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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by john1022 on April 11, 2005, at 11:34:22
Hello,
I used to post on here probably close to 2 years ago. I was in pretty bad shape. Very depressed, foggy brained, sleep problems, blurred vision, racing songs in my head, suicidal thoughts.
I used to take Effexor many years ago and it worked well. The third time I started it I had a horrible opposite reaction where it made my about ten times more depressed, anxious, foggy brained and actually gave me suicidal thoughts were there were none before that.
I finally saw a doctor who practices both natural and medical phychiatry. She diagnosed me as bipolar, which I know now I am, but I also strongly believed there was an underlying serotonin problem.
I was in really bad shape for about a year. I finally saw this doctor in Mass (search for Dr. Greenblatt to find out info about him and other doctors that practice with him). The doctor I found said I should never try SSRI's again and instead of putting me on something like Depakote or Lithium, she wanted to try me on small amounts of 5HTP first because I was so sensitive to meds and see what happens
within a week of taking 5htp I noticably felt better. I take 200-400 mg a night now and over about a month after taking it I really started feeling better.
I honestly thought my life was over because there was no other med I could take or tolerate (which will obviously be a problem in the future). I can honestly say 5htp saved my life NO QUESTION. I am back to having a normal life.
don't feel too happy for me because I still deal with a lot of anxiety and sleep problems and will probably have to deal with this again in the future, but for the last 2 years I have been stable and 5htp is what pulled me right out of it.
but fortunately the deep depression is very much gone (I know one might think it might be part of my bipolar cycle, but as soon as I started taking 5htp I was lifted right out of close to a living hell)
Just wanted to share my story in the hopes that even one person might be able to be helped by this stuff. It works, it worked for me like a charm and gave me my life back. Of coarse read up on it first and decided whether it is safe or right for you.
I wish all you the best of luck and hope everyone is well. Take care
Posted by KaraS on April 11, 2005, at 11:34:23
In reply to 5HTP worked for me, posted by john1022 on April 9, 2005, at 18:57:00
> Hello,
>
> I used to post on here probably close to 2 years ago. I was in pretty bad shape. Very depressed, foggy brained, sleep problems, blurred vision, racing songs in my head, suicidal thoughts.
>
> I used to take Effexor many years ago and it worked well. The third time I started it I had a horrible opposite reaction where it made my about ten times more depressed, anxious, foggy brained and actually gave me suicidal thoughts were there were none before that.
>
> I finally saw a doctor who practices both natural and medical phychiatry. She diagnosed me as bipolar, which I know now I am, but I also strongly believed there was an underlying serotonin problem.
>
> I was in really bad shape for about a year. I finally saw this doctor in Mass (search for Dr. Greenblatt to find out info about him and other doctors that practice with him). The doctor I found said I should never try SSRI's again and instead of putting me on something like Depakote or Lithium, she wanted to try me on small amounts of 5HTP first because I was so sensitive to meds and see what happens
>
> within a week of taking 5htp I noticably felt better. I take 200-400 mg a night now and over about a month after taking it I really started feeling better.
>
> I honestly thought my life was over because there was no other med I could take or tolerate (which will obviously be a problem in the future). I can honestly say 5htp saved my life NO QUESTION. I am back to having a normal life.
>
> don't feel too happy for me because I still deal with a lot of anxiety and sleep problems and will probably have to deal with this again in the future, but for the last 2 years I have been stable and 5htp is what pulled me right out of it.
>
> but fortunately the deep depression is very much gone (I know one might think it might be part of my bipolar cycle, but as soon as I started taking 5htp I was lifted right out of close to a living hell)
>
> Just wanted to share my story in the hopes that even one person might be able to be helped by this stuff. It works, it worked for me like a charm and gave me my life back. Of coarse read up on it first and decided whether it is safe or right for you.
>
> I wish all you the best of luck and hope everyone is well. Take care
Hi,It's so nice to read about success stories. What brand(s) of 5-htp have you taken? Did you or do you have any gastrointestinal discomfort from the 5-htp? Or do you take enteric coated pills?
K
Posted by Phillipa on April 11, 2005, at 11:34:23
In reply to Re: 5HTP worked for me » john1022, posted by KaraS on April 9, 2005, at 22:41:37
Yes, I'd love to hear more about it as I can't take any AD's. They just don't work. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by john1022 on April 11, 2005, at 11:34:23
In reply to Re: 5HTP worked for me » KaraS, posted by Phillipa on April 9, 2005, at 23:35:58
I took a few different kinds, they are all pretty much the same. Natrol at Walmart is fine and is cheap. do a search on google and read about it. it works for a lot of people. I slowly worked up on my dosage and felt better as I went up. I miss days now and then of not taking it and I don't feel an withdrawals or anything bad. There is no doubt in my mind 5htp saved my life. take care
Posted by LOOPS on April 11, 2005, at 16:16:15
In reply to Re: 5HTP worked for me, posted by john1022 on April 10, 2005, at 17:48:15
Good to hear John!
I'm glad it's working so well for you. I've had some success with 5htp, but more for sleep than for depression.
Anyway, it is good to hear you're doing better.
Loops
Posted by linkadge on April 14, 2005, at 8:16:34
In reply to Re: 5HTP worked for me, posted by LOOPS on April 11, 2005, at 16:16:15
This may be a dumb question but the labling on my brand says not to exceed 2 50mg tablets. What is the reasoning behind this. Is there a limit to how much 5-htp you can safely take ??
Linkadge
Posted by LOOPS on April 14, 2005, at 14:22:17
In reply to how much 5-htp is safe?, posted by linkadge on April 14, 2005, at 8:16:34
I don't think anybody really knows how much in reality is safe - but I've taken up to 400mg in a day and no problems. The only problems I had was it made me a bit tired and ratty at this dosage.
Some doctors recommend 300mg per day - others much less - less is obviously better anyway depending on the effect you want. 100mg dose is for appetite supressing and maybe for anxiety. I don't know about depression as 5htp never helped me much with that - in fact I would say higher dosages made me less motivated and more blah in general.
Also tolerance can develop so you may have to up the dose anyway. I really only rely on 5htp for sleep these days - although it might be it is having a longer term effect on my depression as well - I just don't know, as the fish oil is making the most difference.
5htp doesn't seem to hang around very long in the system IMO - and if I take over 100mg at bedtime I get weird waking hallucinations (which don't really bother me). I do find the initial deep sleep effects wear off after 3-4 hours and I do wake up, but I usually can go back to sleep.
Sorry I can't be of more help - maybe try searching the web for more opinions.
Loops
Posted by DumbFox on April 18, 2005, at 19:04:51
In reply to 5HTP worked for me, posted by john1022 on April 9, 2005, at 18:57:00
I took 5-HTP for almost a year. I loved it. I was taking 600-800 mg a day in divided doses. I used the Doctor's Best brand. I have chonric depression and ADHD. I noticed a markable improvement in some of my ADHD symptoms and in my depression. The most important thing I noticed was that I was not as irritated by distractions. My ADHD causes me to become extrememly distracted by noises that most people don't notice...like computers humming, people whistling in the office 4 doors down, water dripping in the bathroom,etc... It is so difficult for me to tune these distraction out and as a result I get very irritable and tend to snap. The 5-HTP made it easier to tune things out. It made me mildly more focused. My mother even commented on how much calmer I seemed.
It did help with my appetite as well. I lost about 20 pounds in a year without changing my eating habits. I didn't have the impulsive need to eat out of boredom or emotion.
When I increased by dose from 300 mg to the 600-800 mg I did notice some slight dizziness in the beginning. It did go away though.
This is the end of the thread.
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