Topic Title: CAUTION!
| |  "CAUTION!"
, Thu 3 Jan 17:12
I just bought my first bottle of 5-htp and on the back it says "Caution: Please consult a health professional if you are currently taking St. John's Wort."
Does anyone know why they've put that warning. I've read on this site that it's ok to mix the two....
I would appreciate any info or feedback regarding this....
My own thoughts on what this warning may meen is possible for really depressed people to get proffesional help or for dosage.
Hope to hear from someone soon.
Posts: 3 | | Registered: Fri 28 Dec 2001 4:40 |
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| |  "Re(1):CAUTION!"
, Thu 3 Jan 17:38
Because of serotonin overload/syndrome, to much serotonin in the brain. I haven't heard of anyone who actually has ever had serotonin syndrome, but it is better to be aware of the possibility that it can occur. Here is what my book says.
Serotonin syndrome is a potentially serious disorder caused by the availability of too much serotonin in the body. Symptoms include confusion, fever, shivering, sweating, diarrhea, muscular incoordination, exaggerated reflexes, and violent muscular contractions. Although serotonin syndrome has occasionally caused death, most people make a full recovery, once the causative agents are removed.
The drugs most commonly associated with serotonin syndrome are those that block the normal metabolism of serotonin -- the MAO inhibitors, the SSRIs, and the tricyclic antidepressants -- and thus increase its availability at certain serotonin receptors. Serotonin syndrome rarely if ever occurs when these drugs are taken by themselves. Rather, it is combinations, such as an SSRI plus an MAO inhibitor, or one of these drugs plus tryptophan, that most increases the risk of serotonin syndrome.
There have been no published reports of serotonin syndrome occurring in someone taking 5-HTP. Nevertheless, there is no reason to think that, given the right combination of drugs and doses, it could not occur. Common sense would dictate, therefore, that 5-HTP be combined with drugs known to affect serotonin metabolism only with the greatest of care and under the supervision of a knowledgeable physician.
MJ DuPont
http://events.diabetes.org/memberpages/peshka
Posts: 176 | | Registered: Wed 20 Jun 2001 6:19 |
| | | "Re(2):CAUTION!" , Tue 12 Feb 07:39
I am actually one of those people who have had serotonin symdrome. It happen last year when I combined Zoloft and SJW back to back. It was one of the worse experiences I've ever had--fever like symptoms, muscular aches, rigidity, incredible anxiety. Had I felt like this every day I would have check myself into a mental institution.
Part of these happened because I had been taking Zoloft for so long (over a year) that the serotinin had built up in my brain. I suggest anyone combining these two should be EXTREMELY careful. If any of these symptoms occur--particularly the anxiety--stop the two doses immediately. Serotonin Syndrome will make you feel more pain than you can imagine.
Incidentally, this has never happened when taking just Zoloft, which does the same as 5-HTP. Excessive serotonin usually converts itself to Melatonin (the sleep aid you can buy at stores) which puts you to sleep or makes you feel groggy if you take too much. All of you taking sjw should also know that it is NOT just an SRI (serotonin reuptake inhibitor). It also stimulates norepinephrine and dopamine (much like Wellbutrin), so combining 5-HTP and SJW (particularly in large doses) could make your symptoms far worse.
Posts: 1 | | Registered: Tue 12 Feb 2002 7:21 |
| | | "Re(2):CAUTION!" , Fri 4 Jan 00:45
Thank YOu for your imput. I'll keep it in mind. I did look up some articles on the net and they seem to be all for taking STJ and 5-htp together. I'll see how it goes.
Posts: 4 | | Registered: Fri 28 Dec 2001 4:40 |
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