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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by qbsbrown on May 29, 2005, at 14:48:09
First of all, does it work? Second of all, kind of coincedental that it was banned 4 days before prozac's release. Wasn't there just a bad batch from some company in Japan? Don't all supplements eventually have a bad batch somewhere?
Any personal experiences w/ it? I'm intrigued to try it, for anxiety and panic.
I've seen larry has posted a cheap form of it from a horse website, lol. I'd still give it a go.
Thanks people,Brian
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 29, 2005, at 16:37:16
In reply to so tell me why tryptophan is banned in the US?????, posted by qbsbrown on May 29, 2005, at 14:48:09
To answer your subject line, it's not banned in the U.S. As far as I can tell, it hasn't been banned since 1994.
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20031003/msgs/271979.html
> First of all, does it work?
For some people, it works very well.
> Second of all, kind of coincedental that it was banned 4 days before prozac's release.
Yes, pure coincidence.
> Wasn't there just a bad batch from some company in Japan?
Yes, one bad batch. It was produced via a new method, and that method has been discontinued.
> Don't all supplements eventually have a bad batch somewhere?
No, they shouldn't. This was somebody trying to produce a valuable commodity in a cheaper way, and it was inadequately tested before being sold.
> Any personal experiences w/ it? I'm intrigued to try it, for anxiety and panic.
I use it, to good effect. In me, it's nothing dramatic. But I can feel the difference. I think it would be on the right track for treating anxiety and panic.
> I've seen larry has posted a cheap form of it from a horse website, lol. I'd still give it a go.
I know a few people in the horsey set. Ain't no way they're feeding their horseflesh bad product. I trust the horse-feed supplier.
BTW, since that bad batch, every single batch of tryptophan is lab tested before it is released for distribution. There is no possible way that contaminant can turn up again.
>
> Thanks people,
>
> BrianGood luck on your tryptophan trial. Let us know what your time is over 6 furlongs.
Lar
Posted by qbsbrown on May 29, 2005, at 19:34:31
In reply to Re: so tell me why tryptophan is banned in the US????? » qbsbrown, posted by Larry Hoover on May 29, 2005, at 16:37:16
this was interesting
After tryptophan was cleared of any role in the EMS outbreak it was natural to expect that tryptophan supplements would soon reappear in health food stores. In reality, tryptophan has been kept off of the market by the FDA, which currently has no plans for lifting the ban on sales of this supplement. This position is ironic, since the FDA feels that tryptophan is safe enough to use in infant formulas and parenteral (IV feedings) solutions. Still, it is doubtful that this unique supplement will ever be found on store shelves again.
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 29, 2005, at 19:56:59
In reply to Re: so tell me why tryptophan is banned in the US?, posted by qbsbrown on May 29, 2005, at 19:34:31
> this was interesting
>
> After tryptophan was cleared of any role in the EMS outbreak it was natural to expect that tryptophan supplements would soon reappear in health food stores. In reality, tryptophan has been kept off of the market by the FDA, which currently has no plans for lifting the ban on sales of this supplement. This position is ironic, since the FDA feels that tryptophan is safe enough to use in infant formulas and parenteral (IV feedings) solutions. Still, it is doubtful that this unique supplement will ever be found on store shelves again.It's not off the market in the U.S. It is readily available. One quick google, and here's some:
http://store.yahoo.com/iherb/tryptophan2.htmlBut look at the price!!!!
That's because of the new rule the FDA brought in, that the manufacturer is responsible for the safety of the product (if sold for human consumption)...."...the manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that its products are safe...", from http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ds-tryp1.html
The problem is lawyers, and people who sue. The cost of the potential lawsuits is what has driven the price up. Who would want to market tryptophan with people ready to sue you if they get so much as a nervous tic?
Veterinary tryptophan is the same stuff, but if it's not sold for human consumption, it doesn't fall under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, amended by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA).
Same stuff. Seriously. I'm a chemist. I know how to source chemicals.
I think the prices being charged for human-use tryptophan supps have the cost of lawyers factored in.
Lar
Posted by qbsbrown on May 29, 2005, at 20:28:48
In reply to Re: so tell me why tryptophan is banned in the US?, posted by Larry Hoover on May 29, 2005, at 19:56:59
Wow, have got to love the politics behind the scene, while the people suffer. And it's original ban sure did clear the way for the ssri's to make billions.
What's a typical dosage of it larry? I'm intrigued to try it. Tell me if this is right; with tryptophan, ur actually increasing the amount of serotonin, whereas w/ ssri's, it's utilitizing and preventing the reuptake of only the serotonin u do have?
