If you suffer from depression/anxiety/PMS...

[derketchup]

and you want an alternative to drugs, I may have a solution for you.

Long story short, take 5-HTP 50mg once a day (with your Doctor or Pharmacist's blessing). Usually you can take it with any depression medicine you are already on.

Long story:

If you've ever taken a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor, such as:

• Prozac
• Zoloft
• Paxil
• Serafem

and you had a noticeable increase in mood while taking it, you'll definitely want to check this out.

I have been taking this supplement for almost a full year now, and it's done wonders for me. It's called 5-HTP. It stands for 5-Hydroxytryptophan, and it is a precursor to serotonin. That means your body can take this supplement and create serotonin out of it.

Now, what is serotonin? It's a neurotransmitter that doctors believe is responsible for making us feel happy, or good. Drugs like Prozac make the serotonin available in your body last longer.

I always felt that what I ate was a great indication of how I felt. If I was deep in depression, all I wanted was fast food. When I was feeling more "normal", I wanted fresh fruit and healthy food. Fast forward almost 8 years, and I'm reading a book called You: On A Diet. I read that 90% of the serotonin in the body is in the small intestines, and that what you eat can dictate how much serotonin your body has. I then read that some people who are dieting lose more weight when they take 5-HTP. I thought, why not me?! If it helps people lose weight, shouldn't it make my mood more stable?

So I talked to my Psychiatrist about it, and she was very supportive. She suggested I continue to take my 50mg of Zoloft daily, and to take 50mg of 5-HTP as well. A month later, I called her and told her I felt really giddy. She suggested cutting the zoloft down to 25mg. Four months later, with her blessing I increased the 5-HTP to 100mg and stopped taking the Zoloft entirely.

Now, with all that being said, 5-HTP is like any other drug or supplement -- just because it worked for me doesn't necessarily mean it will work for you. But I figure, it's worth a shot. Psychiatrists don't necessarily know which antidepressant to prescribe -- it's hit and miss. And if you're already seeing positive effects with a drug that is making your serotonin more readily available in your system, introducing more serotonin may make it work better.

Just my

Oh, and if you made it to the bottom of my post,

[krmore]

I was just reading something about this the other day. Is the 5-HTP expensive?

[derketchup]

It's $13ish a bottle for 45 pills. But, it's often BOGO at Walgreens. And this past spring, there were $3 coupons. So I got it for $3.50 a bottle and stocked up all I could.

[YouPdWhat]

Here is a link that anyone interested may want to read 1st before trying.
5 HTP Side Effects - Negative Feedback: Depression Blog.com

Several years ago I checked this out & thought about trying it until I read so many negative things about it. I decided to discuss with my Dr. After what I read, the info the Dr. gave & also discussed with me, etc. I decided to stick with my relaxation therapy, exercise & altered diet.


ETA: This type of drug & others can also cause Serotonin Syndrome
Serotonin syndrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[austinmomto2]

Youpdwhat,
Do you mind replying with the type of relaxation therapy, exercise and altered diet you follow? I have been on Zoloft since my DS was born (4 months). I despise taking any type of meds so with my dr's permission, I have slowly weaned off the Zoloft. I have noticed a change in mood though-more easily agitated, overwhelmed feeling, etc. I'd be very interested in learning about non-medication/non-supplement recommendations. I know when I exercise at least 30 mins every day, I feel better. I was hoping to find out that the relaxation exercises are massages


TIA

Here is a link that anyone interested may want to read 1st before trying.
5 HTP Side Effects - Negative Feedback: Depression Blog.com

Several years ago I checked this out & thought about trying it until I read so many negative things about it. I decided to discuss with my Dr. After what I read, the info the Dr. gave & also discussed with me, etc. I decided to stick with my relaxation therapy, exercise & altered diet.


ETA: This type of drug & others can also cause Serotonin Syndrome
Serotonin syndrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[SaraW]

I would be interested as well. I have also been on Zoloft since DD was about 4 months old (she is 8 months now) and I have panic attacks. I went to a counciling to learn relation tech. but all she did was give me a bunch of pamplets.

Youpdwhat,
Do you mind replying with the type of relaxation therapy, exercise and altered diet you follow? I have been on Zoloft since my DS was born (4 months). I despise taking any type of meds so with my dr's permission, I have slowly weaned off the Zoloft. I have noticed a change in mood though-more easily agitated, overwhelmed feeling, etc. I'd be very interested in learning about non-medication/supplement recommendations. I know when I exercise at least 30 mins every day, I feel better. I was hopinh to find out that the relation exercises are massages


TIA

[derketchup]

Yup 5-HTP has side effects, too, just like any other drug or supplement. I was reading one of those links, and there was a mother who was upset that her adult son was having bad side effects -- and then she said he was taking several times the daily dose! Not good...

SaraW, if all your counselor did to help you was give you a bunch of pamphlets, you need to get another counselor! That's totally crappy. Panic attacks aren't something you can just "get over" if you read a bunch of pamphlets.

In fact, my major beef with people trying to treat mental illnesses (including depression) is that some of them feel that it's a behavioral problem. I once had a doctor say to me, "Why don't you just stop worrying!" And I said to him, "If I could stop worrying on my own, I wouldn't be here!"

[meems]

A side note to this thread..if anyone suffers from hormonal migraines, CALCIUM!!! Make sure it has the D, & you can't just take it right before your cycle, you must take it at least 2 weeks prior. At least that's how it worked for me, I am now on a multi that includes a high dose of calcium +D, I haven't had a hormonal migraine in a couple of years..I used to be guaranteed a two dayer every month!

I originally heard this on Paul Harvey, tested it for about 6 months..on & off, taking it partially, etc. Now I just stay on it!

[pilesoflaundry]

I've found magnesium (not magnesium with calcium, it has to be plain mag!! this is very important, never take the two at the same time, they interfere with each other) cutting all caffeine and very limited refined sugar does wonders for my depression and severe exhaustion. Also drinking a lot of water and getting enough sleep.

I still have some anxiety but it's not nearly as bad as it was and I don't have to take meds. I briefly took prozac and while it worked very well I was having side effects so I went off it. Anything else I tried didn't help or made me feel weird.

[derketchup]

Magnesium, when combined with the calcium already in your system (don't take them at the same time!) acts like a natural tranquilizer.