My psychologist told me to try 5-HTP for anxiety. I hadn't had a panic attack in like a week, but a few hours after taking this I started having panic attacks and had them all evening. I have a fear of meds so it's hard for me to know for sure if it was the suppliment or what. I have never been able to take SSRI's though; they make me more anxious. I also had this feeling like I couldn't eat. I know it's sometimes used for weight loss.
Anyone ever have that reaction? I question myself sometimes and if I just bring this stuff on myself.
One thing I tried recently was Melatonin for sleep and that actually works really well.
5-HTP for anxiety
Hi Faith,
Do you know what is comparable to 5-htp? Answer this, do you have problems eating turkey? It is pretty much the same as turkey. unless you have food allergies to turkey,I think you may be tricking your own mind.
Unless you were already on some other of these well known prescription medications, the only thing that 5-HTP will do is give you seratonin syndrome, and make you feel tired and lethargic.
What you may have suffered from is most likely unrelated to the 5-htp. Please, try to do some of your own research on things before you put stuff into you and then you will know, at least something. I don't mean to seem harsh or uncaring, because I wouldn't bother posting if I didn't care.
You really might be able to avoid so many problems, real or imagined, if you do some, even a little bit, of research. You're smart. You can read and you can figure out questions to ask your therapist regarding your concerns, but you have to arm yourself with information you have researched. Knowledge is power, and the internet puts this information at your fingertips in seconds.
Webmd, NIH, many mental heath articles, etc. are all good starting places and I have so many times posted to you and others before, so I will not do it again because you should already have these links.
I'll pray for you.
Do you know what is comparable to 5-htp? Answer this, do you have problems eating turkey? It is pretty much the same as turkey. unless you have food allergies to turkey,I think you may be tricking your own mind.
Unless you were already on some other of these well known prescription medications, the only thing that 5-HTP will do is give you seratonin syndrome, and make you feel tired and lethargic.
What you may have suffered from is most likely unrelated to the 5-htp. Please, try to do some of your own research on things before you put stuff into you and then you will know, at least something. I don't mean to seem harsh or uncaring, because I wouldn't bother posting if I didn't care.
You really might be able to avoid so many problems, real or imagined, if you do some, even a little bit, of research. You're smart. You can read and you can figure out questions to ask your therapist regarding your concerns, but you have to arm yourself with information you have researched. Knowledge is power, and the internet puts this information at your fingertips in seconds.
Webmd, NIH, many mental heath articles, etc. are all good starting places and I have so many times posted to you and others before, so I will not do it again because you should already have these links.
I'll pray for you.
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Guest
I tried this years ago for insomnia and it left me feeling very very tired with a very low BP. SSRI's had the same effect on me. So, if you get anxious on SSRI's, it's possible you may get anxious on 5HTP also, as they appear to work in a similar way. This may sound a little strange, but to figure out if your reaction is real or imagined, have your husband give you one of the supplements, pills, etc. and NOT tell you if it is authentic or a placebo and see how you react. If your anxiety surfaces after a placebo you will know your own fear of the med is causing it.
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Guest
I did do research. I always do research. 5-HTP may be derived from turkey but it's not jsut turkey. If it was there wouldn't be warnings that you shouldn't take it with other medications without asking your doctor.Originally posted by Gman5256:
Please, try to do some of your own research on things before you put stuff into you and then you will know, at least something. I don't mean to seem harsh or uncaring, because I wouldn't bother posting if I didn't care.
<snip>
I'll pray for you.
Also according to this link 50% of the people taking it had INCREASED anxiety.
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/...hology/5htp_myth.htm
I really don't think it's all just in my head since I have the same reaction to other SSRI's.
I took the Melatonin and it didn't give me any bad reaction, so it's not every pill that does that. I really think there's something to it. But, I may try again on another day to see. Maybe my body just has to be used to it. All I know is I haven't had all day panic attacks in a long time.
Thanks for your info and prayers!!
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sleeplessMom
- Posts: 81
- Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2006 2:16 pm
Thanks for your feedback. . . so I don't feel so goofy. LOL. The placebo is a thought. Thanks!Originally posted by Mary Wargo:
I tried this years ago for insomnia and it left me feeling very very tired with a very low BP. SSRI's had the same effect on me. So, if you get anxious on SSRI's, it's possible you may get anxious on 5HTP also, as they appear to work in a similar way. This may sound a little strange, but to figure out if your reaction is real or imagined, have your husband give you one of the supplements, pills, etc. and NOT tell you if it is authentic or a placebo and see how you react. If your anxiety surfaces after a placebo you will know your own fear of the med is causing it.
