shimmeree Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 just wondering. i'll see my pdoc on thursday, so i can ask his opinion then, but i'm just curious. do they cancel each other out? effexor inhibits serotonin absorption, and 5-HTP supposedly promotes serotonin production. so?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stickler Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 (Mods: y'all might want to move this to the "alternative" section...) 5-htp with SSRI's/ SNRI's is dangerous-it can lead to serotonin poisoning, which I suggest you look up. That having been said...I am taking small amounts, very cautiously, and only when I REALLY feel like crap-under the theory that if I feel like dirt, well, chances are the serotonin in my system is low. So I use 50 milligrams like an antidepressant PRN these days, and if I use it, even at that low of a dose, it's usually only every other day, until I feel better. Then I stop. (Besides that, I'm not Mary Friggin' Poppins-I get on my own damn nerves if I get too cheerful.) Because only regular blood monitoring of serotonin levels can make this safe, and I don't have access to that. And I don't recommend it. I'm doing it out of frustration because I've been going through med after med in the past eight years or so, trying to keep my depression under good control...and now I'm on three meds at once...and still having problems coping. If your Effexor isn't controlling your symptoms, it would be much safer to simply take something pharmaceutical that will not interact badly with the Effexor. Now, not saying this as a doc, but as a crazy and a supplement user...I *think* L-Theanine is a safe supplement to use with psych meds-as in, no toxic interactions reported so far. It has a calming effect, and helps focus...can help in a minor way to up the serotonin supply, but not anywhere near the degree that 5-htp can. Therefore, it's been reported as safe to use. And I'm out of L-theanine right now, but it is pretty calming stuff...maybe almost as good as Buspirone, with the difference that L-Theanine goes to work in about 30 minutes. Still, if depression is your issue, why not just take more Effexor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowen Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 I don't really see how it's any different than taking Remeron and Effexor (colloquially called California Rocket Fuel). But I'd still be cautious, as supplements aren't regulated by the FDA. Who the hell knows what you're getting. Plus they tend to be pricey. How is the Effexor working? You're at the max dose covered by most insurance companies. Do you think something to augment it would help (Like Remeron), or has it crapped out on you completely? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notfred Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 Because only regular blood monitoring of serotonin levels can make this safe, and I don't have access to that. Actually, blood levels of serotonin have nothing to do with levels of the same in the CNS. Nor is depression caused by low serotonin. There is no test for serotonin in the CNS. nf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Elvis Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 Yeah, there's a risk of serotonin syndrome there depending on the dose. I wouldn't do it without talking to your doc. first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneMarie Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 I'd talk to my doc, mostly about meds if what I was taking wasn't working, but I'd also ask about supplements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nibblerd Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 I don't really see how it's any different than taking Remeron and Effexor (colloquially called California Rocket Fuel). But I'd still be cautious, as supplements aren't regulated by the FDA. Who the hell knows what you're getting. Plus they tend to be pricey. Remeron is a serotonin antagonist and does not cause serotonin toxicity (except in one reported case), whereas 5-HTP is a serotonin precursor that is quickly metabolized into serotonin, increasing levels in the brain. Quite different, both in mechanism of action and safety profile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudpuppy Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 just wondering. i'll see my pdoc on thursday, so i can ask his opinion then, but i'm just curious. do they cancel each other out? effexor inhibits serotonin absorption, and 5-HTP supposedly promotes serotonin production. so?!? A serotonin reuptake inhibitor increases the level of serotonin in the brain by causing less of it to be taken up, leaving it in the synaptic gap longer than normal. So, SSRI + something that promotes more serotonin production = MORE serotonin. They don't cancel each other out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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