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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by BobS. on October 18, 2002, at 21:16:57
There is a thread above regarding phenylalanine and aspartame. I have for some time believed that diet colas, with caffeine, improved my mood. P-docs give me a blank stare when I raise the issue. So..
Does anyone know anything about a "therapeutic" effect from diet colas, aspartame, phenylalanine, etc? I am convinced that it works for me. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
BobS.
Posted by Roman on October 18, 2002, at 21:34:35
In reply to Feel great on diet colas - phenylalanine????, posted by BobS. on October 18, 2002, at 21:16:57
Interesting concept. While I was starting-up on Celexa, I felt weird whenever I put a Listerine instant-disolve strip in my mouth; they too contain phenylalanine. I felt as if it boosted the serotonin level for an hour or two--thought it was just my brain playing more tricks on me.
I noticed they're made by Pfizer to boot!
Well, they certainly cost less than Celexa and the instant disolving media is great--like Claritin or that new OTC analgesic (forgot which one, Tylenol?).
Posted by wcfrench on October 19, 2002, at 14:24:08
In reply to Listerine Strips - phenylalanine????, posted by Roman on October 18, 2002, at 21:34:35
Man, whoever invents the happy pill will make millions.
Posted by wcfrench on October 19, 2002, at 14:26:47
In reply to Re: Listerine Strips - phenylalanine????, posted by wcfrench on October 19, 2002, at 14:24:08
Yeah, I feel lifted and I drink just diet sodas. But I get the same effect with coffee, so I assume it's just the caffeine doing the antidepressant work. It's the world's most widely used antidepressant, said my last PDoc. And I said "yep, I use it." And he kind of looked at me.
I don't think coffee has phenelaneutronics or whatever in it. Do you get a raise from that? If not, tell me what you're doing so I can try it.
Later,
Charlie
Posted by Gabbix2 on October 19, 2002, at 19:59:37
In reply to Re: Listerine Strips - phenylalanine????, posted by wcfrench on October 19, 2002, at 14:26:47
Yes phenylalanine has anti-depressant qualities.
It will give you a "buzz" and if you are taking dexedrine the carbonation in the soda will also increase the effect of the dexedrine.The amino-acid phenylalanine is however contra-indicated for anxiety disorders.
Its tricky though, depression is often the cause of anxiety and a stimulant can help lift the depression and therefore ameliorate the anxiety.
However if that is not the case phenylalinine (even in the listerine strips) can induce a panic attack almost instantaneously.And Forget the Dr's blank-stare, they can be good at those at those..one of mine said she'd never heard of anyone having withdrawl from quitting effexor!! and I know I wasn't her only patient.
If you find it does help, a protein supplement with phenylalynine is a good idea .
I get both types of anxiety and if I make the wrong choice relaxant or stimulant? it is un-fun (
Posted by BobS. on October 20, 2002, at 18:12:37
In reply to Re: you were right , posted by Gabbix2 on October 19, 2002, at 19:59:37
> Yes phenylalanine has anti-depressant qualities.
> It will give you a "buzz" and if you are taking dexedrine the carbonation in the soda will also increase the effect of the dexedrine.
>
> The amino-acid phenylalanine is however contra-indicated for anxiety disorders.
> Its tricky though, depression is often the cause of anxiety and a stimulant can help lift the depression and therefore ameliorate the anxiety.
> However if that is not the case phenylalinine (even in the listerine strips) can induce a panic attack almost instantaneously.
>
> And Forget the Dr's blank-stare, they can be good at those at those..one of mine said she'd never heard of anyone having withdrawl from quitting effexor!! and I know I wasn't her only patient.
> If you find it does help, a protein supplement with phenylalynine is a good idea .
> I get both types of anxiety and if I make the wrong choice relaxant or stimulant? it is un-fun (Gabbix,
I have, theoretically, some variant of an anxiety disorder for which I take Xanax (.5mg 3x). I think I have a tiny bit of dysthymia or extremely mild bi-polar. Anyway, I discovered diet colas (caffeine and phenylalanine) when I was trying to stay awake from SSRIs. I continued the diet soda after I finally withdrew from SSRIs. I think it is both chemicals that act as a mild mood elevator. While I like coffee (caffeine only), somehow the Pepsi One seems better, except first for that first coffee in the morning. I have been thinking about this for years. I recall several years ago, Jane Brody, the New York Times health columnist made a passing comment about finally overcoming her addiction to diet sodas. That plus my own experience has had me thinking for years. Then I saw the posts above and decided to ask my own questions.I did a medline search and found nothing about the AD effect of phenylalanine. Where did you, or anyone, get info on it? Also, what protein supplement are you referring to? What is the mechanism of action of phenylalanine?
