Dhia Aldoori

Dhia Aldoori
Autumn 2011 in Ohio

Friday, June 7, 2013

How to Decide On How Much 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) and L-Tyrosine to Take In Mild Depression? (Edited: 1/15/17)



The question posed: “I am taking 5-HTP and L-Tyrosine supplements for mild depression and have been doing some research. I have read that a 10:1 ration (L-tyrosine to 5-HTP) is recommended so that no neurotransmitter is depleted. What are your thoughts? How about a 5:1 ratio? I know everyone is different but how would you recommend starting out and adjusting dosage?

My answer: (run the following by your doctor first before applying) 
I don’t agree with tying these two building blocks together in a ratio as posed because of the following: each one is involved in the production of different neurotransmitters, and everyone has a different magnitude of symptoms of depression which is commensurate with the neurotransmitter that is deficient. Therefore the symptoms and the response thereby to ingesting these precursors can be your guide on how much to take in the beginning and thereafter tailor accordingly.
If the exhibited symptoms include headache, poor sleep, inexplicable body pains, and/or memory issues then the anticipated deficiency is more in line with serotonin deficiency. Hence I would think 5-HTP is going to be needed for sure. I would start with a dose of 50 mg nightly after the evening meal and escalate a week later to 100 mg nightly and hold there for at least one month to see if the symptoms described here improve. It takes time to build up the amino acid pools in the body. This is assuming the 5-HTP is good quality and pure. If nausea arises, or if you become jittery, sweaty or get a rapid heart rate 30-60 minutes after (Edited: 1/15/17) intake of the 5-HTP in spite of taking it after a regular sized meal then you may be taking too much.
If the exhibited symptoms include sugar and starch craving, fatigue, preponderance of gloom, poor stamina, feeling cold more than normal people around you then the anticipated deficiency would be more in the adrenaline, and noradrenaline (neurotransmitter) arena. In this setting the tyrosine will be essential to production of the forementioned, as it is the precursor to both. As such I would go with a starting dose of 100 mg daily with a meal. This may be upped 100 mg every three days to a maximum of 1000 mg daily depending on side effects and therapeutic response. Once you get improvement then I would hold at that dose for 6 to 9 months then start weaning off over the following 3 months. I started low on the tyrosine as some patients may be deficient in this amino acid and on taking it in a large dose may result in hypotension, and or dizziness secondary to a higher production of adrenaline in a more than used to fashion. The body should be able to adjust to this over the following weeks, and if not I would do the escalation even more slowly.
Note: to produce neurotransmitters from precursors like you are targeting, there must be available certain vitamins which are part of certain enzymes and co-enzymes necessary for this production. Specifically I will mention vitamin C for production of serotonin and noradrenaline. Also copper and iron for production of noradrenaline. The amount I recommend is vitamin C 250 mg daily, copper 2 mg daily and iron 8-15 mg daily, or even better getting the equivalents in food (tomatoes, peanuts, red meat) (Edited: 1/15/17). The last two may be found in many multivitamin preparations. I would also recommend taking the multivitamin after the main meal of the day to enhance their absorption and decrease the possibility of nausea.
Note: do not take above supplements with anti-depressants.

7 comments:

  1. Thank you, Dr. Aldoori! L-tyrosine should be taken on an empty stomach, correct? My multivitamin contains 90mg of vitamin C and 2 mg of Copper, no iron. I was taking vitamin C supplements but I have had heartburn every day so I discontinued it (as I read too much vitamin C can contribute to heartburn). What recommendations would you give to get the rest of the vitamin C and the iron through diet?

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  2. Some good info here. Be a bit careful with the tyrosine. When I first started with it the 500mg capsules(1 dose) was too much for me to handle. It had a strong stimulant effect that lasted for a few hours which was somewhat pleasant but had an associated panicky feeling. Probably because it was boosting epinephrine and adrenaline as well as the dopamine. Splitting the capsules into 2 250 mg doses felt much better to me. After a few days of adjusting I felt much better overall. Now that i'm more adjusted I can handle the 500mg capsules but the 250mg is enough for me. I recently started 50mg 5htp as well and have not had any issues combining the two.

    Honestly, I feel as good if not better than I did on the SSRIs if I'm remembering the experience correctly. I think that if you do have a real chemical depression these supplements can really help and will be effective almost immediately. I'm taking both because I dont want to boost one at the expense of the other. The effect of tyrosine and 5htp is very significant even in the lower doses for me and I think they are worth a shot.

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  3. What are your thoughts on the herbal supplement, mucuna pruriens, for anxiety/depression?

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    Replies
    1. Please go to: http://thepillarsofhealth.blogspot.com/2015/11/mucuna-pruriens-in-anxietydepression.html

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  4. 5-HTP is a drug-free plant-derived source of an amino acid from the seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia plant that naturally increases the body’s level of serotonin, the chemical messenger that affects emotions, behavior, appetite, thought and sleep. *

    Promotes Healthy Sleep*

    Supports a Positive Mood*

    Supports Serotonin Synthesis*

    vitamin
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    supplemental benefits
    Nutritions usa supplements
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  5. To Nova Nutritions: 5-HTP by definition is a drug. [http://www.dictionary.com/browse/drug?s=ts]. :)

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  6. 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is the precursor of serotonin and 5-Hydroxytryptophan has been widely used as a dietary supplement to raise serotonin level. It may be involved in inducing the female to stay in copula and delay egg-laying to prevent re-mating of the female. 5-Hydroxytryptophan is also a drug that is clinically effective against depression, insomnia, obesity, chronic headaches, 5-hydroxytryptophan

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