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Guest
Hey one other thing I looked up Seratonin Syndrome. . . I looked that up on Medline. . .sounds awful!!Originally posted by Gman5256:
the only thing that 5-HTP will do is give you seratonin syndrome, and make you feel tired and lethargic.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medline...y/article/007272.htm
At any rate. I appreciate you taking the time. I'm considering trying this on another day when it's not so crazy. . .then I'll know for sure.
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Guest
Hi Faith,
I am glad you looked up these things. That's very good. The main thing about Serratonin syndrome is, that it is only reported on patients that over dosed on the 5-HTP alone or patients that are taking other meds along with 5-HTP, but a medical professional should know this and so should the pharmacist, but there are mistakes made.
This subject matter makes me nuts because about 13 years ago, I had that happen to me and once I realized that there are no real safeguards or guarantees, to keep such things from happening, I have become very proactive on checking out what ever I am given.
The mistakes made could have caused, in my case, severe liver damage, and death. BTW, I did get some liver damage from that experience. Thus, I get into the advocacy mode so much because of my personal experience and I worry about how people trust their doctors and pharmacist when they assume that they don't have to check things for themselves. Sometimes, prescriptions prescribed in error do slip through, as in my case, and that's the end of the safeguard.
I have read so many of your posts that I was becoming really concerned about you and many others. I think that maybe, I was panicking a bit too much. I think that getting input and information on these matters from people here is not real research, but people can give their personal experience with prescription meds and supplements, but that is not a reliable barometer, because we are all different, when it comes to some of our chemistry and personal tolerances.
I want to apologize to you, if I sounded like I was being mean or insensitive. On the contrary, I was flipping out with my concern, sort of like a mother hen with her chicks. This happens to me so much that I have been limiting the number of hours I spend on this forum. Because of the anxiety and elevated blood pressure I get from my concern for so many people here, but because of my disability, I have to spend my time doing something, and this forum gives me the opportunity to feel useful and productive. I hope you understand and accept my apology.
Sincerely
I am glad you looked up these things. That's very good. The main thing about Serratonin syndrome is, that it is only reported on patients that over dosed on the 5-HTP alone or patients that are taking other meds along with 5-HTP, but a medical professional should know this and so should the pharmacist, but there are mistakes made.
This subject matter makes me nuts because about 13 years ago, I had that happen to me and once I realized that there are no real safeguards or guarantees, to keep such things from happening, I have become very proactive on checking out what ever I am given.
The mistakes made could have caused, in my case, severe liver damage, and death. BTW, I did get some liver damage from that experience. Thus, I get into the advocacy mode so much because of my personal experience and I worry about how people trust their doctors and pharmacist when they assume that they don't have to check things for themselves. Sometimes, prescriptions prescribed in error do slip through, as in my case, and that's the end of the safeguard.
I have read so many of your posts that I was becoming really concerned about you and many others. I think that maybe, I was panicking a bit too much. I think that getting input and information on these matters from people here is not real research, but people can give their personal experience with prescription meds and supplements, but that is not a reliable barometer, because we are all different, when it comes to some of our chemistry and personal tolerances.
I want to apologize to you, if I sounded like I was being mean or insensitive. On the contrary, I was flipping out with my concern, sort of like a mother hen with her chicks. This happens to me so much that I have been limiting the number of hours I spend on this forum. Because of the anxiety and elevated blood pressure I get from my concern for so many people here, but because of my disability, I have to spend my time doing something, and this forum gives me the opportunity to feel useful and productive. I hope you understand and accept my apology.
Sincerely
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Guest
Thanks for the apology, but you're fine. I can tell that you're just trying to help. But, you just have to try not to get too upset by others' problems. I used to do that too. I used to get so caught up on some of the discussions here. Actually, there was a time when there was some debate going on and it really upset me . . . and I took a break because I was getting sort of obsessed about it all. I have enough to get obsessed with in my own life. LOL
It is so good to hear others' experiences though. It reinforces that I'm really OK.
I laugh at myself sometimes. . . I go to all these counselors and psychologists and they always end up telling me the same thing . . that I just have anxiety. It's not bipolar, it's not ADD, it's not really even OCD. But, when I feel panicky. . . it feels like I'm "crazy" and it's hard to convince myself otherwise.
I still have to decide if I want to try the 5-htp again. I think I might try it next week when I'll be working from home.
It is so good to hear others' experiences though. It reinforces that I'm really OK.
