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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jennifer on January 3, 2000, at 17:07:23
I remember a posting a while back about combining 5Htp with St. John's wort. Someone had some success with it. Does anyone have experience with this combo? I've gone through about 10 different ADs with no result and am thinking of trying this combo. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Jen
Posted by JohnL on January 4, 2000, at 3:35:31
In reply to 5-HTP with St. John's Wort, posted by Jennifer on January 3, 2000, at 17:07:23
> I remember a posting a while back about combining 5Htp with St. John's wort. Someone had some success with it. Does anyone have experience with this combo? I've gone through about 10 different ADs with no result and am thinking of trying this combo. Any feedback would be appreciated.
>
> JenJen, sometimes when we go through a lot of antidepressants without success it is because of two reasons, 1)Inadequate dose, 2)Inadequate time. With me side effects usually cause the dose or time to be too little, and thus failure. Then I move on to another drug.
But if dosage and time were adequate, then perhaps trying a different class of drugs would make sense? For example, if you've tried antidepressants without success, then a mood stabilizer or two might work wonders, without any antidepressants at all. Even in the absence of any bipolar symptoms. Or an antipsychotic. Or a psychostimulant. It just seems to me that if the ADS aren't working, we're barking up the wrong tree.
I tried St Johns + 5HTP a couple years ago and it worked very well. 5HTP boosts endorphines as well as serotonin. I think that is an under-stated benefit of 5HTP. I did have sexual difficulties though. I think that is quite rare.
I would keep your doc in the loop with this. He/she may want to follow your progress for possible use in other patients. My optimum dose was 1200mg St Johns and 150mg - 200mg 5HTP. As with all drugs, start low and work your way up. Even though you've had more than your fair share of failures, there are still plenty of options to try. Wish you well. JohnL
Posted by roof8 on January 4, 2000, at 6:23:16
In reply to Re: 5-HTP with St. John's Wort, posted by JohnL on January 4, 2000, at 3:35:31
I also tried St John's wort and 5 HTP. I think these medications could have good effect on some people, because it really incrase the rate of 5 HT available in the nervous system.
But for me, it had the same bad effects than all SSRI's, i.e. increase of depression, agressivity, and insomnia. I had to stop it after 2 weeks.
In fact, St Jhon's w. and 5 HTP produces nearly the same effect (increase of 5 HT) than SSRI's, but in a more "natural" way.
I would advise you to try it about 2 weeks, and if no change, switch on an other type of AD like old tricyclics, before neuroleptics and mood stabilizers, because it will then become very complicated (there's about 20 or so different neuroleptics)
Esquisse from switzerland.
Posted by Morc on January 5, 2000, at 14:42:12
In reply to Re: 5-HTP with St. John's Wort, posted by roof8 on January 4, 2000, at 6:23:16
St. John's Wort was the best a.d. I ever used. Unfortunately, I had a one-in-a-million side-effect on it of genital anesthesia (!!!), so I had to quit it. Currently I'm taking bits of 5HTP sporadically through the day for the serotonin boost. It's helped, but doesn't feel ideal. Good luck.
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