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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by morel1 on July 10, 2004, at 17:18:06
Hello,
I have insomina as long as i can remember and i've tried sleeping pills and sleep studies. Doctor has come to the conclusion it must be depression. If depression leads to insomina, is that a direct corolation to melatonin levels? I have had a test and the doctor sez my melatonin levels are ok but when i compared them to a normal graph, my melatonin levels did steadily increase throughout the night but were at significantly lower levels then the norm. Any ideas? Oh yeah I live in Canada so Melatonin is not over the counter so i'll go to my psy-doc and ask for a prescription. But 5-htp is available. I am taking 40mg of Celexa for 2 months and my anxiety has disappeared and mood lifted a bit - but i'm still tired everyday. How safe is it to take 5-htp and celexa together?Thanks everyone,
Posted by linkadge on July 10, 2004, at 18:27:42
In reply to 5-HTP AND CELEXA FOR SLEEP, posted by morel1 on July 10, 2004, at 17:18:06
Thats funny, because here in Ontario, melatonin is over the counter. The regulations were recently changed and I can buy it in the shoppers drug mart.
Linkadge
Posted by morel1 on July 10, 2004, at 19:12:16
In reply to Re: 5-HTP AND CELEXA FOR SLEEP, posted by linkadge on July 10, 2004, at 18:27:42
SAY WHAT!!!!!!! - How recently were they changed?? I'll go to shoppers right after work!
Thanx oh and by the way any other info concerning my post??
Posted by Sad Panda on July 11, 2004, at 3:04:30
In reply to 5-HTP AND CELEXA FOR SLEEP, posted by morel1 on July 10, 2004, at 17:18:06
> Hello,
> I have insomina as long as i can remember and i've tried sleeping pills and sleep studies. Doctor has come to the conclusion it must be depression. If depression leads to insomina, is that a direct corolation to melatonin levels? I have had a test and the doctor sez my melatonin levels are ok but when i compared them to a normal graph, my melatonin levels did steadily increase throughout the night but were at significantly lower levels then the norm. Any ideas? Oh yeah I live in Canada so Melatonin is not over the counter so i'll go to my psy-doc and ask for a prescription. But 5-htp is available. I am taking 40mg of Celexa for 2 months and my anxiety has disappeared and mood lifted a bit - but i'm still tired everyday. How safe is it to take 5-htp and celexa together?
>
> Thanks everyoneThe ideal meds to take with an SSRI for insomnia are Remeron, Trimipramine, Doxepin, Trazodone, Amitriptyline & Nortriptyline. These are generally refered to as sedating AD's & if you haven't tried one I would try Nort at low doses first. Some antipsychotics can be used too, but they carry an increased risk of diabetes type problems. I would not bother with 5-HTP, nutritional substances can only work if your diet is insufficient.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by KaraS on July 11, 2004, at 3:56:29
In reply to Re: 5-HTP AND CELEXA FOR SLEEP, posted by morel1 on July 10, 2004, at 19:12:16
> SAY WHAT!!!!!!! - How recently were they changed?? I'll go to shoppers right after work!
>
> Thanx oh and by the way any other info concerning my post??I'm not so sure that taking 5-HTP with Celexa (if you are on a full dosage of that medication) is a good idea as they are both serotonergic. You have to be careful of serotonin syndrome.
Posted by KaraS on July 11, 2004, at 17:15:19
In reply to Re: 5-HTP AND CELEXA FOR SLEEP, posted by morel1 on July 10, 2004, at 19:12:16
I'm surprised that Dr. Bob didn't move this thread to the alternative board. You should check that out if you haven't already. There are a lot of people with experience with 5-HTP who could answer your question and recommend alternative substances to try.
Posted by SDA on July 12, 2004, at 17:31:53
In reply to Re: 5-HTP AND CELEXA - go to the Alternative Board, posted by KaraS on July 11, 2004, at 17:15:19
NONONO!
When used in conjunction with an SSRI medication, 5HTP can cause serotonin syndrome. The conesquences can be fatal. Here's an excerpt from www.crazymeds.org:
"Don't mix l-tryptophan / 5-HTP / Tryptan with SSRIs, multiple reuptake inhibitors or Remeron (mirtazapine). Just don't. Unless your doctor tells you to, of course. That's your doctor and not anyone else. Otherwise you're seriously screwing with your serotonin levels and wildly unpredictable results may occur, including the potentially fatal serotonin syndrome. That's right, you could DIE from the advice some hippie at Ye Olde Vitamin Shoppe gives you about taking 5-HTP along with your Prozac. Amino acids are powerful things, so long as what's in the capsule is what was promised on the label. Anyway, l-tryptophan converts to 5-HTP, which converts to serotonin. So when you take these supplements you wind up getting more serotonin, which is why they are sold as antidepressants, amongst other things. You just don't know how much more you're going to get. I'll cover them in detail in an article specifically on supplements. I'm not against them, I take amino acids myself, with the advice and consent of my doctor. I'm just against taking them stupidly. Do one or the other, not both!
The same goes for valerian and cough syrups containing dextromethorphan. Don't mix these with SSRIs."
This is the end of the thread.
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