L-tryptophan Supplements

[SpikeBall]

Has anyone taken these? Apparently people with PTSD have very low seratonin levels and these provide a boost back up to normal, making you less prone to anxiety, depression, anger and so on. It's a similar supplement to melatonin in some way and also makes it easier to sleep. Supposedly.

 

[Blue Survivor]

I have not taken the drug/supplement that you have referred to, but I would be curious as well. I do work overnights, and I find that melatonin helps me get to sleep if I'm having trouble. PTSD's nervousness and anxiety don't help when it is noon & sunny and I'm supposed to be asleep, but I typically try taking melatonin only if my sleep schedule has been thrown off (due to a party or other event that took place during my normal sleeping time). Supposedly it is not habit-forming because it is a natural hormone, but I am not sure about that. It is supposed to be used to establish a routine, but not as a routine sleep-aid.

For those who don't know what melatonin is: it is the hormone that your brain secretes around dusk, and it tapers off around dawn. It sort of slows your brain down to get ready for bed. This is why if you ever go camping and get really tired much earlier than normal: it is most likely because you are not around artificial lights, a tv, phone, tablet...less light in general makes the melatonin kick in earlier.

And I did not know that we have low seratonin levels! That is very interesting!

 

[anthony]

A little surrounding this topic... purely for interests sake...

Apparently people with PTSD have very low seratonin levels

A quote I absolutely love about serotonin discussion is, "Although it is widely believed that a serotonin deficiency plays a role in depression, there is no way to measure its levels in the living brain. Therefore, there have not been any studies proving that brain levels of this or any neurotransmitter are in short supply when depression or any mental illness develops." (WebMD)

Funnily enough, once again, pharmaceutical companies target propaganda on depression, anxiety, mood and other mental disorders, surrounding an immeasurable element of the brain. Well... it can be studied from a neurotransmitter activity view, but actual levels cannot be distinguished to my understanding, being the difference.

Have I taken L-tryptophan supplements? No. Have I taken drugs that target serotonin? Yes. What did they do to me? They made me more depressed and suicidal.

At the end of the day... give it a trial, if it helps you, great. If not... ditch it quickly. The placebo effect is real, thus even that by thinking the tablets help you, can actually help you.

 

[Queen Boudica]

Where does the evidence come from that people with ptsd have low serotonin levels? I've never heard of this.

 

[Queen Boudica]

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2014/09/13/low-serotonin-levels-dont-cause-depression/

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I don't think that one can say that those with PTSD have low serotonin levels. I know that personally all those "serotonin booster" drugs do to me is skyrocket my anxiety and make me hypo-manic. I don't think that there is one simple cause for depression, either. Don't get me wrong, I know those drugs can help some people, but I know they don't help all people with depression. I think that part of it may be related to how one experiences depression. My "depression" hits AFTER anxiety, so attacking my depression does just about nothing. If I work on my anxiety, then the depression improves. Of course, other people go in the opposite direction and their anxiety hits after depression. If the supplements help you, then great! But I don't think that low serotonin levels are a common thread amongst all of us.

 

[Bill Dickerson]

From what I understand stress especially long term.. burns out or alters a lot of the brain chemicals. I think when many say low serotonin levels they may mean the brains ability to use what serotonin we do produce.

You got neurotransmitters, receptors, dopamine, serotonin, and a bunch of other stuff that just makes my whole brain hurt trying to figure it out.

Even the doctors will tell you they are just guessing why the meds work in the first place.

If it works for you and your not running naked up and down the street swinging a dead chicken over your head (though that be normal for you....just saying) go for it.

 

[anthony]

If it works for you and your not running naked up and down the street swinging a dead chicken over your head

Best response EVER!

 

[Philippa]

I've taken L-tryptophan. It's great for lifting your happy feelings up after a big night out. I took it for a while and felt like it did help and I have not been on meds for a few years now. I think some of us were discussing this on a thread a while ago.

There is also 5 htp which is a similar substance, though you need to take it with certain vitamins to avoid certain side effects. L-tryptophan doesn't have any side effects...and it was suppressed by the FDA around the time that Prozac was released onto the market, due to an apparent company f*ck up that had nothing to do with the actual substance...right before they discovered that many people started killing themselves when on prozac. The FDA suddenly released it a couple of years ago.

There was also something recently about depression not being caused by a lack of serotonin as previously thought, but I'd have to read it again before talking more about that.

 

[SpikeBall]

Thanks for your input, guys! To be honest, a friend just told me that people with PTSD have extremely low seratonin levels, I can't back that information up. It's funny how people with PTSD vary so widely, I feel like it's a much more complex disorder than, say, depression. This is my second day trying them. I feel a little disconnected, but I am better able to control my impulses/anger and I'm more reasonable. I don't know how that works. I'm calmer, I guess. Last night I did feel as if it wore off and made me feel a bit flat. It's also used for smoking cessation and I noticed I would have been able to overcome my cravings on it, if I were interested in doing that. I'm sure it effects everyone differently, making most of them happier, the intended effect.

L-tryptophan does have side effects.

L-tryptophan can cause some side effects such as heartburn, stomach pain, belching and gas, nausea , vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. It can also cause headache, lightheadedness, drowsiness, dry mouth, visual blurring, muscle weakness, and sexual problems.

Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: L-tryptophan is LIKELY UNSAFE in pregnancy because it may harm the unborn child. Not enough is known about the safety of L-tryptophan during breast-feeding. Avoid using L-tryptophan during pregnancy and breast-feeding.

A white blood cell disorder called eosinophilia: L-tryptophan might make this condition worse. L-tryptophan has been associated with the development of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS).

Liver or kidney disease: L-tryptophan might make these conditions worse since it has been associated with the development of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS).

 

[SpikeBall]

Also, I just found this review/comment in cyber space of someone elses' reaction, so I guess it's normal to be very calmed down by it, especially if you are battling with anxiety (as a result of PTSD)

I just started taking L-Tryptophan and am AMAZED at how much calmer I feel. The anxiety feelings?..are gone. I tried both Kava Kava and GABA. While years ago I got great relief from Kava Kava, this time around nothing. The GABA reaction was immediate and it made my anxiety much worse. I quit taking it immediately. Will the effect of L-tryptophan diminish over time, thus causing me to increase my dosage (1000 mg/3xday)?

 

[anthony]

The problem with random comments online, is that you don't know the level of distress prior, if anything real and actual, nor do you know whether the comment is paid.

From someone who has an online marketing background, many companies pay for random comments to be posted all over the web, every one unique so nobody suspects duplication. It works...