Topic Title: What is 5-HTP? - new to this forum & SJW
| |  "What is 5-HTP? - new to this forum & SJW"
, Thu 20 Jun 05:05
I am new to this site/forum. In the past under doctor's care was on Paxil and Xanax (09/2001-01/2002). Now no health insurance and no job and feeling down and out and high levels of anxiety at times. 3 days ago started taking SJW and KavaKava. Don't know if in my mind but it seems to be helping me already. Although my levels of anxiety and depression were stronger 2 weeks ago because of some events that took place back then. Meantime I don't know what 5HTP is and how it works compared to KavaKava. Just learning about the herbs compared to prescript meds.
Some advise would be appreciated.
Thanks
Mark
Posts: 1 | | Registered: Wed 19 Jun 2002 8:22 |
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| | "Re(1):What is 5-HTP? - new to this forum & SJ" , Tue 25 Jun 04:14
Hi Mark
DuPont has posted a number of times regarding 5-htp and kava - they're all under this particular forum and i found them helpful. I've also found this link which gives a concise overview (for me anyway) which you may want to look up.
http://www.raysahelian.com/5-htp.html
It's site run by some M.D. so there is a commercial objective involved...
I've been on 5-htp for 3 weeks now, after discontinuing Paxil, which was horrid. Am still experiencing high levels of anxiety but have started to notice that some days are not quite as bad as others. I hope that means it's starting to kick in. I'm not taking kava.
good luck
Matt (another one!)
Posts: 3 | | Registered: Tue 11 Jun 2002 7:43 |
| | | "Re(2):What is 5-HTP? - new to this forum & SJ" , Mon 1 Jul 01:43
Hiya matt,
Just a quicky. I used to take Paxil/Seroxat and I had a horrid time on it too. After withdrawal things were probably worse than they ever had been so, I started to take 5-HTP & L-Tyrosine. I just wanted to say, stick at it. I started off on a low dose and worked my way up. I initially took 5-HTP to help me with my sleeping but as the months went by I remember one day feeling "good". It did take a little while to get into my system and to do it's bit but I must say that I have been so impressed by it. It has made me feel so much better that any AD that I have ever taken. At first I couldn't believe it could be so simple and without any side effects (except a "little off tummy" that really didn't last very long at all) and that eventually it would stop working. But it hasn't. I do find that a higher dose for me is more effective ie. 300mg +.
I know we are all different and things react differently with each individual, but for me 5-HTP has been my life saver.
I must admit, I do notice that when I have been drinking, I feel that it does cancel the 5-HTP effects a little. Don't know if anyone else has experienced that so I do only have a tipple at the weekends. But it is really worth it!!!
Hope it gets better for you too.
Cheers
Nicky
Posts: 41 | | Registered: Thu 7 Feb 2002 5:45 |
| | "Re(1):What is 5-HTP? - new to this forum & SJ" , Thu 20 Jun 06:18
5-HTP is the precursor to serotonin. It is a metabolite of tryptophan, an amino-acid that we eat everyday. However, tryptophan is used by many other metabolic processes in the body and so is often "used up" before any is converted to HTP and so little passes through the blood-brain-barrier. Taking HTP directly bypasses the other metabolic pathways, and can go directly to the brain where it is converted to serotonin. Additionally, HTP doesn't induce the liver's tryptophan degrading enzymes, so is also beneficial for that reason. However, it has been known to cause GI upset in some. There is *heaps* more info on the web..........
Hope this helps
Matt
Posts: 1 | | Registered: Thu 20 Jun 2002 0:16 |
| | | "Re(2):What is 5-HTP? - new to this forum & SJ" , Sat 22 Jun 08:00
Matt
Thanks for the information.
So I guess I have to decide if I use KavaKava and take a chance with my Liver or use HTP and take a chance that it may upset my stomach. I do have a history of GERD (Acid Reflux) so I may react quickly to this.
I will do some more reseach on HTP on the internet.
Thanks again
Mark
Posts: 3 | | Registered: Wed 19 Jun 2002 8:22 |
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