Topic Title: 5-HTP and Effexor XR
| |  "5-HTP and Effexor XR"
, Thu 13 Jun 14:58
Does anyone know if it is safe to take 5-HTP (as a sleep aid) with an antidepressant drug (Effexor XR)? My doctor said it is okay, but I'm not sure if he knows what 5-HTP is. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks
HLS
Posts: 13 | | Registered: Tue 2 Apr 2002 11:9 |
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| | "Re(1):5-HTP and Effexor XR" , Mon 5 Aug 19:43
MJ is right about Serotonin syndrome, but I think Effexor is a lot weaker in its SSRI ability than Prozac, paxil, etc. if an MD says its OK, I would trust him or her. Yes they know what 5-HTP is.
Posts: 5 | | Registered: Tue 30 Jul 2002 19:23 |
| | | "Re(2):5-HTP and Effexor XR" , Wed 7 Aug 12:52
Hi Gray,
Thank you so much for your response. I really appreciate hearing from you.
Regards,
Helen
Posts: 24 | | Registered: Tue 2 Apr 2002 11:9 |
| | "Re(1):5-HTP and Effexor XR" , Fri 14 Jun 03:26
http://www.smart-publications.com/books/5htp/chap-05.htm
Serotonin syndrome is a potentially serious disorder caused by the availability of too much serotonin in the body.54, 55 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: 357 | | Registered: Wed 20 Jun 2001 6:19 |
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