I laugh at myself sometimes. . . I go to all these counselors and psychologists and they always end up telling me the same thing . . that I just have anxiety. It's not bipolar, it's not ADD, it's not really even OCD. But, when I feel panicky. . . it feels like I'm "crazy" and it's hard to convince myself otherwise.
I still have to decide if I want to try the 5-htp again. I think I might try it next week when I'll be working from home.
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Guest
Hi Faith,
You hit it exactly. The problem is it is like a car or train wreck and my A type personality. I have to check it out to try to save the survivors. LOL
My wife reminded me the other day of someone I tried to save. I found this man laying on the ground outside the pharmacy. It was winter, and I ran over to him, ohters came and I took charge and sent them to call 911. I check for a heart beat and respiration and he had neither.
I pounded his chest and checked in his mouth and I saw nothing. I gave him CPR and mouth to mouth. I think the old timer died from choking, because a plug of what appeared to be bread projected out of his mouth like a rocket when I was giving him the emergency procedures. That really upset me because when the EMT's came they continued the fight for the man's life and encouraged me for my efforts, but when I asked, they let me know that he was gone. It really hurt me and my wife took note of it, but never said anything about it until the other day (that's after 15 years).
If your counselor is anything like me, I bet you drive your counselor nutty with your OCD about being bi-polar. You are fine.
I don't know if I can take 5-HTP, if it stronger than turkey, it will keep me constipated, and I don't like that. See what I mean about peoples tolerances and chemistry? There is no mention of that happening on any info I have pulled up on 5-HTP, it is mostly the contrary to the problem I would worry about. Isn't that strange?
It's really a good thing that your therapist is trying something natural. I started taking Rescue relief, and so far it has been good. I did experience a little bowel discomfort the first couple of doses, but the benefit far outweighed that minor discomfort. It's just flowers. How bad could that be? I even give it to my panic stricken cat and it has been great for her. It has really reduced the number of panic attacks she has had since I started giving her a drop blended with her food. BTW, she used to get about 4-5 meltdown panic attacks a day now only 2 minor ones a day.
TC
You hit it exactly. The problem is it is like a car or train wreck and my A type personality. I have to check it out to try to save the survivors. LOL
My wife reminded me the other day of someone I tried to save. I found this man laying on the ground outside the pharmacy. It was winter, and I ran over to him, ohters came and I took charge and sent them to call 911. I check for a heart beat and respiration and he had neither.
I pounded his chest and checked in his mouth and I saw nothing. I gave him CPR and mouth to mouth. I think the old timer died from choking, because a plug of what appeared to be bread projected out of his mouth like a rocket when I was giving him the emergency procedures. That really upset me because when the EMT's came they continued the fight for the man's life and encouraged me for my efforts, but when I asked, they let me know that he was gone. It really hurt me and my wife took note of it, but never said anything about it until the other day (that's after 15 years).
If your counselor is anything like me, I bet you drive your counselor nutty with your OCD about being bi-polar. You are fine.
I don't know if I can take 5-HTP, if it stronger than turkey, it will keep me constipated, and I don't like that. See what I mean about peoples tolerances and chemistry? There is no mention of that happening on any info I have pulled up on 5-HTP, it is mostly the contrary to the problem I would worry about. Isn't that strange?
It's really a good thing that your therapist is trying something natural. I started taking Rescue relief, and so far it has been good. I did experience a little bowel discomfort the first couple of doses, but the benefit far outweighed that minor discomfort. It's just flowers. How bad could that be? I even give it to my panic stricken cat and it has been great for her. It has really reduced the number of panic attacks she has had since I started giving her a drop blended with her food. BTW, she used to get about 4-5 meltdown panic attacks a day now only 2 minor ones a day.
TC
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Guest
She hasn't had a chance to be driven crazy since I've only met with her twice. LOL.If your counselor is anything like me, I bet you drive your counselor nutty with your OCD about being bi-polar. You are fine.
My biggest thing that drives my husband nutty is me thinking I'm going crazy and also my constant attempt at "fixing" myself. I always think I'll find some magical cure. I need to learn to accept that my makeup is that I have anxiety, and I will always have to control that.
My psychologist said to me yesterday that counseling is not what I need. . .it's a chemical problem.
I may try the rescue relief. My cats have had that too.
I'm not against trying other options for anxiety. I just don't like antidepressants for anxiety. I'm not depressed. . .so I think that's what goofs me up.
My psychologist told me to stay away from SSRI's in our first visit. . .but then on the 2nd one told me to try 5-htp which effects Seratonin. Seems contrary, but she also told me a bunch of personal stuff about herself and she has about as many problems as I do!! LOL