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Depression on 5-HTP?

R

Rcin

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Nov 8, 2004
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Seattle, WA
I just wanted to know if anyone had any theories about why this may be happening.

I am a fairly depressive person with diagnosed Manic Depression in the family. I recently wen't off most drugs (save the occasional cigarette and cup of coffee) and instead opted for supplements as my new mood boosters. Well here is the list of stuff I take:

DLPA

B-Vitamins

Vitamin C

Multi-Vitamin

L-Glutamine

Omega-3 Fish Oils

5-HTP 8(

Everything was great until I started in on the 5-HTP, its so fucking weird. I get phenomenally depressed when I take the stuff. To a nearly suicidal state. I thought this out of everything I was taking was supposed to be the best mood booster. Its such a strange effect I'm getting from it, its the only pill I've ever taken that is a garaunteed downer :(

Does anyone have any idea as to why 5-HTP may be affecting me like this?

Also, I don't know if this would be helpful but I was put on Wellbutrin and felt very depressed and sucidal. Don't know if these things have any connection but I just wanted to mention everything.
 
DLPA wont do much. shift to just the levo isomer.

the timing of your 5-HTP dose could be the culprit, it should be taken in the evenings, ~2 hours before bed.

whats your 5-HTP dose?
 
5-htp also seems to be the only supplement in that group of supps that your taking that affects serotonin. Maybe your very sensitive to serotonic drugs, is this why SSRI's have not worked for you?
 
Actually I've never been on an SSRI, Wellbutrin affects dopamine mainly I believe. So maybe my experience with 5-htp is aw warning for me not to try an SSRI?
 
Possibly, but I'm definity no doctor, trying an SSRI for a bit couldn't hurt. (make sure you have a prescription)

It also may be due to the unpredictable nature of serotonin. There has yet to be evidence that boosting serotonin levels directly affects overall mood.

Also keep in mind that 5-htp is a precusor to serotonin production. Different SSRI's affects people in very different ways.

IF 5-htp is affecting you so negatively, why not simply stop taking it and continue with the daily supplements you take now? It seems to be working as of yet.
 
Wellbutrin's main metabolite is a NARI - it increases noradrenaline.

Wellbutin is a very weak DARI, and in 'normal' prescribed doses, it does not increase dopamine !

And wellbutrin blocks nicotine receptors.

Read this:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/par13.htm

If you REALLY want to get rid of your manic depression, then follow this diet:

www.13.waisays.com

It really works. The worst thing for bi=polar is gluten, and wheat is by far the worst, then barley and rye, then oats. And corn is bad for bi=polors. Stop eating these grains and you will loose most of your manic depression.

And dont eat l-glutamine which is very bad for manic depressives! Wheat is very high in l-glutamine !

If you need to eat grains, eat rice which is calming and sedating.

And caffiene and cigarretts are bad for bi-polars. If you really need caffiene, drink tea, not coffee.

You will feel flat for a few weeks until your brain normalises, then you will feel calm and relaxed and happy most of the time if you stick to this diet.

Its up to you.
 
Diets don't work.

As someone who has tried the diets, the herbal supplements, and the daughter of someone who refuses to return to "conventional" medicine... they don't work.

Some people get /more/ depressed when they have increased serotonin levels... which may be the problem with the 5-HTP.
 
Also, it is inadvisable for anyone, particularly someone who is bipolar, to take an anti-depressant without having adequate psychiatric care, because of the risk of triggering a manic episode.
 
Indeed. Still, don't completely rule out diets. I'm sure they work for some percentage of patients... albeit a pretty small one.
 
When I first took 5-HTP my head was a wreck. I was severely depressed due to binging on several things that tears would start flowing out of nowhere for no reason, a couple times a day. When I first started taking 5-HTP my depression seemed to worsen A LOT the first 3 days. I continued to take it for the rest of the week once before bed, due to all the good things I'd heard. After the first 3 days I started noticing definite mood lifts.
 
Maybe your body reacts differently to 5-htp and is counter productive to what you are trying to do, obviously everyone reacts differently to drugs.

I would suggest trying St. Johns Wort this is another reuptake inhibitor for serotonin. Its worth a try, because depression is hard to beat man good luck.
 
Oh, I think diets are a fantastic additive to conventional treatment. Also fantastic is a regular sleep/wake cycle.
 
have you tried SAMe in conjunction with vitamins B? I've tried this product and it seemed to help my depression. 5htp does not really help me, i don't notice a difference. I've taken SSRI and wellbutrin, both helped almost as much as SAMe. SAMe is a bit expensive but you do not need a prescription for it. give it a shot maybe
 
From what I've heard people with Manic Depression/Bi Polar Disorder shouldn't use SSRI's as they make them worse and since 5-HTP increases serotonin like SSRI's do I'd stop using them! :\
 
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