re 5HTP..Has anyone heard of this and tried it for depression? If so, does it work?
458313
5-HTP is 5-hydroxy-tryptophan.  It is the direct precursor for the synthesis of Serotonin.  Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain that has been associated with many cases of depression.\n\nThe most common prescription drugs used for depression are called SSRIs - Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors.  They help increase the levels of serotonin in the brain.  Sadly, they often to not help patients with depression. (In fact, current medical research suggests that St. John's Wort may actually be more effective than SSRIs).\n\nYou can try 5-HTP to see if it helps.  It may cause side-effects in your gut, such as diarrhea or constipation. (Most of the body's serotonin is made and used in the gut.)\n\nIf you try 5-HTP I would suggest that you take some extra vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) too.  This vitamin is needed by the enzyme that converts 5-HTP into Serotonin.\n\nBest wishes and good luck!
815614
I have also suffered severe depression on and off for quite a while, and am currently battling post-natal psychosis.\nAnti-depressants aren't any good for me either. If medication isn't working for you, then more medication probably isn't going to achieve much.\nSelf-confidence comes with self-esteem, which cannot be provided by any drug. I'm not sure feeling elated all day is exactly normal, either.\nI am currently being treated by a natural therapist and an excellent psychologist, and have come further in the past eight weeks than in the past four years.\nYou need to check things like your hormone levels (these will most likely be out of whack with the depression), there are nutritional factors to consider (depression, anxiety and stress deplete the body of many many nutrients), cognitive behavioural therapy is brilliant, as is learning relaxation techniques. There are probably past issues you need to deal with (psychologist), and good regular exercise is suprisingly helpful (I hate it but I do it!).\nI honestly think you'd be better off exploring other treatment methods than putting your poor mind and body through another horrible experience with medication.\nWhatever you do, I hope it works for you :)
1025089
Yes I have and I would not recommend it. There is more to the story,but I will give some insight. If the individual or if its you who is considering it ask yourself these questions: How old am I and what more do I want to achieve in life. Personally I do well in society and got allot going for me. The problem is the side effects they said would go away never did. Memory loss and just plain forget fullness are ones. There is this kind of thing where you just freeze and forget things its hard for me to explain on the computer.
1086733
i did not, it works very good for me.  Gives me energy, and makes my mood better. I take 300 mg of it.
231417
pl;ease seek help noone knoes what depresson means unless they have gone through it . i have  and i also have had it for 4 yearshow i got throug it was first a visit to the doctor who prescribed antideppresant pills. the first lot didnt work  neither did the second etc. the eightth lot did work thank god.i didnt want to get up in the mornings i lost interest in everything , and i had no reason to as i have a wonderfull supportive husband and two beautifull children. you havent got to have a reason to be depressed it just happens. its easy to go in to it but much harder to come out of it.  you feel there is no light at the end of the tunnel .but belive me ,there is light. please dont sit at home ponderring over your thoughts  go and seek advice . there are people to help you . you can email me if you want . good luck and god bless.
1071624
Have you ASKED/QUESTIONED your PSYCHIATRIST about this???\n\nMake another appointment to DISCUSS this matter. Especially the being STILL VERY DEPRESSED part. \n\nWOW Seroquel 300mg. I can't take ANY MORE than 25mg.
917499
Wellll, my first question is why have you decided to do thsi?? After 7 years what has changed that makes you think that this is a move toward something that is in your best interest?\n\nOk that aside try this: take a pill every other day for 10 days or so, then half a pill every day for 10 days or so then half a pill every other day etc...then half a pill every three days...repeat by lowering amount til you're off...gradual on and off is the key...but if the depression comes back during this process please just go back on the pills... there is a difference between being controlled and being cured.
630497
i just resently switched, but i use it because i have horrible panic attacks. the other medicines that i took made me feel depressed and so far this one hasn't. i have only been taking it for two or three months and sometimes it might take longer to see results. but so far, i am very happy with the results with Cymbalta. i also know a woman that took it for depression and she said that it made her sleepy. but i have never felt that way, guess it just works different for different people. best of luck to you!!!
316841
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=1...\n\nI was on Cymbalta for depression and Fibromyalgia pain.\n1) It made my pain worse\n2) I lost my ability to climax sexually\n3) When you get off, the withdrawls are horrible and the maker has not made a taper program even though getting off without a safety net is suicidal.\n4) My suggestion, stick to Prozac\n5) It didn't do much for depression.\n6) It works differently for others\n7) Can cause liver toxicity and weight gain\n8) The makers have hide information from the public regarding clinical trial events. They don't even advertise it honestly.\nSee the link above, a question I just posted gives more information.
