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Serotonin / 5HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan)

generalebriety

16

Anyone ever used it? What for, and what was it like? I'm curious.

Cheers. :smile:

Reply 1

vickyrkenya

2

You will probably get better responses if you refer to it as its more common name serotonin. I only know about its pharmacological attributes im afraid. You can probably get a fair bit of information on it by googling it.

Reply 2

generalebriety

OP

16

vickyrkenya

You will probably get better responses if you refer to it as its more common name serotonin. I only know about its pharmacological attributes im afraid. You can probably get a fair bit of information on it by googling it.

I have tons of information on it, but I'm trying to get people's opinions on it. It's hard to tell what's fact and what's opinion (and what's just purely made up) on other websites, so I came here because I know people here. :p:

Isn't serotonin slightly different? I know 5HTP causes the production of serotonin... hmm, I dunno. Will change the title anyway and someone more knowledgeable than me can correct me if I'm wrong. :p:

Thanks.

Reply 3

-Kav-

12

generalebriety

Isn't serotonin slightly different? I know 5HTP causes the production of serotonin... hmm, I dunno. Will change the title anyway and someone more knowledgeable than me can correct me if I'm wrong. :p:

Thanks.

It's basically serotonin with a carboxyl group stuck on the end. Since that's readily knocked off by enzymes in your body, it might as well be serotonin from your point of view. If that makes sense.

Reply 4

generalebriety

OP

16

Ah, I see. Thanks. :smile:

So, anyone know about... whatever we're calling this chemical now? :wink:

Any first-hand experience?

Reply 5

Spacecam

15

generalebriety

Anyone ever used it? What for, and what was it like? I'm curious.

Cheers. :smile:

5-HTP, otherwise known as:2-Amino-3-(5-hydroxy-1-H-indol-3-yl)propionic Acid

is a precursor (enzyme that catalyses tryptophan to 5HT for serotonin) and is used in anti-depressants, anti-convulsants and anti-eplileptics - in most of which it is an "orphan" (its mechanism on some receptors is not fully understood/known). It acts on the CNS by becoming a rate limiting factor in serotonin and 5HTP production, and is also naturally released in response to increased and decreased osmolity of body fluids during Homeostasis.

Ref: Medical Physiology GANONG

Reply 6

Thallium

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter which means that it is a chemical messanger within the brain. It is not totally understood however it is known that it has roles to play in state of mind- lots of serotonin = happy, not a lot = less happy. Hence it can be targeted by drungs to alter this balance. Drugs such as citalopram (an 'SSRI') act to increase its effects and can therefre be used for treating depression. Do you have any specific question?

Reply 7

generalebriety

OP

16

Erm... let me be more specific.

There's piles of information on serotonin out there. I want people's experiences of using it as a supplement. :p:

Reply 8

Alasdair

14

Is it a recreational thing? Or an anti-depressant??

Reply 9

Spacecam

15

It's also used as a dietary supplement, which is silly, as its in Turkey and Cheese and most dairy products in almost infinite amounts! It's commonly prescribed at low doses to small children to help fend off night terrors. Its a common treatment for insomnia and a quite high doses is a novel treatment for sleep narcolepsy and nocturnal epilepsy as an adjunctive treatment (used alongside others). As Thallium said: Lots of serotonin = happy! Serotonin is the "feel good hormone" most notably released during sexual intercourse! The antidepressant treatment acts to increase the amount, whereas some treatment (5HTP inhibitors) can act to decrease the amount. If this is the case, the side effects may be depression, decreased sex drive, hypertension, insomnia and anorexia (weight loss). Are you about to commence treatment or something - which particular drug are you asking about?

Reply 10

Spacecam

15

alasdair_R

Is it a recreational thing? Or an anti-depressant??

I can't see it being a very fun recreational drug: Side effects of increased 5-HTP therefore serotonin are nausea, decreased sex drive, gas, acute drowsiness!!

Reply 11

generalebriety

OP

16

alasdair_R

Is it a recreational thing? Or an anti-depressant??

Antidepressant, as well as a cure for disrupted sleeping patterns and night terrors, I believe. :smile:

Spacecam

It's also used as a dietary supplement, which is silly, as its in Turkey and Cheese and most dairy products in almost infinite amounts! It's commonly prescribed at low doses to small children to help fend off night terrors. Its a common treatment for insomnia and a quite high doses is a novel treatment for sleep narcolepsy and nocturnal epilepsy as an adjunctive treatment (used alongside others). As Thallium said: Lots of serotonin = happy! Serotonin is the "feel good hormone" most notably released during sexual intercourse! The antidepressant treatment acts to increase the amount, whereas some treatment (5HTP inhibitors) can act to decrease the amount. If this is the case, the side effects may be depression, decreased sex drive, hypertension, insomnia and anorexia (weight loss). Are you about to commence treatment or something - which particular drug are you asking about?

I was talking about the dietary supplement, 5HTP, I was thinking of starting using it. I realise it's probably nothing to worry about, but I like to be sure. :smile:

Erm, I have suffered from depression for about six years now, but I'm mostly trying to correct my sleeping pattern and work up the motivation to go out and do stuff. :p:

Not looking for a miracle cure, just something that will pick me up slightly and help me get into a routine - no matter how much willpower I throw at it and how many various sleeping tablets or different techniques I use, I can't get into a routine, which makes me constantly tired and lethargic. That, coupled with the depression, means I just really don't do anything. Need to break that cycle.

