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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 18 to 42 of 91. Go back in thread:
Posted by Larry Hoover on September 6, 2003, at 22:21:57
In reply to Ame/Lar, tryptophan, Re: tryptophan expensive?, posted by McPac on September 6, 2003, at 14:54:37
> Ame/Lar,
>
> GNC DID carry tryptophan just a little while back (I saw it there).
> Anyway, they don't now.
> The employees at BOTH GNC AND the Vitamin Shoppe tried to tell me that 5HTP was the same thing.
> Sheeesh......I know that the Amester strongly prefers the tryptophan over the 5HTP.....Lar, where do you stand on tryp vs. 5htp---does one work better than the other? If tryp>>>5htp>>>serotonin, why is it that 5htp wouldn't work better, being one step closer? Want to know what you think Lar. (It's funny, the pharm. co's no doubt had big influence in getting tryp yanked from the market (and KEPT off the market for over a decade! when it wasn't even a problem with the tryp itself....funny how that just 'happened' to occur RIGHT BEFORE the rollout of Prozac and the other slew of pharm. co's swill (ssri's)...nothing like eliminating the competition....Vitamin Shoppe has PLENTY of 5htp products to choose from though but I didn't see any tryp.......I definitely want to try the tryp and not the 5htp...which do you think is better Lar?
Posted by Larry Hoover on September 6, 2003, at 22:27:42
In reply to Lar, Re: tryptophan expensive?, posted by McPac on September 6, 2003, at 12:29:34
> "The ultra-pure product is probably pharmaceutical grade".
>
> >>>>>>>>>> Lar, ok, the ultra-pure product is likely pharmaceutical grade but that's a HUGE price difference per ounce(2.5 POUNDS for $10 vs. 4 OUNCES for $11???) Do they put a sprinkling of tryptophan in the cheap one and then fill the rest of it with manure or what? What exactly is the difference between pharmaceutical grade and non-phar. grade? The cheap one looks more fit for Trigger, lol.I don't know how this didn't catch my attention before, but the lesser quality of tryptophan is only about 7% tryptophan by weight (2 grams of every 28). I'm going to assume that the product is a hydrolyzed protein product, with the remainder made up of various other aminos.
In any case, I'd have no qualms about using either product. There are stricter standards applied to animal care products, in many cases, that are applied to those for human use.
Lar
Posted by McPac on September 6, 2003, at 23:15:54
In reply to Re: Lar, Re: tryptophan expensive? » McPac, posted by Larry Hoover on September 6, 2003, at 22:27:42
Posted by McPac on September 6, 2003, at 23:20:35
In reply to Re: GNC tryptophan, Re: tryptophan expensive? » McPac, posted by Ame Sans Vie on September 6, 2003, at 12:37:14
I did order a pound of the ultra-pure!
Ame, how long does it take tryptophan to really begin to work (if it will work)--- are we talking days, weeks, a month? (Just trying to get some ballpark idea).
Thanks!
Posted by matthhhh on September 12, 2003, at 19:58:37
In reply to Ame, Re: GNC tryptophan, Re: tryptophan expensive?, posted by McPac on September 6, 2003, at 23:20:35
Ive tried SJW, 5 htp, and SAM-e and none really had any noticeable benificial effects- just made me a little sleepy.
Anyways, i was wondering if its worth trying tryptophan. If all these other supplements didnt work is it worth a try?
Posted by Larry Hoover on September 13, 2003, at 9:05:39
In reply to Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!!, posted by matthhhh on September 12, 2003, at 19:58:37
> Ive tried SJW, 5 htp, and SAM-e and none really had any noticeable benificial effects- just made me a little sleepy.
> Anyways, i was wondering if its worth trying tryptophan. If all these other supplements didnt work is it worth a try?If 5-HTP didn't help, I doubt tryptophan will help. With respect to SJW, you need to also consider whether you used a product that is of appropriate quality. Some SJW is substandard.