382423
How many informative answers!\nWhat I have to add is very few, although I retain that indispensable.\nAs the conventional teratment of this disease remains unsatisfactory, among the various alternative treatments used there are also the following:\n1. S-adenosylmethionine(SAMe) that is used in the treatment of both osteoarthritis and depression and it is for oral use.\n2. 5-hydroxy-tryptofan(5-HTP). It is a serotonin precursor that has been administered for the treatment of depression, migraine, headaches and obesity.\nThere is a study showing an improvement of the situation of the patients who had taken this medication in 30 days.\n3. Capsaicin. It is containd in hot pepper and it is FDA approved for postherpetic neuralgia. It is for local use and is a topical analgesic and can be the costituent of plasters, as well.\n4. blue-green algae. Their meccanism of action, is not completely known, yet.\nIf you need more information about the dosage forms, you have to read the complete articles and of course refer to your doctor.\nWhat you have to take always into consideration, are the drug interactions among pharmaceutical and natural therapies.\n\nAll the best\n\nKaterina
490397
I heard about it but I don't know nothing about its effects.My advice is to folow a treatement after you talk to somebody who has tried it so that you will not have any surprise.\n\n  If you are interested in more advices you can contact me at refrenu_23@yahoo.co.uk.Keep in touch.
15805
I have hears numerous times that saint johns wort works, but honestly you should try and figure out why you are depressed and talk to your Dr. about it. There are many medications both short term and long term that can help.
598389
Its can be used as a herbal remidie to improve symptoms of depression.\nCheck with your Doctor though as they say it can interfere with any other tablets that you might be taking, i.e birth control pills.
91035
Run don't walk to the nearest doctor and get some good anti-depressant medication. Don't give up. If one type doesn't work, there are four more types to try. All the different types of the drug approach the problem differently. It can take up to three weeks for you to even notice a difference.\n \nAfter you begin to see a difference in your outlook, get involved with a good Bible believing church and spend time with God (prayer and Bible reading) every day.\n\nI know there might be Christians who believe that simply going to God with a repentant heart will make all the difference, BUT, if someone is struggling with depression, they can't think clearly enough to do that.\n\nSerafem (Prozac) is a gift from God to me, and I wish my Dad had been given the opportunity to have anti-d's and his dad, and his dad....what a history of depression in the family!\n\nAnyway, good luck, and I hope you will give this serious thought.
1107659
hello, abilify is a new medication w/o many side effects like weight gain, ive been on it for quite awhile & things are going well i also take lexipro, i used to be oon effexor but after a while your body builds up a tolerance to meds, so maybe you should try somthing new for the depression & ask your dr. about abilify !! stay away from zeprexa there is a nationwide law suit against the company PEOPLE ARE DYEING FROM IT !! my sister died on zeprexa she was only 25 & it cause mad weight gain, high blood preasure and diabetes talk to your dr. soon there are alternitives !!!!!!!
194293
Yes it is a very good technique to use for anxiety/panic/and depression. I have used it and it has worked to decrease anxiety and also to prevent panic/anxiety attacks. The more you use it the more natural it becomes. I wouldn't say that it is a cure,but I would say that it is another way to get control of your panic/depression instead of it controlling you.
267258
St. John's wort worked for my wife, didn't work for me, but it's a place to start.\n\nI was almost certainly clinically depressed for a while in college and toughed it out instead of getting help, which I've decided was a mistake.  I had a relapse a few years ago and got counseling, but I resisted anti-depressants for over a year.  It was totally irrational, and I regret stalling.  Judging by how I reacted to going on and off the meds, it was obvious I had a chemical imbalance, and being ashamed of them or resistant to them was as foolish as a diabetic refusing insulin.  I did not become dependent and I tapered off after a couple of years.\n\nIf you're opposed because of potential side effects, keep in mind that the arsenal of anti-depressants has increased in recent years, so it's more likely than ever that you can find something without serious side effects.\n\nAlso keep in mind that depression that doesn't go away in a reasonable time is terrible for other aspects of your health, so toughing it out with exercise and comedies can jeopardize other systems in your body.