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Any danger by pre-loading with 5-HTP? (Serotonin Syndrome)

optimuswind

optimuswind

Bluelighter
Joined
Sep 12, 2012
Messages
131
Firstly I already take 150mg Venlafaxine (Effexor) daily in the morning for depression/social anxiety.

I have found that if I take a 100mg capsule of 5-HTP about an hour before hitting the bong I will get much higher than without. Is it possible I could overdo it and give myself Serotonin Syndrome doing this frequently? What if I upped the 5-HTP dose?

Is there a scientific / medical reason as to why 5-HTP seems to boost weeds effect on me, or is it just placebo? I can't believe it's placebo because.... well, you just *know* when it's such a big change, you know? It's like there is no doubt in my mind if you get what I mean. I was thinking maybe it was because of being in combination with the Effexor?

I also take the odd Diazepam/Alprazolam, do any of these things interact in a bad (or good) way with weed?

Thanks in advance if anyone has any answers.
 
Not at that dose, but I'd start lower with the 5-HTP.

Its not placebo.

You have a serious risk of getting addicted to benzos if you continue this behavior. And it aint pretty.
 
Ho-Chi-Minh said:
Not at that dose, but I'd start lower with the 5-HTP.

Its not placebo.

You have a serious risk of getting addicted to benzos if you continue this behavior. And it aint pretty.
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Oh I know all about how bad benzos are, I've already been addicted once and come off them, and now I started taking them again. Not for recreational purposes mind you, I have social phobia/anxiety and it's for that.

Are you saying I should take less 5-HTP then? I only have 100mg caps, so just open them up and dump half out perhaps?

Thanks
 
Yeah I think it's unlikely that 5-HTP and SRIs would cause serotonin syndrome. The medication acts to increase the amount of serotonin floating around in the synaptic cleft. 5-HTP is a precursor that your body uses to make more serotonin. If there's already more serotonin kicking about, I'd think your brain will be aware of this and produce less serotonin in response...

As to why 5-HTP boosts weeds effets I'm not entirely sure. Cannabinoid receptors in the brain perform a variety of functions and can make other cells fire or prevent them from firing. I'd imagine that increased levels of serotonin would therefore change the way cannabinoids change the way your brain fires.
 
optimuswind said:
Oh I know all about how bad benzos are, I've already been addicted once and come off them, and now I started taking them again. Not for recreational purposes mind you, I have social phobia/anxiety and it's for that.
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Doctors won't prescribe me any benzo's anymore. Apparently there's something in my medical records that make them feel like it's a bad idea. :(


Valium and Xanax synergize wonderfully with cannabis. Potential negatives of the experience include memory loss, complete lack of inhibition and, for most people, passing out for hours on end. It's weird, though, because I eat a bar and 15 minutes later I'm wired with energy and I'm cleaning everything in sight with bowls spaced between. I don't even feel drowsy until I'm at a ridiculous (read: dangerous) dose, and at that point it's a near instant blackout.

Side note: I'm nearly 6 months clean of benzo's! Not my choice but yeah, it feels kind of good.... not quite as good as a Xannie would right about now, though.=D
 
I live in the UK where benzos are basically considered evil by doctors. I get 20mg diazepam a day from my GP, that was after 5 years and multiple doctors trying to help with my anxiety. I have to buy extra (alprazolam) on the Silk Road because what little they do give me isn't enough.

But yeah, I'm the same with weed too, I start cleaning my room like crazy and get a bunch of chores done I have been putting off
 
Ooh, don't incriminate yourself like that my man. Edit that out.

Effexor is a very strong serotonin-acting drug, and you're taking a moderate dose. To be safe I'd go with 50mg 5-HTP then see how you feel.
 
I didn't think there were any rules about there here? (all that "SWIM" bullshit?) what would I need to worry about anyway? (genuinely asking not being sarcastic)
 
No its ok. I would be worried about serotonin syndrome. I can tell you the two have a cumulative effect. Generally its also not good to take two drugs which increase the levels of the same neurotransmitters at the same time, too.
 
Ho-Chi-Minh said:
No its ok. I would be worried about serotonin syndrome. I can tell you the two have a cumulative effect. Generally its also not good to take two drugs which increase the levels of the same neurotransmitters at the same time, too.
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Alright. So really don't take any 5-HTP at all while on the Venlafaxine? it does give me a bigger high when I smoke, but I'd rather not, you know, die, so I guess I'll stop..

How about L-Tyrosine? I was thinking of trying that just as an aid to the effexor (try help improve mood etc) but not sure how it would react with effexor and/or cannabis
 
I'm merely recommending titrating your dose up to stop yourself from possible negative effects. Ideally you'd take none, though, as your effexor is prescribed to treat your depression; at least tell your doctor. You won't die.

I'd really recommend asking your doctor for help with depression instead of trying to self-medicate with supplements.

As for interactions, its generally safe, just titrate up.
 
Well the doctors have been trying to help for 5+ years now and multiple different SSRI/SNRIs (no MAOIs cause asthma) and effexor seems to actually be working, I was just hoping to sort of give it a boost or something, and maybe get higher when I toke up along the way, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to give myself an aneurysm, had a scary episode a while back after bk-mdma abuse...
 
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