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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sowhysosad on May 15, 2009, at 20:02:08
I took 100mg of 5-HTP earlier tonight then had a lot of Chinese food maybe 90 minutes later. Instead of the slight drowsiness I often get from 5-HTP I got a pleasant mild serotonin buzz and nice antidepressant effect. It was almost like someone had dosed me with a tiny bit of ecstasy!
Crazy question, but could something in the Chinese food have potentiated the 5-HTP?
I had loads of seaweed which I understand contains lipids, plant sterols, amino acids, omega-3 and omega-6, anti-oxidants, growth hormones, polyphenols, flavenoids, Fucoidan, Laminarin, and Alginate compounds.
The meal also contained plenty of sugar, salt, protein and doubtless MSG, and I also had a beer.
Could any of the above have caused the reaction I had?
The only other difference today was that I took 2.5mg of NADH sublingually perhaps 2 hours before the 5-HTP (rather than first thing in the morning or not at all). Could it be THAT that worked synergistically with the 5-HTP rather than anything I ate?
Posted by garnet71 on May 15, 2009, at 20:27:27
In reply to Could Chinese food have potentiated my 5-HTP?!, posted by sowhysosad on May 15, 2009, at 20:02:08
lol I'd say eat more Chinese Food!!!! Yeah, lot's of MSG..but I don't think the Chinese eat seaweed, but I know the Japanese do frequently. I don't know for sure, but I've never heard of seaweed in Chinese dishes...
that's funny
Posted by garnet71 on May 15, 2009, at 20:37:36
In reply to Could Chinese food have potentiated my 5-HTP?!, posted by sowhysosad on May 15, 2009, at 20:02:08
I wonder if those seaweed supplments are any good? Do you remember those pyramid compaines that proliferated like 10 years ago, the Blue Algae companies? One of my friends started selling that stuff, and it was annoying....
I always wondered if that was a lot of hype or if seaweed is really that good for you. where would you buy seaweed besides the capsule stuff at GNC? Are you sure there was seaweed in the dish--or could it have been another vegetable that looked like seaweed? Do you live by the coast maybe?
Posted by ricker on May 15, 2009, at 20:54:40
In reply to Could Chinese food have potentiated my 5-HTP?!, posted by sowhysosad on May 15, 2009, at 20:02:08
> I also had a beer.
> Could any of the above have caused the reaction I had?My guess, the suds....
Posted by Phillipa on May 15, 2009, at 22:49:50
In reply to Re: Could Chinese food have potentiated my 5-HTP?!, posted by ricker on May 15, 2009, at 20:54:40
Still miss my coronas and lime:( Phillipa
Posted by ricker on May 15, 2009, at 23:36:45
In reply to Re: Could Chinese food have potentiated my 5-HTP?! » ricker, posted by Phillipa on May 15, 2009, at 22:49:50
> Still miss my coronas and lime:( Phillipa
Hey Jan, I was a Coors Light man myself but I haven't had a drink in 7 years.... and I don't miss it at all!! Never drank much to begin with... but don't mess with my coffee!!!
Take care, Rick
Posted by Phillipa on May 15, 2009, at 23:58:59
In reply to Re: Could Chinese food have potentiated my 5-HTP?! » Phillipa, posted by ricker on May 15, 2009, at 23:36:45
Ricker we must write again miss you. Yes I did love my coronas and lime 15 years dry and not much fun!!!!! Used to love iced coffee but the caffeine is too high in it and don't like decaf. Psychological I know. Love Jan
Posted by sowhysosad on May 16, 2009, at 6:14:02
In reply to Re: Could Chinese food have potentiated my 5-HTP?!, posted by garnet71 on May 15, 2009, at 20:37:36
> I always wondered if that was a lot of hype or if seaweed is really that good for you. where would you buy seaweed besides the capsule stuff at GNC? Are you sure there was seaweed in the dish--or could it have been another vegetable that looked like seaweed? Do you live by the coast maybe?
It was definitely green seaweed. They often serve it deep-fried, "crispy" style, as a starter or side dish at Chinese restaurants over here.
I've read that seaweed contains nutrients absent from land-based plants, so maybe there was some truth in the claims for seaweed supplements.
Could it be Omega 3 or 6 gave the 5-HTP a boost? If so I'm buying some supplements!
Posted by sowhysosad on May 16, 2009, at 6:15:56
In reply to Re: Could Chinese food have potentiated my 5-HTP?!, posted by ricker on May 15, 2009, at 20:54:40
> > I also had a beer.
>
> > Could any of the above have caused the reaction I had?
>
> My guess, the suds....
