Herbal Alternative medicine/ non addictive for anxiety/panic attacks

[kokkoo]

Does anyone have experience with taking 5-HTP? I wasn’t prescribed Lorazepam and it was making me feel very high and sleepy. I don’t want to get addicted to it. What are the herbal pills I could take? I struggle with generalized anxiety/panic attacks, thanks 🙏🏻

[CatIsMyCopilot]

My therapist recommended:

- L-Theanine

- Ashwagandha

- Tryptophan

To be honest, I'm not sure any are really helping, but I take them anyway, heh.

Many people seem to like CBD, though I haven't tried it.

[kokkoo in reply to CatIsMyCopilot]

I tried CBD it was working well until it raised my heart rate extremely high and caused me to have extreme panic attack.

[clopez1514]

Buspar is working so far. And I’m taking the Lorazepam despite my fear because the anxiety is not fun. I figure before I get addicted the buspar will kick in.

[kokkoo in reply to clopez1514]

How are you feeling on Lorazepam? What are side effects for you?

[telephonejunkie]

My son,who is also has ASD, has been taking 5htp 500mg, tablets for 5 months. He has tried 3 different antidepressants over the last 2 years and the side effects, notably increased sleepyness, lethargy resulted in him being overall, worse off than just dealing with the depression. He was so incapacitated that he could not attend lectures nor doctors appointments. When he did manage to get to the doctors they only increased the dosage of the medication he was on at that time.This mad him worse not better. He then found himself without the tablets and unintentionally went "cold Turkey" as he started experiencing withdrawal and serotonin side effects. This was quite frightening to him and as his University is some distance away we could not get to him to help. Luckily I have worked in this area and I am a qualified Medicinal chemist. After some research I found online instructions on the dosage to move across from branded medication to 5HTP. I ordered 5HTP tablets on 24hr delivery and he started taking them this next day. This reduced the withdrawal sysmptons within 24hrs. He has improved significantly, although he is very sensitive to any alterations in the time of day he takes the tablets, morning appears to be best as the chemical does seem to stimulate him in the few hours after taking. For him this has been a success after 4 year of suffering from depression/anxiety and then social anxiety. He is now in a place where he can communicate with the support network available at his university, previously he was so incapcitated he could not. Today we have an appointment with the disability advisers at Uni to put the full support in place for next academc year.

Just thought to add 5HTP is a precurser to seratonin, therefore compared to herbal remedies, which contain other chemicals that will have their own action on the body, I look at 5HT as a safer bet, once appropriate herbal teas and essential oils have not been sufficient to lift the moon/reduce anxiety.

[kokkoo in reply to telephonejunkie]

Thank you sooo so much for sharing your experience. I have been subscribed many times antidepressants but I never took it because I only heard bad reviews and never good. I never heard someone saying that it cured them. That’s why I was looking for an alternative methods, such as exercising and taking herbal supplements. Do you know by any chance how to figure out on the dosage? Also what brand of 5-tho are you using currently?

[wysereveryday]

I don't really know about too many meds but I do know that lavender and chamomile have calming effects. The effect doesn't last very long but very awesome for an instant relax. Mint tea also gives me a "happy boost" for about a half hour or so. I take multivitamins every morning, especially when my appetite is poor and it helps me get through the day. I have more energy. Herbal teas are my main go to. I reccomend Yogi tea. There is a tea for everything, from sore throat, to mood boost.

[kokkoo in reply to wysereveryday]

Thank you! I do take lavender and camomile tea double dosage right before I go to bed. It helps me to fall asleep and relax!

[NightOwl2020 in reply to kokkoo]

Just to add to that thought passionflower, skullcap and catnip work wonders as well. I mix these three to the lavender and chamomile for calming tea. A bit overboard but it works.

[Hidden]

The only things that I've heard, not tried, are St. John's Wort and Kava Kava. These are natural and the closest in terms of anything benzo related. Both, despite being natural, have addiction risks. St. John's Wort is notorious for interacting with a lot of other medications, so I've always kept away from it. CatIsMyCoPilot mentions a lot of popular ones that have shown some pretty good promise without the bigger risks. Valerian root is another closer to SJW and Kava Kava....again...it comes with risks and possible interactions. I actually kept away from 5 HTP and I don't remember why...possibly because as a supplement, here in the US, it isn't regulated and it does mess with serotonin levels. I wish I had more supplements to mention. One my acupuncturist gave me is Min-Chex 5525 by Standard Process...it's basically iodine with some animal parts (going to leave it there...it's not for the faint of heart) that some research has shown promising for depression, anxiety, and stress. I've tried it and I didn't notice any huge differences, but I also didn't take it very long. I assume if it's like any other med or sup, it takes time to build and work in the nervous system. Toss in calcium/magnesium as well...that's another popular one. Hope this helps and best of luck.

[kokkoo in reply to Hidden]

Thank you! If you find any information why you kept away from 5-http please let me know. I have valerian root tea at home. But haven’t tried pill supplements yet.

[telephonejunkie]

Hi again, I will look to see if I can find the conversion charts to 5HTP from SSri's. My son was on maximum dosage of Prosac when he changed to 5Ht. previously he had take citalopram and sertraline titrating up to max dosages.

I agree with about St Johns wort and kava kava as the dosage increases the quantity of compounds that aren't targeting the receptors for mood and anxiety also increases and this can cause other unpleasant s/e.

To clarify the body will turn 5HTP into seratonin. "normally" the body turns the amino acid tryptophan into 5HTP, some people cannot metabolise tryprophan, however this is generally identified when we are quite young.

The SSRi's block the receptors that "recycle" the seratonin our body produces, the aim being to increase seratonin levles and improve mood. Unfortunately with some people there may also be a dopamine imbalance and a few pharmaceuticals are used to try to increase this Biochemical.