Thanks for your help.
BobS.
Posted by Gabbix2 on October 20, 2002, at 20:36:25
In reply to Re: you were right, any studies, which supplement?, posted by BobS. on October 20, 2002, at 18:12:37
Phenylalanine when ingested is converted into another amino acid tyrosine which is used to synthesize the neurotransmitters dopamine and noropinephrine. This helps activate the central nervous system,and therefore can help decrease pain, aleviate depression and perhaps assist in the treatment of parkinson's disease.
Phenylalanine is available in three different forms, l- d- and dl-. The l- form is the most common and is the form in which it is incorporaed into the body's proteins.
Any protein supplement which contains L-phenylaline would be helpful to you, if you have been helped by it in the other products mentioned
previously.
It should not be taken by pregnant women or by people who suffer from diabetes high blood pressure or pigmented melanoma.If you wish to supplement with extra phenylaline do not use it on its own, for more than a week.
A supplement containing soley, phenylaline is safe however when used in addition to a complex-amino acid supplement.I don't have any studies off hand, nor a reference book available. I do know that there are books which do validate the anti-depressant theory, most probably natural-healing books.
I don't think there is much in mainstream depression literature, though I've never really looked for it there.
Posted by utopizen on October 20, 2002, at 22:28:49
In reply to Re: you were right , posted by Gabbix2 on October 19, 2002, at 19:59:37
> And Forget the Dr's blank-stare, they can be good at those at those..one of mine said she'd never heard of anyone having withdrawl from quitting effexor!! and I know I wasn't her only patient.
>>>LOL- It's weird how they do this. Mine too, but for something else I said. You sort of have this expectation they'll try to be smooth about making you feel better, then they give you the stare... heh.
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 20, 2002, at 22:44:10
In reply to Re: you were right, any studies, which supplement?, posted by BobS. on October 20, 2002, at 18:12:37
> I did a medline search and found nothing about the AD effect of phenylalanine. Where did you, or anyone, get info on it? Also, what protein supplement are you referring to? What is the mechanism of action of phenylalanine?
>
> Thanks for your help.
> BobS.There are actually a number of references to phenylalanine intake and mood in Medline. I don't know why you didn't find any. The advantage of phenylalanine supplementation over taking tyrosine is that phenylalanine is also a precursor to phenylethylamine (PEA), which is a mood elvating chemical in its own right.
J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 1995 Winter;7(1):6-14
Phenylethylamine modulation of affect: therapeutic and diagnostic implications.
Sabelli HC, Javaid JI.
Department of Psychiatry, Rush Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
A review of the literature indicates that brain phenylethylamine (PEA) may be a neuromodulator of aminergic synapses and that it promotes energy, elevates mood, and favors aggression. Phenylacetic acid, the main metabolite of PEA, is decreased in the biological fluids of depressed subjects and schizophrenic subjects and is increased in schizoaffective subjects. The administration of PEA or of its precursor L-phenylalanine improves mood in depressed patients treated with a selective monoamine oxidase B inhibitor. The authors speculate that studies of PEA metabolism may have diagnostic value and that PEA administration may be therapeutic in selected depressed patients.
J Clin Psychiatry 1986 Feb;47(2):66-70Clinical studies on the phenylethylamine hypothesis of affective disorder: urine and blood phenylacetic acid and phenylalanine dietary supplements.
Sabelli HC, Fawcett J, Gusovsky F, Javaid JI, Wynn P, Edwards J, Jeffriess H, Kravitz H.
To test the hypothesis that 2-phenylethylamine (PEA) modulates affect, plasma levels and urinary excretion of its main metabolite, phenylacetic acid (PAA), were studied in depressed and manic subjects, and the mood-elevating effects of its precursor, L-phenylalanine, were studied in depressed subjects. Mean total plasma PAA concentrations were 491.83 +/- 232.84 ng/ml in 12 healthy volunteers and 300.33 +/- 197.44 ng/ml in 23 drug-free patients with major depression. The 24-hour urinary PAA excretion was also measured in 48 healthy volunteers (141.1 +/- 10.2 mg PAA/24 hr) and in 144 patients with major depression (78.2 +/- 41.0 mg PAA/24 hr). The results suggest that low plasma and urinary PAA may be state markers for depression and are compatible with the PEA hypothesis. In further support, phenylalanine elevated mood in 31 of 40 depressives.
Posted by Gabbix2 on October 20, 2002, at 23:33:04
In reply to Re: you were right, any studies, which supplement?, posted by Larry Hoover on October 20, 2002, at 22:44:10
Kidding of course,
thanks
G.
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