Lar
Posted by matthhhh on September 17, 2003, at 17:15:18
In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!! » matthhhh, posted by Larry Hoover on September 13, 2003, at 9:05:39
Hi Lar, you said in one of your posts that tryptophan is a much better than 5htp, so why dont you think that it will work as an alternative to 5htp? By the way do u know of any good SJW? thanks
Posted by matthhhh on September 17, 2003, at 17:22:18
In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!!, posted by matthhhh on September 17, 2003, at 17:15:18
by the way the SJW that i am taking is by organika and it says it is a standardized extract
Posted by Larry Hoover on September 19, 2003, at 6:40:54
In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!!, posted by matthhhh on September 17, 2003, at 17:15:18
> Hi Lar, you said in one of your posts that tryptophan is a much better than 5htp, so why dont you think that it will work as an alternative to 5htp?
Because you had no response to 5-HTP.
> By the way do u know of any good SJW? thanks
Try looking for Perika.
Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on September 19, 2003, at 6:45:26
In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!!, posted by matthhhh on September 17, 2003, at 17:22:18
> by the way the SJW that i am taking is by organika and it says it is a standardized extract
Just because the label says so, doesn't mean anything.
I've used Organika myself, but there's no way to know if, for example, different batches will be of similar quality.
There's no dose limit. I used five of the Organika 450 mg caps/day.
Lar
Posted by matthhhh on September 19, 2003, at 7:16:13
In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!! » matthhhh, posted by Larry Hoover on September 19, 2003, at 6:40:54
actually i did have a response to 5htp it made me tired and foggy headed
Posted by Larry Hoover on September 19, 2003, at 9:44:47
In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!!, posted by matthhhh on September 19, 2003, at 7:16:13
> actually i did have a response to 5htp it made me tired and foggy headed
Try using it at night only, then. Tryptophan would likely have a similar effect. I was once prescribed tryptophan as a sleep aid, but I can't say it did much for me.
Lar
Posted by matthhhh on September 20, 2003, at 19:04:03
In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!! » matthhhh, posted by Larry Hoover on September 19, 2003, at 9:44:47
Hey Lar, thanks for the reply. i went on the website address you gave for the tryptophan and the only tryptophan i could find on there was for GP Equine which means it is for horses! is this the stuff u were talking about?
Posted by matthhhh on September 20, 2003, at 19:07:30
In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!! » matthhhh, posted by Larry Hoover on September 19, 2003, at 9:44:47
Anyone had any success with the ultra pure tryptophan order from that gp website?
Posted by Larry Hoover on September 21, 2003, at 5:31:06
In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!!, posted by matthhhh on September 20, 2003, at 19:04:03
> Hey Lar, thanks for the reply. i went on the website address you gave for the tryptophan and the only tryptophan i could find on there was for GP Equine which means it is for horses! is this the stuff u were talking about?
Yup. No reason to pay more than that, is all. Get the ultra-pure stuff.
Lar
Posted by matthhhh on September 23, 2003, at 8:17:25
In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!! » matthhhh, posted by Larry Hoover on September 21, 2003, at 5:31:06
Hey Lar, just wondering if you had contacted to the GP company to see if it was ok to take that tryptophan. Im would just be a little concerned about taking it because it says its for horses. thanks
Posted by McPac on September 23, 2003, at 20:18:40
In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!!, posted by matthhhh on September 23, 2003, at 8:17:25
Since I started taking it my appetite has increased significantly---I now eat a couple of hundred apples every day, 8 buckets of oats, and a few bales of hay....and yesterday I ran the mile in 42 seconds! lol, just kidding, I actually DID buy that product matt (just haven't taken any yet)
Posted by matthhhh on September 24, 2003, at 5:58:52
In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!!, posted by McPac on September 23, 2003, at 20:18:40
Hey MacPac, so how do u know its safe for humans? i mean if it was suitable for humans you would think they would have a separate brand wouldnt u?
Posted by tealady on September 24, 2003, at 17:42:34
In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!!, posted by matthhhh on September 24, 2003, at 5:58:52
> Hey MacPac, so how do u know its safe for humans? i mean if it was suitable for humans you would think they would have a separate brand wouldnt u?
No, I think you need to think harder on this one.
