Topic Title: Still confused...
| |  "Still confused..."
, Mon 19 Aug 08:40:
I'm still confused as to whether I can take 5htp as well as SJW. I've been on SJW (3 x 300mg) for about 10 weeks, but I'm still getting anxiety attacks every morning, and really negative thoughts.
Can I take them both together, or do I need to stop/reduce the SJW? What sort of doses of each should I be looking at?
I'd be really grateful for any suggestions - I'm feeling a bit desperate at the moment, I don't want to go to prescriptions, so this is my last chance!
thanks for any replies,
juju
[this message was edited by juju on Tue 20 Aug 10:04]
Posts: 41 | | Registered: Fri 3 May 2002 3:4 |
| Replies:
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| |  "...and now even more so!"
, Tue 20 Aug 10:03
I decided to go and check out 5htp at my local health store anyway. The guy there gave me a bottle of something called 'Phosphatidylserine' by Solgar Products. He said that's what 5htp is, and it works on the brain and nerve function and is not suitable for use with SJW. It also retails at the staggeringly high price of £39.95 (about $60).
I said I was sure that wasn't what I was after but he assured me that this was indeed 5htp. Needless to say I didn't buy.
Has anyone else heard of this stuff, or been wealthy enough to try it?
Posts: 40 | | Registered: Fri 3 May 2002 3:4 |
| | | "Re(1):...and now even more so!" , Fri 23 Aug 18:38
Juju: You were correct in rejecting PS -- it ain't 5-HTP. There isn't much scientific support for PS in anti-depression/anxiety treatment, so it should go way down on anyone's list.
As for mixing SJW and 5-HTP: You need to be cautious here. While there isn't any known negative interaction between the two of them, there is the possibility of overstimulating serotinin production. The direct anti-depressant mechanism for SJW is not known, although an inhibition of serotonin re-uptake is one pathway suggested.
Michael Murray (a best-seller author on 5-HTP) says that the two can be mixed safely:
http://www.5htp.com/5-htp.htm#6
Do a bit of reading about "serotonin syndrome" so you know what to look out for. Perhaps reduce your SJW intake when you first introduce 5-HTP, then ramp up as needed.
Epyx
Posts: 319 | | Registered: Mon 3 Dec 2001 22:11 |
| | | "Re(2):...and now even more so!" , Sat 24 Aug 13:09
Thanks for your reply Epyx, and for that useful link.
I think I'll try reducing my SJW to 2 x 300mg for the next few days and then try 50mg 5htp at bedtime, to avoid sleepiness in the day. Does that sound OK to all the 5htp experts out there?
I've ordered some online, 'Serotone 5htp' from Higher Nature, if anyone has tried them.
I'm a little concerned that some people have reported increased anxiety at first with 5htp. I suffer from terrible anxiety first thing in the morning, in fact it wakes me up in the early hours, but I was hoping that the 5htp taken at bedtime would sort that out after the initial 'settling down' period.
I'd really appreciate hearing anyone else's experience of trying 5htp with SJW, in particular what sort of doses people have tried.
Thanks,
juju
Posts: 41 | | Registered: Fri 3 May 2002 3:4 |
| | | "Re(3):...and now even more so!" , Tue 3 Sep 13:33
I've been taking 100mg 5-HTP and 900 mg (3 capsules) SJW for about 3 wks. and so far am pleased with the results. Not perfect by any means (have sleep problems from time to time), but definitely better than when I was on various SSRIs.
Posts: 2 | | Registered: Wed 21 Aug 2002 19:7 |
| | | "Re(4):...and now even more so!" , Wed 4 Sep 14:36
Thanks for that...I feel a bit braver knowing other people are doing the same (and still standing :)
Posts: 56 | | Registered: Fri 3 May 2002 3:4 |
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