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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by KaraS on February 2, 2005, at 1:18:09
I was wondering if anyone here who has consistently taken a substantial dosage of either 5-htp or tryptophan, found that it gave them the same amotivation and apathy as the SSRI medications can. I'm thinking that if you're not getting a balancing dopaminergic effect, that these would probably cause the same type of lethargy. On the otherhand, their mode of action is different...
I'd be interested to know your experiences.
Thanks,
K
Posted by cherylann on February 2, 2005, at 16:19:58
In reply to 5htp or tryptophan cause SSRI type apathy?, posted by KaraS on February 2, 2005, at 1:18:09
I took 5htp for a few days. I didn't have a problem with amotivation, in fact quite the opposite. I was pretty motivated, but also slightly aggressive, which is NOT like me at all.
Just for info, I've taken effexor before and it did cause amotivation, so I know what that feels like.
best wishes,
cherylann
Posted by KaraS on February 2, 2005, at 17:47:33
In reply to Re: 5htp or tryptophan cause SSRI type apathy?, posted by cherylann on February 2, 2005, at 16:19:58
> I took 5htp for a few days. I didn't have a problem with amotivation, in fact quite the opposite. I was pretty motivated, but also slightly aggressive, which is NOT like me at all.
>
> Just for info, I've taken effexor before and it did cause amotivation, so I know what that feels like.
>
> best wishes,
> cherylann
That's so interesting. I wonder why that would be. Did you go off of the 5-htp because of the slight aggression? Have you ever been on any other SSRIs? If so, did they cause the amotivation or the motivation with aggression?Thanks,
Kara
Posted by cherylann on February 3, 2005, at 20:22:38
In reply to Re: 5htp or tryptophan cause SSRI type apathy? » cherylann, posted by KaraS on February 2, 2005, at 17:47:33
I was on prozac for about a year before it pooped out. I was slightly lazy, but not like effexor where I just wanted to sit and stare at the TV.
Yes, I did quit the 5htp because of the aggression. No one else I've talked to has had this problem so must've just been me.
cherylann
Posted by KaraS on February 4, 2005, at 14:35:36
In reply to Re: 5htp or tryptophan cause SSRI type apathy? » KaraS, posted by cherylann on February 3, 2005, at 20:22:38
Posted by jasmineneroli on February 11, 2005, at 0:17:29
In reply to Re: 5htp or tryptophan cause SSRI type apathy? » KaraS, posted by cherylann on February 3, 2005, at 20:22:38
Hi Kara:
Just noticed your post.
Yes, when I was up to 3.5 gr per day of tryptophan, I began to feel somewhat apathetic.
This seemed to happen just as the sleep benefit of that dose wore-off. So there may be a connection(????). After a while the great sleeps I got at the beginning, just stopped, and I reverted to my regular night time awakenings. Then I began to feel a general apathy, and lack of motivation.
After reducing the dose again (now on 1 gr. per day and maintaining that dose), I feel back to the pre-tryptophan state of mental energy, but am still not sleeping well.
I've been on SSRI's too, and the apathy feeling is similar.
I never once felt drowsy on any dose of tryptophan.
Regards,
Jas
Posted by KaraS on February 11, 2005, at 2:51:18
In reply to Re: 5htp or tryptophan cause SSRI type apathy?, posted by jasmineneroli on February 11, 2005, at 0:17:29
> Hi Kara:
> Just noticed your post.
> Yes, when I was up to 3.5 gr per day of tryptophan, I began to feel somewhat apathetic.
> This seemed to happen just as the sleep benefit of that dose wore-off. So there may be a connection(????). After a while the great sleeps I got at the beginning, just stopped, and I reverted to my regular night time awakenings. Then I began to feel a general apathy, and lack of motivation.
> After reducing the dose again (now on 1 gr. per day and maintaining that dose), I feel back to the pre-tryptophan state of mental energy, but am still not sleeping well.
> I've been on SSRI's too, and the apathy feeling is similar.
> I never once felt drowsy on any dose of tryptophan.
> Regards,
> Jas
Hi Jas,
Thanks for responding. That's intersting that you had the same apathy response to the tryptophan. I was hoping that wouldn't be the case but I guess it makes sense that you'd get that same result.If the tryptophan isn't helping with sleep, then why are you still taking a 1 gram maintenance dose? Does it help at all with mood and anxiety at that low dose?
K
P.S. Sorry you're still not sleeping well.
Posted by jasmineneroli on February 14, 2005, at 0:16:45
In reply to Re: 5htp or tryptophan cause SSRI type apathy? » jasmineneroli, posted by KaraS on February 11, 2005, at 2:51:18
Hi Kara:
I've been lowering and deleting quite a few of my supplements and noting how I'm responding, because I've been messing around with so much stuff, I feel a bit confused!! So, I am in the process now, of observing tryptophan effects. I *think* it is helping with my anxiety and mood, but I wanted to rule out other things first (like niacinimide - which I felt was NOT helping).
I have not been been very "scientific" in my use of supplements experiment!
I will go down to 500mg of trypt. in a few days, and note any changes.Thanks for the concern about my sleep. It's not as bad as it used to be about 5 yrs ago..mostly I think due to the fact that Klonopin has reduced my RLS...and that Estrace has got rid of night sweats!! It could be better though (hehe).
Jas
Posted by KaraS on February 15, 2005, at 15:09:02
In reply to Re: 5htp or tryptophan cause SSRI type apathy? » KaraS, posted by jasmineneroli on February 14, 2005, at 0:16:45
> Hi Kara:
> I've been lowering and deleting quite a few of my supplements and noting how I'm responding, because I've been messing around with so much stuff, I feel a bit confused!! So, I am in the process now, of observing tryptophan effects. I *think* it is helping with my anxiety and mood, but I wanted to rule out other things first (like niacinimide - which I felt was NOT helping).
> I have not been been very "scientific" in my use of supplements experiment!
> I will go down to 500mg of trypt. in a few days, and note any changes.
>
> Thanks for the concern about my sleep. It's not as bad as it used to be about 5 yrs ago..mostly I think due to the fact that Klonopin has reduced my RLS...and that Estrace has got rid of night sweats!! It could be better though (hehe).
> Jas
It's definitely hard to figure out what one supplement is doing when you're dealing with several of them at once. I hope that going down to 500 mg. of tryptophan helps you figure out how much it's helping. I've been considering trying it or 5-htp but everything I've read suggests that you take breaks from it and I really need to have something that I can take all of the time (or at least have a good back-up in place).k
This is the end of the thread.
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