I emailed someone on AFCA who shall remain nameless about this on Tuesday, but thus far no reply. Does anyone know anything about 5htp? Despite the email I use, (though no longer on Usenet), I've had very little experience with it until last week when I decided to start taking it regularly. Right now I'm on Zoloft and Wellbutrin, so I have to be sure to take small spaced-out doses of 5htp. I'm well aware of serotonin syndrome, but I've been taking kaapi over the years, so I know my limit. But I already like 5htp better than Zoloft! And it's much more convenient and cheaper than kaapi, and almost as good. Zoloft can work very well, but it's not totally free of side effects. Besides, it can work *too* well, if that makes sense. So, thinking about going to 50 mg from 100 mg of Zoloft a day and compensating with increased 5htp if necessary. Not prepared to do it yet, but thinking about it. What do you know about 5htp? Some people have said it's just placebo, but I can't believe that. If it is, then I really must be susceptible to suggestion! I thik my mother could benefit from 5htp as well. She lives down in Louisiana. She's in her early sixties, by her own admission isn't sleeping well, and is having less and less trouble controlling her weight. These are *exactly* the things caused by low serotonin, exactly the things helped by raiding serotonin. I minored in psychology in college and have studied biopsychology. I like to think I know at least a little about it. I really wish I knew the best way to convince her to try 5htp. Anyway, what do you know about it? What's the mainstream medical opinion, if that can even be trusted.

"Jake Blues" <jake_blues@bellsouth.net> wrote in message news:ACIgh.112$h_1.13@bignews6.bellsouth.net... > I emailed someone on AFCA who shall remain nameless about this on > Tuesday, but thus far no reply. > Does anyone know anything about 5htp? Despite the email I use, (though no > longer on Usenet), I've had very little experience with it until last week > when I decided > to start taking it regularly. Right now I'm on Zoloft and Wellbutrin, so I > have to be sure to take small spaced-out doses of 5htp. I'm well aware of > serotonin > syndrome, but I've been taking kaapi over the years, so I know my limit. But > I already like 5htp better than Zoloft! And it's much more convenient and > cheaper than kaapi, and almost as good. Zoloft can work very well, but it's > not totally free of side effects. Besides, it can work *too* well, if that > makes sense. So, thinking about going to 50 mg from 100 mg of Zoloft a day > and compensating with increased 5htp if necessary. Not prepared to do it > yet, > but thinking about it. What do you know about 5htp? Some people have said > it's just placebo, but I can't believe that. If it is, then I really must be > susceptible to suggestion! I thik my mother could benefit from 5htp as well. > She lives down in Louisiana. She's in her early sixties, by her own > admission > isn't sleeping well, and is having less and less trouble controlling her > weight. These are *exactly* the things caused by low serotonin, exactly the > things > helped by raiding serotonin. I minored in psychology in college and have > studied biopsychology. I like to think I know at least a little about it. I > really > wish I knew the best way to convince her to try 5htp. > > Anyway, what do you know about it? What's the mainstream medical opinion, if > that can even be trusted. > > What is 5-HTP? 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) is a compound produced in the body from the amino acid tryptophan. It is a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin and the hormone melatonin. 5-HTP supplements have become popular because it is thought that providing the body with 5-HTP in pill form can boost the body's serotonin levels, similar to the antidepressants that are thought to increase the amount of serotonin available to the brain. Sources of 5-HTP 5-HTP is manufactured from the seeds of an African plant, Griffonia simplicifolia. It is found in health food stores, online, and at some drug stores. Why Do People Take 5-HTP? * Depression * Anxiety * Insomnia * Fibromyalgia * Migraine * Weight Loss 5-HTP is most commonly used for depression. Because it is thought to work like serotonin antidepressants, 5-HTP has also been used for other conditions for which these antidepressants are prescribed, such as anxiety, insomnia, fibromyalgia, and migraine. What is the Evidence for 5-HTP? * Depression Several small clinical trials have found that 5-HTP is as effective as antidepressants. For example, in a six week clinical trial, 63 people were given either 5-HTP (100 mg three times a day) or an antidepressant (fluvoxamine, 50 mg three times a day). The 5-HTP was found to be as effective as the antidepressant, with fewer side effects. However, a 2002 systematic review of studies published between 1966 to 2000 found that only one out of 108 studies met the quality standards. The small study that did meet the quality criteria found that 5-HTP worked better than placebo at alleviating depression. * Migraine Some research indicates that 5-HTP may prevent migraines and reduce the frequency and severity of migraines, however large randomized controlled trials are needed. In one study, 124 people were given 5-HTP (600 mg/day) or the drug methysergide. After 6 months, 5-HTP was found to be as effective as methysergide in reducing the severity and duration of migraines. Another study looked at 5-HTP or the drug propranolol for 4 months. Both treatments resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the frequency of migraines. However, the propranolol group fared better, with a reduction in the duration of episodes and the number of analgesics used for the treatment of episodes. * Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by fatigue, widespread pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons, and multiple tender points. A double-blind, placebo controlled study looked at 5-HTP or placebo in 50 people with fibromyalgia. After four weeks, there was improvement in pain, stiffness, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep. Side effects were mild and transient. * Insomnia Serotonin is converted into melatonin, a hormone need to regulate sleep-wake cycles. Because 5-HTP is thought to increase serotonin levels, it may increase melatonin and help normalize sleep patterns. Safety Concerns Potential side effects of 5-HTP include nausea, dizziness, and diarrhea. Rarely, allergic reaction to the supplement may occur. The safety of 5-HTP in pregnant or nursing women and people with liver or kidney disease has not been established. Children with Down's syndrome should not take 5-HTP. Peak X In 1998, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported having detected a chemical compound known as "peak x" in some 5-HTP products. Peak x had been previously associated with the supplement tryptophan, which is made into 5-HTP in the body. Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome Tryptophan was taken off the market when thousands of people developed a severe blood disorder called Eosinophilia - Myalgia Syndrome (EMS). The cause was later traced to a contaminant found only in batches of tryptophan manufactured by one Japanese company, Showa Denko. Showa Denko, the source of up to 60% of all the tryptophan sold in the United States, had used an untested manufacturing process that reduced the amount of activated charcoal used to filter fermented raw tryptophan. Some reports suggest that purity may be a potential problem for 5-HTP as well. No cases of EMS resulting from 5-HTP use have been reported, however.

I emailed someone on AFCA who shall remain nameless about this on Tuesday, but thus far no reply. Does anyone know anything about 5htp? Despite the email I use, (though no longer on Usenet), I've had very little experience with it until last week when I decided to start taking it regularly. Right now I'm on Zoloft and Wellbutrin, so I have to be sure to take small spaced-out doses of 5htp. I'm well aware of serotonin syndrome, but I've been taking kaapi over the years, so I know my limit. But I already like 5htp better than Zoloft! And it's much more convenient and cheaper than kaapi, and almost as good. Zoloft can work very well, but it's not totally free of side effects. Besides, it can work *too* well, if that makes sense. So, thinking about going to 50 mg from 100 mg of Zoloft a day and compensating with increased 5htp if necessary. Not prepared to do it yet, but thinking about it. What do you know about 5htp? Some people have said it's just placebo, but I can't believe that. If it is, then I really must be susceptible to suggestion! I thik my mother could benefit from 5htp as well. She lives down in Louisiana. She's in her early sixties, by her own admission isn't sleeping well, and is having less and less trouble controlling her weight. These are *exactly* the things caused by low serotonin, exactly the things helped by raiding serotonin. I minored in psychology in college and have studied biopsychology. I like to think I know at least a little about it. I really wish I knew the best way to convince her to try 5htp. Anyway, what do you know about it? What's the mainstream medical opinion, if that can even be trusted.