Reply 12

visesh

17

Spacecam

It's also used as a dietary supplement, which is silly, as its in Turkey and Cheese and most dairy products in almost infinite amounts! It's commonly prescribed at low doses to small children to help fend off night terrors. Its a common treatment for insomnia and a quite high doses is a novel treatment for sleep narcolepsy and nocturnal epilepsy as an adjunctive treatment (used alongside others). As Thallium said: Lots of serotonin = happy! Serotonin is the "feel good hormone" most notably released during sexual intercourse! The antidepressant treatment acts to increase the amount, whereas some treatment (5HTP inhibitors) can act to decrease the amount. If this is the case, the side effects may be depression, decreased sex drive, hypertension, insomnia and anorexia (weight loss). Are you about to commence treatment or something - which particular drug are you asking about?

OT:

I think you mean and infinitesimal amount, which is a lot different to an infinite amount :wink:

AFAIK, turkey has a lot of tryptophan, which is a 5HTP precursor.

EDIT: I need to proof read in future.

Reply 13

generalebriety

OP

16

visesh

OT:

I think you mean and infinitesimal amount, which is a lot different to and infinite :wink:

AFAIK, turkey has a lot of tryptophan, which is a 5HTP precursor.

Was gonna say that. :s-smilie:

And it's very much on topic. :p:

Reply 14

Spacecam

15

generalebriety

Was gonna say that. :s-smilie:

And it's very much on topic. :p:

I couldn't spell it so I tried to use another word!!

Reply 15

generalebriety

OP

16

Spacecam

I couldn't spell it so I tried to use another word!!

But you implied it was in large amounts. Infinitesimal means the opposite - it means "unmeasurably small". :wink:

Reply 16

AEH

8

Righty, this is a thread of almost purest bull****, as far as I can tell. 5-HT is a neurotransmitter which is associated with depression, amongst other things (As has been said). However, its function is very poorly understood and its certainly not something I or other junior medical students should be making comments on. Its also not really something I'd recommend you try reading up on as a layman, because you're likely to generate more heat than light.

With regards to dietary supplements, they clearly don't work. If they did work, they'd come into a similar category to anti-depressant drugs and they wouldn't be sold over the counter (There's a dozen other good reasons, but I can't be bothered explaining). Don't buy into the dietary supplements-natural good and harmless version of a real drug way of thinking.

Reply 17

Spacecam

15

5HT (or serotonin) is a neurotransmitter in the CNS and periphery that shows characteristics similar to the catecholamines Ref: WALLER et al. "Medical Pharmacology & Therapeutics 2Ed" Chpt4.

You are correct, as am I. I didn't include anything about the precursors to 5HTP or 5HT, which, to my understanding acts as the enzyme to catalyse the synthesis of 5HTP. I fail to see how your comments are relavent in this case.

You may be at Barts in Year 3, even if you are studying Medicine - but you are still a "junior" Medical Student until year 5. So don't go throwing that one into the pot. It is unfair to brand someone "Junior" to yourself simply upon the basis that they go to a different Medical School which you may view as inferior. Highly unprofessional in my opinion. But I value your comment, AEH, and I'll review my psychiatry and neurology notes to make sure they aren't "purest bull****".

Reply 18

AEH

8

Apologies, I include myself in the junior category sorry and I certainly don't view Manchester as inferior (Actually, they rejected me). Sorry, if it came across the wrong way there. Probably didn't get the point across overly well anyway, apologies about that.

The thing is, the enzymes that catalyze the precursors of 5-HT and the micro-knowledge of its CNS effects aren't really the issue there. As I said, to the thread starter they are heat not light because they aren't clinically relevant to him and they allow neither him nor us to answer his question. I'm just wary of baffling him with another round of medico-gibberish. In fact, the only good advice either of us could give him is to consult his GP if he's worried about depression. Sound fair enough to you?

Reply 19

generalebriety

OP

16

AEH

Apologies, I include myself in the junior category sorry and I certainly don't view Manchester as inferior (Actually, they rejected me). Sorry, if it came across the wrong way there. Probably didn't get the point across overly well anyway, apologies about that.

The thing is, the enzymes that catalyze the precursors of 5-HT and the micro-knowledge of its CNS effects aren't really the issue there. As I said, to the thread starter they are heat not light because they aren't clinically relevant to him and they allow neither him nor us to answer his question. I'm just wary of baffling him with another round of medico-gibberish. In fact, the only good advice either of us could give him is to consult his GP if he's worried about depression. Sound fair enough to you?

I'll answer that for him; he recommended via PM that I go and see my GP. And I'm certainly not under any delusion that what either of you says is flawless, or that if I go and take some drug somewhere I'll magically get better. I'm not that naive. :wink:

I'm not going to see my GP because I dislike her. Frankly, I think she's incredibly rude and doesn't listen to anyone, and consequently is very bad at her job. Anything she's ever prescribed or recommended to me for anything has made the condition worse. And there's no one else around here. All I'm really looking to do is get through the summer with the best part of my sanity, at which time I'm going off to university and can find a decent doctor who has more of a bloody clue. :wink:

So, what do you recommend? Given that there's no way in hell I'm going to see a doctor, at least for two months.

Not looking for a miracle cure. Just something that will help me get back on track and into a routine. Sleeping tablets and willpower don't cut it.

Serotonin / 5HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan)

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