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.
