What is 5-HTP and How Can it Help With Depression?
In order to understand if 5-HTP can help treat depression without the use of antidepressants it is important to know what it is first.
5-hydroxy-tryptophan is a chemical compound produced in the body to regulate serotonin in the brain and nervous system.
Some people, especially those suffering from depression, do not produce enough of this compound on their own.
Taking this supplement may help reduce depression.
There are some things of importance to note about taking 5-HTP for treating depression instead of antidepressant medication.
One is about the supplement that came out before it, L-Tryptophan which was banned in 1990 by the FDA.
While studies may have shown that it was linked to Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome, a report by the CDC in 1992 indicated that, in reality, that tryptophan was not actually responsible for the outbreak, but it was a contaminant in batches produced by one Japanese company called Showa Denko.
This company was in fact responsible for making 60% of these products sold in the U.
S.
and was produced with a new untested manufacturing process.
That is not to say that you should not use caution when using this product when treating depression.
Purity of this compound may be a big factor, and some scientists working at the Mayo Clinic found impurities in a dietary supplement containing 5-HTP and one of these impurities, identified as 'peak x', did cause Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome (EMS) in some patients.
Although some studies by the FDA confirmed that pure supplements did not cause this, there are some other things to note.
The pure form of 5-HTP can be used to treat depression as an alternative to antidepressants, but there are some precautions to observe.
Do not take it if you have cardiovascular disease, are extremely elderly or have Parkinson's Disease.
There are other diseases, if you have them, you should not take it either.
Some of these include liver disease, AIDS, myalgia, sickle cell anemia, hemophilia, chronic alcoholism, anorexia, or peripheral neuropathy.
Pregnant women and those on low protein diets or suffer from severe allergies should not take it either.
If you are looking to take this for depression, do not use it if you are already taking antidepressant drugs, tricylic medicine, anti-parkinson medications, or weight loss drugs.
If you are using alcohol, illegal drugs, antibiotics, or cold medicines, you should not be taking this supplement.
You should only take low doses of 5-HTP, anything higher than 100 milligrams should be supervised by a physician.
It should not be taken in excess, and because of its tranquilizing effects, you should not operate a vehicle while on it.
Look, you can treat depression effectively without antidepressants, but as with all herbal and other supplements, you should talk with your health care provider first.
It is also important that you learn as much as you can about any supplement you plan to take, including 5-HTP.
You can find an abundance of information about this supplement online, and there are many websites you can turn to for answers.
There are also sites that sell this compound, and be sure that you are careful, and only purchase products that are made in the United States and of the highest quality.
5-hydroxy-tryptophan is a chemical compound produced in the body to regulate serotonin in the brain and nervous system.
Some people, especially those suffering from depression, do not produce enough of this compound on their own.
Taking this supplement may help reduce depression.
There are some things of importance to note about taking 5-HTP for treating depression instead of antidepressant medication.
One is about the supplement that came out before it, L-Tryptophan which was banned in 1990 by the FDA.
While studies may have shown that it was linked to Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome, a report by the CDC in 1992 indicated that, in reality, that tryptophan was not actually responsible for the outbreak, but it was a contaminant in batches produced by one Japanese company called Showa Denko.
This company was in fact responsible for making 60% of these products sold in the U.
S.
and was produced with a new untested manufacturing process.
That is not to say that you should not use caution when using this product when treating depression.
Purity of this compound may be a big factor, and some scientists working at the Mayo Clinic found impurities in a dietary supplement containing 5-HTP and one of these impurities, identified as 'peak x', did cause Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome (EMS) in some patients.
Although some studies by the FDA confirmed that pure supplements did not cause this, there are some other things to note.
The pure form of 5-HTP can be used to treat depression as an alternative to antidepressants, but there are some precautions to observe.
Do not take it if you have cardiovascular disease, are extremely elderly or have Parkinson's Disease.
There are other diseases, if you have them, you should not take it either.
Some of these include liver disease, AIDS, myalgia, sickle cell anemia, hemophilia, chronic alcoholism, anorexia, or peripheral neuropathy.
Pregnant women and those on low protein diets or suffer from severe allergies should not take it either.
If you are looking to take this for depression, do not use it if you are already taking antidepressant drugs, tricylic medicine, anti-parkinson medications, or weight loss drugs.
If you are using alcohol, illegal drugs, antibiotics, or cold medicines, you should not be taking this supplement.
You should only take low doses of 5-HTP, anything higher than 100 milligrams should be supervised by a physician.
It should not be taken in excess, and because of its tranquilizing effects, you should not operate a vehicle while on it.
Look, you can treat depression effectively without antidepressants, but as with all herbal and other supplements, you should talk with your health care provider first.
It is also important that you learn as much as you can about any supplement you plan to take, including 5-HTP.
You can find an abundance of information about this supplement online, and there are many websites you can turn to for answers.
There are also sites that sell this compound, and be sure that you are careful, and only purchase products that are made in the United States and of the highest quality.
Source...