serotonin

I need help here...we need enough serotonin
how much help can we get from taking tryptophan or 5-htp...
how much help can we get from eating foods that contain tryptophan...

I don't know the answer to your questions! Have tried googling about how much serotonin those supplements Have?

They don't contain any in themselves, but in the body serotonin is produced through the conversion of tryptophan and 5 hydroxy tryptophan (we can't synthesise it from scratch). Generally though just eating foods with tryptophan in may not help much as it can't pass the blood brain barrier in that form, taking purified 5HT supplements on the other hand does, and so may have more effect. The evidence is mixed but part of the problem is studies tended to dismiss the value of taking 5HT on the grounds that you can take anti depressants that directly increase serotonin levels. However the flaw in that reasoning is that there is a big difference between consuming a supplement that allows the body to naturally produce serotonin if and when it is needed and flooding the system with chemicals that interfere with the body's own systems for managing serotonin levels. I know which I would prefer so I am trying 5HT supplements myself (as well as B group vitamins) even though I no longer take anti depressants as they had undesirable side effects.

Too soon to say if it is helping though, and there is a counter argument that given serotonin metabolism is impaired in depressive illnesses, just consuming a precursor to it doesn't necessarily mean your brain will actually do anything useful with it. So my guess is it might help someone whose body is not getting enough 5HT in the first place to synthesise serotonin from, but may not help someone who does have enough but isn't able to use it effectively no matter how much is in the system.

Don't take both though - there is a risk of serotonin syndrome.

I know there's controversy over seratonin and ssri's as the sole focus for treating depression (e.g. cognitive therapy outperforming ssri's, pressure from drug and insurance companies to prescribe and get them out the door).

Here's a good discussion that includes the use of psychedelics as an alternative (can't post links yet):
medscape dot com/viewarticle/843805

I think it is very important to eat healthy...it has to do with anxiety and depression..
are we getting enough tryptophan in our diet...it is essential..
if we don't get enough tryptophan we don't get enough serotonin in the brain..
and the serotonin brain system has to do with moods...how we feel...

i am now taking 100mg of 5-htp twice a day...I hope this helps me with my withdrawal
from 5 mg celexa...I am going very slowly with this...

5 months ago I lowered my celexa from 10 mg to 5 mg....so far so good...

Good luck with your transition from celexa. I hope everything goes smoothly. Please let me know if the 5-htp works.

thanks Jennifer 1967....I will let you know one way or another...

“My GP “ what a freakin joke . All they do is throw meds at me.
Ggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

((((((( little turtle ))))))))

Let me know how it goes with the 5-htp

Let us know how it goes

Can too much serotonin in the system cause anxiety and panic attacks? Is serotonin level related to adrenalin/nor-adrenalin level in any way?

According to my reading, the idea that depression is due to a simple deficiency of serotonin is still just myth and marketing.

The concept itself is crazy reductionism. There are dozens of neurotransmitters and the body has complex systems for regulating homeostasis.

Seems if an SSRI or 5htp helps mood, it doesn't mean a serotonin problem has been fixed, it means wider metabolism or chemistry has been altered in some way.

I think first thing to do is reject the idea that depression is a medical condition. Could be a symptom of many other conditions, or just a symptom of life.

Just my take.

Tend to agree...

Me too ..........

life is not that simple...
I am not talking about drugs or psychiatry...
I am talking about nutrition ...
I am talking about the need for tryptophan...
if you don't have it you die...if intake is low there are problems making proteins....
it is an essential amino acid that turns into serotonin...
I like to bash the antidepressant /serotonin thing also...
but I am not talking about that...I am talking health...

I am trying to get off my celexa and I have heard that taking 5-htp may help...
I don't give a damn about fighting against anti-depressants..
I just want to be off of my celexa...whatever it takes...
I have been helped and hurt by celexa...the main problem was believing it would take
care of all my depression problems...it didn't...eating healthy has helped me a lot....
and getting enough tryptophan is a part of that....thank you for my little rant...

Can't you have your valium dosage increased while you are going off celexa? You also need to consider your age. Drugs and withdrawal from drugs may have more severe reactions in our system as we grow older. You must be very careful, little turtle. Are you keeping daily food logs? Are you staying away from refined sugar which also means NO alcohol? Do you stock calming herbal teas in your home? Lifestyle change is hard. Are you exercising in some way each day? Even strength training can improve mood. Do you have resistance bands? As we age I think they are a good alternative to lifting weights. Is your family on board with your recovery? Do you have emotional support? You need to look at the entire picture, little turtle. I know that you know this. I am just gently reminding you...

thanks dechandawa.....you are inspiring...
very good ideas ...

I am not taking valium now...I don't want to add another problem...
I could easily become addicted to valium or the other benzos...I love them
I have a mental illness....and I am a recovering sugar addict..

what I am lacking right now is support from family and friends...
I really need to be around other persons suffering from mental illness
like me..most people either hide their illness or attack those that are
emotionally and mentally challenged...they just don't get it...
and if you haven't been there you wont get it...it is just the way of life

Everything you said it so true. Lack of support from family and friends...that I understand. It is a stigma to have mental problems. People complain about physical aches and pains...but no one wants to discuss pains of the heart and soul. Go easy on yourself, little turtle. Try to treat yourself with compassion.