>Could be, but alcohol on top of 5-HTP normally just makes me more drowsy.
Posted by garnet71 on May 16, 2009, at 13:11:37
In reply to Re: Could Chinese food have potentiated my 5-HTP?!, posted by sowhysosad on May 16, 2009, at 6:14:02
Getting high off of seaweed, huh? You might just have to keep that quiet or they might ban it!!!
I'll have to get some from a sushi place and see if I can get a little buzz too. lol
Posted by sowhysosad on May 16, 2009, at 18:09:20
In reply to Re: Could Chinese food have potentiated my 5-HTP?!, posted by garnet71 on May 16, 2009, at 13:11:37
> Getting high off of seaweed, huh? You might just have to keep that quiet or they might ban it!!!
>
> I'll have to get some from a sushi place and see if I can get a little buzz too. lolI'll have to try rolling some up and smoking it next time!
Posted by desolationrower on May 16, 2009, at 21:23:40
In reply to Re: Could Chinese food have potentiated my 5-HTP?! » garnet71, posted by sowhysosad on May 16, 2009, at 18:09:20
seeweed often has lots of iodine. (not relevant to 5htp metabolism i don't think, but a nutrient not found as much on land)
-d/r
Posted by bleauberry on May 17, 2009, at 19:15:40
In reply to Could Chinese food have potentiated my 5-HTP?!, posted by sowhysosad on May 15, 2009, at 20:02:08
It was either the NADH or the MSG or both.
MSG is not a good thing. If it was MSG that did that, then you have a clue that you need some more glutamate function. But don't get it from MSG.
I would put my bets on NADH as causing the good reaction.
Of course, if you don't normally drink, then a beer can certainly produce a real nice buzz.
Posted by sowhysosad on May 19, 2009, at 19:16:26
In reply to Re: Could Chinese food have potentiated my 5-HTP?!, posted by bleauberry on May 17, 2009, at 19:15:40
> It was either the NADH or the MSG or both.
>
> MSG is not a good thing. If it was MSG that did that, then you have a clue that you need some more glutamate function. But don't get it from MSG.
>
> I would put my bets on NADH as causing the good reaction.
>
> Of course, if you don't normally drink, then a beer can certainly produce a real nice buzz.Thanks for your (as ever) informed opinion bleauberry.
Is there any way of supplementing glutamate naturally without MSG? Sounds like it might be worth a little experiment.
I doubt it was the beer. Alcohol just isn't hitting the spot for me at the moment - never does when I'm depressed.
So perhaps I should take my NADH and 5-HTP closer together? I assumed that was a bad idea as they might compete to cross the blood-brain barrier or something.
That said, I may have to give up supplements entirely as they seem to be inducing anxiety, insomnia and deeper depression, 5-HTP probably being the worst culprit (SE's are very "SSRI-like").
Posted by sowhysosad on May 20, 2009, at 18:34:06
In reply to Re: Could Chinese food have potentiated my 5-HTP?!, posted by bleauberry on May 17, 2009, at 19:15:40
> It was either the NADH or the MSG or both.
>
> MSG is not a good thing. If it was MSG that did that, then you have a clue that you need some more glutamate function. But don't get it from MSG.I think you might have sussed it - thanks!
After quitting imipramine recently (due to a dramatic worsening of symptoms) I had a huge improvement in my depression, and a quick search earlier turned up this:
So it seems highly likely that the glutamate attenuation could have caused the turn-for-the-worse in my depression, and that my glutamate function may still be compromised.
Posted by sowhysosad on July 13, 2009, at 16:22:03
In reply to Re: Could Chinese food have potentiated my 5-HTP?!, posted by sowhysosad on May 19, 2009, at 19:16:26
Just resurrecting this thread as I got a huge serotonin buzz off chinese food again - but this time I've been on fluoxetine for 10 days rather than 5-HTP supplements as the previous time.
The meal largely consisted of duck and seaweed. I just read that seaweed is an excellent source of tryptophan. Most meats have a fair amount too evidently. I guess that might explain it.
Ironically I've suffered largely horrendous startup side effects from the fluoxetine, probably noradrenaline or serotonin-related I'd guess (racing pulse, uncomfortable panicky feeling, crying spells etc).
But if serotonin was causing the nasty side effects, how could ramping up serotonin production actually improve my mood and make me feel so good?
Perhaps the 5-HT2A antagonism (and thus NA/DA release) kicked in harder than the serotonin reuptake at 10mg so some serotonin was needed to redress the balance?
Anyone know whether it's safe to take a tiny bit of tryptophan or 5-HTP with an SSRI? Might be worth a try based on today's experience.
This is the end of the thread.
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