5-HTP

[katrine]

Hi.

Have just read an Observer Woman article about depression. The writer seemed to get better through nutritional therapy and taking an amino acid called 5HTP. Have any of you heard of it or tried it. Is it worth a go?

Thanks, Katrine

[cheshire]

Hi Katrine

Welcome to the Forum. I wasn't sure if it was ok to reply in your diary or not? But did want to say hello and welcome.

I don't know much about 5HTP I'm afraid, but one of our other moderators might be able to help.

Love HopefulXX

[yoyo]

Not heard of this. Worth some research if it helps I guess. Interesting.

[yoyo]

Hi by the way Katrine - good to have you with us. I hope you find the support & encouragement you need here x

[angel]

Hi Katrine

I wanted to say i big WELCOME to the site and hopefully we can be of some help to you.

I'm afraid that i have also never heard of 5-HTP but i am aware that there are various things out there that are meant to help with depression and my thought on these are that it doesn't hurt to try new things as you never know they might help.

Anyway i will see if i can find out any other information on the 5-HTP.

Take Care

Angel

[yoyo]

Interesting thread - seems to think this herb may help depresion. www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/psychology/health_psychology/5htp_myth.htm

How it works & warnings
depression.about.com/cs/altmed5htp/f/5htp.htm

[hotpink]

Hello - I'm Clare and I just joined yesterday.

I read the same article and ran out to buy some 5-HTP the next day! (I'll try anything if it helps!) I have been taking it since then but I can't say I notice any difference, although it's only been a short while)

For the record - have had PND for 3 yrs, came off citalopram in Jan/Feb this year, feel sh*t again. (Also have underactive thyroid) If anything I feel worse since taking the 5-HTP but that may also be coincidental. I've just read on this site that wheat allergy may cause depression too - I stopped eating wheat in January but just fell off the wheat wagon about the same time as started taking the 5-HTP. All in all feel absolutely crap but will grasp at any straws. I've also taken Agnus Castus and St John's Wort but to no avail....

Anyone got any feedback on stuff that works?

Yours in desperation.....

[shirleyanne]

hi katrine
I've heard of 5-htp yes its an amino acid and can be found in health food shops. It with a combination of 2 grams of omega 3 capsules, 800ug of folic acid, exercise and eating fish 3 times a week and counselling is supposed to and does increase the serotonin levels in the brain which if they are low is what can make us depressed along with other factors. Anti-depressants work on the same area thus increasing the serotonin levels in the brain giving you the feel good/better factor over a longer period of time approx 6 weeks with an increasing amount of side effects, but the combination as before mentioned works quicker and can in a matter of 3-4weeks. I only know of research done by a professor in london whom has carried out many trials using placebo's, anti-depressants and the combination above, with the combination proving it works faster, its natural remedies, no side effects, and people don't become reliant on an artificially made tablet to make them feel better. Its well known by mental health nurses and doctors that it can work for patients and its also proved that people taking combination above are less likely to commit suicide ( i know it sounds harsh but its fact) than almost half on anti-depressants who've either had the urge/thoughts or have actually attempted it. I'm on all but the 5-htp and have been for approx 5 wks now along with 2 wkly hourly sessions from my CPN and talking to my Hv who also suffered and so did my cpn all to different degrees, and have found i improved slowly but feel strong enough to start tackling the day to day issues that i didn't and was to frightened to do before, I also feel the FUZZY HEAD feels like a thing of the past, bad thoughts, not answering the door or the phone the list is endless,i still have bad days but not like before, for me it works, for others they may still need an anti-depressand but i didn't want to go down that road because i am still breastfeeding.

[Shirleyanne]

Hi Claire I've just read your note, you sound like your going through absolute hell and it'll be affecting every part of your life. I hope you don't mind if I ask you a few questions? How long have you been on citalopram/ antidepressants? What kind of help have you had or have at the moment?Why did you stop taking wheat? Did your GP or like tell you you had a wheat allergy? If not then why don't you visit your GP and ask for his advice,( I could go through all the symptoms but we'd be here for a while) you could also ask to see a nutritionist or Dietician you need to sort out your diet and establish whether there is a problem there or not and hopefully give you some advice on that if you've not had it already? Sometimes what we eat can affect our mood. If you've stopped taking your anti-depressants was it a joint decision between you and your GP? If it was was the dose decreased slowly over a period of time approx 6 weeks or more? Do you feel they werent doing you any good? It takes a while for tablets to completly leave your body and if you've suddenly stopped taking them its like going from a high level to a very low level in a very quick period, that will make you feel like crap. Sometimes reading articles is good and informative but without the full information can leave us feeling a bit bewildered like why did it work for them and not for me. Have you had anyone to talk to about how you are feeling? Why don't you keep a diary? Sometimes writing things down help me it lets me get it ALL OUT, even if its a temporary release. If you want try the combination of 5-htp, omega 3 capsules 2grams a day, 800ug of folic acid, eat some form of fish approx 3 times a week if you can, and most importantly talk to your GP. I hope this helps

[Veritee]

Hi Shirley Anne

I just noticed your post here from yesterday as a name I had not seen in the other sections - I nearly missed it .

Have you posted yet in the other sections yet - or only here?

Are you new to the forum as I have not seen you name before, but I have not been able to come on much this week myself.

However I wanted to welcome you to the forum and hope that it will be of assistance and a support to you

Have you looked at the other sections of the forum - the main support happens in the main section here: veritee.proboards7.com/index.cgi?board=general

and most people start by introducing themselves here : veritee.proboards7.com/index.cgi?board=intro

In one of your posts above you suggested a diary can be helpful. We think this too and we have an online diary section where PNI sufferers can record how they feel from day to day and maybe find out what helps and what their triggers are and get feedback on what they say.

You are welcome to start an on line diary with us if you are a member. see here: veritee.proboards7.com/index.cgi?board=Journal

However many people chose mostly just to read the posts and this is fine too.

I hope to hear from you again

All the best Veritee

PS I will look up this 5-HTP and perhaps add it to the alternative medication/remedy list is those who use it feel it is worth a try - let me know?

[hotpink]

Hi ShirleyAnne

Thanks for your post. I'd been on ADs since October 2003, up to 40mg at one stage, then gradually down to 10 then gradually off them in Feb 2006, under supervision of GP. I came off them because I'd been feeling good for a good few months. Haven't had any help until going back to GP last week, who's now referred me to community psychiatric team for cognitive behavioural therapy (but will take up to 6 weeks to see anyone!!) I just gave up wheat in January trying to improve my diet. I'm addicted to bread and eat too much (weight wise) and once gave it up on a detox diet and felt a lot better for it, so I thought I'd try it again. I did feel better physically for it, less stomach cramps, etc. I only just read about its links to depression on this board last week, I had no idea before then.

I did feel loads better on the ADs. I have been such a long term sufferer that I have had all the advice from CPN and GP etc. I do keep a diary, do regular exercise etc. I've just got gradually worse since coming off the ADs, and - I don't know, GPs just seem so desperate to get you off the pills and reluctant to re-prescribe them. I know I should stick up for myself more but it's hard when you're 'in the fog'.

Back to the supplements - do you reckon you need to take them in combination for them to work?