. It's only been 3 days, so I don't
know if the effects will last, but I'm getting a
lot more done and feel more energetic. My
main point, though, is that I could not get
an erection, even with Viagra. If I skip the
5-HTP in the morning, and only take it after
sex, there is no problem. I take this as a
positive sign that the 5-HTP is being converted to
serotonin.
Posted by A. on March 28, 2000, at 21:09:54
In reply to Re: 5HTP, posted by Linda on March 28, 2000, at 9:00:30
> I've read that 5HTP increases the production of tryptophan which is the precursor to serotonin. It should help with sleep and depression, and there may be other uses. I have been thinking of trying it for sleep problems. I have tried several antidepressants to help with sleep, but I seem to be extremely sensitive to all of them and have had to discontinue them due to side effects. I am currently trying out Trazadone. Has anyone had experience with 5HTP?
>
> LindaActually, serotonin is 5-HT, which is made from 5-HTP itself. The 5-HTP route is an alternative to tryptophan, not the precursor to it. Vitamin B6 is a catalyst that helps convert 5-HTP to 5-HT. This is why taking 5-HTP is such a great antidepressant.
I have been through two bottles of 5-HTP. I find that 2 pills (50mg) per day works best, along with the B6 (whatever is the recommended dose for v-B6 per day). I feel sky high! Once, I was incredibly depressed -- just in a funk that I couldn't shake after a bad day. I willed myself to get up off the sofa and take some 5-HTP (I hadn't taken any in a week or two), and about two hours later, I was in a great mood! Not just normal, but great!
However, a warning - if you are taking an SSRI, you should NOT take 5-HTP! SSRI's slow down how fast serotonin is taken through the reuptakes and broken down, so creating too much serotonin in your brain that is unable to be broken down fast enough can lead to dangerously high levels of serotonin in the brain, and can cause Serotonin Syndrome, which can cause nausea, blackouts, dizziness, and may require hospitalization as it can result in death.
5-HTP is a good alternative to those that aren't on any AD. Taking too many pills of 5-HTP in the hopes of making you super happy tend to just produce excess anxiety and nausea (general anxiety disorder has been linked to too levels of serotonin in the brain).
But a regular dose of about 100-150mg to day (depending on the individual) along with v-B6, can really make you feel great. Unfortunately, it's expensive here - $27 per bottle of 30.
This is the end of the thread.
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