Paxil was great for about 3-4 yrs (aside from the sexual side effects), but pooped out. Now none of them do anything for me, aside from the sexual side effects. I guess u could say i had a huge break through attack about 3.5 yrs ago, and have had bad derealization since. The benzos help, but don't think i'd like to rely on them long term.Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks larry,
Brian
Posted by Jakeman on May 29, 2005, at 21:58:04
In reply to Re: so tell me why tryptophan is banned in the US?, posted by Larry Hoover on May 29, 2005, at 19:56:59
I didn't know iHerb sold trypt. Actually the price for the Dr's. Best 90-500mg caps $24.00 is the best I've seen.
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 29, 2005, at 22:12:07
In reply to Re: so tell me why tryptophan is banned in the US?, posted by Jakeman on May 29, 2005, at 21:58:04
> I didn't know iHerb sold trypt. Actually the price for the Dr's. Best 90-500mg caps $24.00 is the best I've seen.
Ya, pretty good price for human-labelled tryptophan. Still about 4 times the cost of the equine brand, gram for gram. Convenience factor is better though, being in capsules.
Note for Canadian customers: L-tryptophan is a drug under the new NHP regulations. It is illegal to import it without a prescription. My mare, though, was too nervous to breed, so I had to get some tryptophan to settle her down.
http://www.buygpdirect.com/gpefeed.htm
Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 29, 2005, at 22:24:45
In reply to Re: so tell me why tryptophan is banned in the US?, posted by qbsbrown on May 29, 2005, at 20:28:48
> Wow, have got to love the politics behind the scene, while the people suffer. And it's original ban sure did clear the way for the ssri's to make billions.
They really did have a valid reason to suspend sales to sort out what was going on with the EMS problem. But the rest of it, I always say, "Follow the money."
Why are nutritional and herbal supplements still not regulated in the U.S.?
I think the pharmaceutical companies are lobbying not to do it. As it stands now, all nutritional and herbal clains are unproven. Regulations might actually require solid proof to appear. But more importantly, right now, a lot of people have little faith in the quality of alternative products. There have been some high-publicity examples of products being sold that had 0% of the active ingredients that were on the label. I think Big Pharma likes it that way. No real competition.
Canada is progressively regulating all Natural Health Products. All of them must soon demonstrate proof of content, quality, purity, and can only make specified health claims. It's a simple process, really, and if Canada can do it.....???
> What's a typical dosage of it larry? I'm intrigued to try it.
1-4 grams per day is pretty typical. It's best if you also take daily vitamin/mineral supps. A good quality multi give a bare minimum but broad sprectrum of coverage. Check some of the stuff at iherb. There are some excellent multi's out there. Iherb lets you read the label. Also, iherb has a link to a health encyclopedia that has all you could ever want to know about each herb, vitamin, or mineral.
> Tell me if this is right; with tryptophan, ur actually increasing the amount of serotonin, whereas w/ ssri's, it's utilitizing and preventing the reuptake of only the serotonin u do have?In a gross simplification, yes, that is the way it works.
However, whenever you simplify, you leave out information. I am sure there are other effects, direct and indirect, of either treatment.
> Paxil was great for about 3-4 yrs (aside from the sexual side effects), but pooped out. Now none of them do anything for me, aside from the sexual side effects. I guess u could say i had a huge break through attack about 3.5 yrs ago, and have had bad derealization since. The benzos help, but don't think i'd like to rely on them long term.
Do you take nutrient supps right now? There are numerous ways you can potentially treat yourself, without relying on drugs alone.
> Any advice is appreciated.
>
> Thanks larry,
>
> BrianStep by step. Tell me what you're taking now, and what your symptoms are, and we'll see where that takes us. You didn't get unbalanced in one day, and we're not going to make it right in one day, either. There are a lot of experiments to do, to see what works for you.
Lar
Posted by qbsbrown on May 29, 2005, at 22:43:13
In reply to Re: so tell me why tryptophan is banned in the US? » qbsbrown, posted by Larry Hoover on May 29, 2005, at 22:24:45
> Step by step. Tell me what you're taking now, and what your symptoms are, and we'll see where that takes us. You didn't get unbalanced in one day, and we're not going to make it right in one day, either. There are a lot of experiments to do, to see what works for you.
Ok, here's the list.
Just started 1500-2000 Niacinamide
Vitamin C
B complex
B6
B 1
Cal mag zinc
vit e
dhea
potassium
fish oil
coenzyme q10It's been a huge Derealization trip for about 3.5 yrs. And i would definitely say that anxiety is the underlying factor. Depression came after. I deal w/ it better, and am working on changing paradigms. Ur right, it felt like it happened over night, but was much more than that.
I can go into more details of the derealization if u need. This is a good explanation,
http://www.dpselfhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=50.
Seems to be an ugly cycle of anxiety, depression, chronic self observation, and observing every tiny little stimuli. Obsessive thinking, not being able to get out of one's mind, like there's a plate of glass between me and reality sometimes.Although they help, i'd like to get off the benzos. Only on about .5-1 mg of klonopin a day.
Brian
This is the end of the thread.
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