Could it be that perhaps the US has made it illegal for tyrptophan to be marketed to humans....?That's probably why no companies market it...(more a political thingy)Now it is probably still legal to market for vetinary type use, so those companies who were marketing to vets , racehorse breeders etc can still continue to do so..Think again, how much in monetary terms are racehorses for example worth?
So the question one should be asking is how does the purity of these products differ from the purity that woud have been marketed for human consumption?If you are really worried , I guess you could import a human product..it's one thing they ARE allowed to market for human consumption in Australia!
I think the US law is that it is legal to bring in quantities of some drugs for personal use ... up to 3 months worth ..however I am not an expert on US law or is something I have any desire or need to learn..it's probably different for each state anyway!
Jan
Posted by matthhhh on September 24, 2003, at 17:47:49
In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!! » matthhhh, posted by tealady on September 24, 2003, at 17:42:34
i didnt think that tryptophan was illegal in the US , i know of a few other US companies that sell tryptophan but it is much more expensive
Posted by tealady on September 24, 2003, at 18:30:07
In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!!, posted by matthhhh on September 24, 2003, at 17:47:49
I wasn't sure . Whe I looked at iherbm all that came up was 5HTP.
http://www.iherb.com/tryptophan.htmlI thought The US may possibly have clamped down on it due to the tryptophan myalgias scare. You have to do a google on this one.
This is why a lot of docs are cautious over tryptophan , as they are not sure what is happening I think..and this was stuff for HUMAN consumption too...so you can never be completely certain.
http://www.mts.net/~baumel/ems.html
agree with Larry on this..if the question is a choice between 5HTP and tryptophan..which is what the thread was on... (either of which I've had any personal experience with), the safer one,IMO, from what is currently known..and this is always changing, appears to be tryptophan
JanPS it wouldn't be something I would be taking unless I thought I showed a real need for it (either of them)
Think hard on this one <Grin>..
Posted by tealady on September 24, 2003, at 18:32:20
In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!! » matthhhh, posted by tealady on September 24, 2003, at 18:30:07
correction- edit
(either of which I've had NO any personal experience with),
Posted by matthhhh on September 24, 2003, at 19:43:31
In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!!, posted by tealady on September 24, 2003, at 18:32:20
actually about 5 htp and tryptophan - neither are bad for you. Their amino acids which are the basic form of food, and not in the least bit dangerous.
Posted by tealady on September 24, 2003, at 20:08:51
In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!!, posted by matthhhh on September 24, 2003, at 5:58:52
> Hey MacPac, so how do u know its safe for humans? i mean if it was suitable for humans you would think they would have a separate brand wouldnt u?
just one more point...
no, I think they way the business world may work is that you get a license to produce supplements, etc. for vetinary(animal use) purposes only..so they have no reason or license to bring in a "human" brand. It does not however automatically imply inferiority..just that one should check to see if it is suitable ie. identical to what would be sold to humans and as pure..and you can't expect the company to help with this much as they are not licensed to sell for human consumption.The only things I think, that are really safe are those with a long history of safe use. (unfortunately this doesn't always suit the pharmaceutical industry)
The serotonin drugs may be just as dangerous as the tryptophans etc .. ...serotonin syndrome?but if you do need them, you have to decide, perhaps together with a doc? And OK it with your doc know if you do decide to start taking any of these, especially if already taking other drugs...
Jan
Posted by tealady on September 24, 2003, at 23:12:44
In reply to Re: Tryptophan vs 5HTP Please Help!!, posted by matthhhh on September 24, 2003, at 19:43:31
> actually about 5 htp and tryptophan - neither are bad for you. Their amino acids which are the basic form of food, and not in the least bit dangerous.
Sorry Bob,I give up. The above statement IS dangerous.
Actually warm milk is VERY good advice..high in serotonin,
Good serontonin foods include.. like banana, nuts, avocado, yogurt, cheese, turkey, milk (warmed )
So a glass of warm milk before bed that small children are often given does some good..and is a safe way to get serotonin, unless a strong need is really indicated (as admittedly applies to some folk here. )Jan
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