Posted by saturn on January 25, 2007, at 19:14:37
In reply to Re: Serotonin Syndrome » janetlee, posted by Netch on January 25, 2007, at 6:24:56
> I do not recommend 5-HTP.
>
> 5-HTP can cause fatigue and aggrevate depression since there is a 50% conversion rate to melatonin.I once read that much if not most of the
5-HTP---->5-HT (serotonin) conversion takes place outside of the brain, and that the resulting serotonin in the blood does not readily pass into the brain. End result: increased serotonin in the blood and body, but not brain. Elevated blood serotonin may cause heart problems. Admittedly I have not heard of cases of this, but have found the theory behind 5-HTP lacking.I think 5-HTP probably came on the market as a tryptophan subsitute, which is now re-available in the US (at least in some states) without a prescription. I'm not saying it works, but tryptophan enters the brain much more readily than 5-HTP and works via the same proposed mechanism (increased production of serotonin in the brain).
I hate not to cite specific references, but I can not recall where I found this info.
poster:saturn
thread:726164
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20070114/msgs/726482.html