[not_an_idealist]

First let me start by saying, feel free to direct me to the appropriate forum section if I'm in the wrong place!

A while back I was at my wit's end trying to figure out how to take care of an overwhelming anxiety that I had, I couldn't have a conversation without crying, it seemed, even when I wasn't sad. I was explosive with anger sometimes and definitely impatient. My emotions were all over the place (for various reasons, I'm sure). I thought it had to be hormonal so I thought I would look into vitamins. Someone directed me toward L-tryptophan as a mood enhancer, and boy was he right!! My mood changed dramatically. It wasn't a mind-altering type of thing, more of just the feeling of little to no anxiety. Alot more patience. Ahhhhhhh, relief.

Now I'm pregnant and have stopped taking it for the time being, mostly because of the research that I found on the topic, which is vague at best. Just alot of "there's not enough research", "it might cause this or that..." Problem is, I'm starting to feel that horrible anxiety again, probably for the same reason, lack of seratonin, and I want to not feel this way. Especially after the baby is born and the mind really goes haywire!

Does anyone have ANY info on taking L tryptophan during pregnancy? I know that doctors advise people to keep taking their antidepressants etc. during pregnancy, which have to be more potentially harmful to take during pregnancy than this supplement. I really need help here. Any advice?

[(JD)]

Hi! I'm not a medical doctor but I would check into taking additional vitamin B6. If you're deficient in B6, then your body might not be converting the tryptophan in the foods you eat ...

"Experts believe that the amino acid l-tryptophan (which is found in milk and other foods, such as turkey and eggs) ...raising the level of a chemical in the brain called serotonin"

Has your doctor warned you against eating those foods? Please do have a good discussion with your OBGyn. Congrats by the way

[not_an_idealist]

Thanks so much! I take a prenatal with B6, plus I eat pretty well. I also eat eggs and drink plenty of milk every day. I read that you cannot eat enough tryptophan containing foods to manage a seratonin imbalance.

Yeah, I told my OBGYN about it and if you could believe this, she never heard of tryptophan!!! So, she had no advice on the subject. I was kind of in disbelief as, even tho' she is very sweet, she will be performing a c-section on me and I'm wondering how much experience as a doctor she actually has - yikes!

[(JD)]

well... double check the level of the B6 in your supplement, maybe it can go higher for you? I'd ask your pdoc then... for help. At least the PDoc is one who is generally up on all the meds.

[not_an_idealist]

That was a great suggestion! I just realized that my prenatal only has 15mg of b6. I'll start adding 50mg today! That's not too much right? I'll let you know if it helps- I'm sure it will!