"Jake Blues" <jake_blues@bellsouth.net> wrote in message news:ACIgh.112$h_1.13@bignews6.bellsouth.net... > I emailed someone on AFCA who shall remain nameless about this on > Tuesday, but thus far no reply. > Does anyone know anything about 5htp? Despite the email I use, (though no > longer on Usenet), I've had very little experience with it until last week > when I decided > to start taking it regularly. Right now I'm on Zoloft and Wellbutrin, so I > have to be sure to take small spaced-out doses of 5htp. I'm well aware of > serotonin > syndrome, but I've been taking kaapi over the years, so I know my limit. But > I already like 5htp better than Zoloft! And it's much more convenient and > cheaper than kaapi, and almost as good. Zoloft can work very well, but it's > not totally free of side effects. Besides, it can work *too* well, if that > makes sense. So, thinking about going to 50 mg from 100 mg of Zoloft a day > and compensating with increased 5htp if necessary. Not prepared to do it > yet, > but thinking about it. What do you know about 5htp? Some people have said > it's just placebo, but I can't believe that. If it is, then I really must be > susceptible to suggestion! I thik my mother could benefit from 5htp as well. > She lives down in Louisiana. She's in her early sixties, by her own > admission > isn't sleeping well, and is having less and less trouble controlling her > weight. These are *exactly* the things caused by low serotonin, exactly the > things > helped by raiding serotonin. I minored in psychology in college and have > studied biopsychology. I like to think I know at least a little about it. I > really > wish I knew the best way to convince her to try 5htp. > > Anyway, what do you know about it? What's the mainstream medical opinion, if > that can even be trusted. > > What is 5-HTP? 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) is a compound produced in the body from the amino acid tryptophan. It is a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin and the hormone melatonin. 5-HTP supplements have become popular because it is thought that providing the body with 5-HTP in pill form can boost the body's serotonin levels, similar to the antidepressants that are thought to increase the amount of serotonin available to the brain. Sources of 5-HTP 5-HTP is manufactured from the seeds of an African plant, Griffonia simplicifolia. It is found in health food stores, online, and at some drug stores. Why Do People Take 5-HTP? * Depression * Anxiety * Insomnia * Fibromyalgia * Migraine * Weight Loss 5-HTP is most commonly used for depression. Because it is thought to work like serotonin antidepressants, 5-HTP has also been used for other conditions for which these antidepressants are prescribed, such as anxiety, insomnia, fibromyalgia, and migraine. What is the Evidence for 5-HTP? * Depression Several small clinical trials have found that 5-HTP is as effective as antidepressants. For example, in a six week clinical trial, 63 people were given either 5-HTP (100 mg three times a day) or an antidepressant (fluvoxamine, 50 mg three times a day). The 5-HTP was found to be as effective as the antidepressant, with fewer side effects. However, a 2002 systematic review of studies published between 1966 to 2000 found that only one out of 108 studies met the quality standards. The small study that did meet the quality criteria found that 5-HTP worked better than placebo at alleviating depression. * Migraine Some research indicates that 5-HTP may prevent migraines and reduce the frequency and severity of migraines, however large randomized controlled trials are needed. In one study, 124 people were given 5-HTP (600 mg/day) or the drug methysergide. After 6 months, 5-HTP was found to be as effective as methysergide in reducing the severity and duration of migraines. Another study looked at 5-HTP or the drug propranolol for 4 months. Both treatments resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the frequency of migraines. However, the propranolol group fared better, with a reduction in the duration of episodes and the number of analgesics used for the treatment of episodes. * Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by fatigue, widespread pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons, and multiple tender points. A double-blind, placebo controlled study looked at 5-HTP or placebo in 50 people with fibromyalgia. After four weeks, there was improvement in pain, stiffness, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep. Side effects were mild and transient. * Insomnia Serotonin is converted into melatonin, a hormone need to regulate sleep-wake cycles. Because 5-HTP is thought to increase serotonin levels, it may increase melatonin and help normalize sleep patterns. Safety Concerns Potential side effects of 5-HTP include nausea, dizziness, and diarrhea. Rarely, allergic reaction to the supplement may occur. The safety of 5-HTP in pregnant or nursing women and people with liver or kidney disease has not been established. Children with Down's syndrome should not take 5-HTP. Peak X In 1998, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported having detected a chemical compound known as "peak x" in some 5-HTP products. Peak x had been previously associated with the supplement tryptophan, which is made into 5-HTP in the body. Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome Tryptophan was taken off the market when thousands of people developed a severe blood disorder called Eosinophilia - Myalgia Syndrome (EMS). The cause was later traced to a contaminant found only in batches of tryptophan manufactured by one Japanese company, Showa Denko. Showa Denko, the source of up to 60% of all the tryptophan sold in the United States, had used an untested manufacturing process that reduced the amount of activated charcoal used to filter fermented raw tryptophan. Some reports suggest that purity may be a potential problem for 5-HTP as well. No cases of EMS resulting from 5-HTP use have been reported, however.