5-HTP in patients not taking Sinemet can worsen symptoms of PD

[Farooqji]

According to The Clinician's Handbook of Natural Medicine 5-Hydroxy-l-tryptophan (5-HTP) is beneficial only if used in combination with the drug Sinemet (a combination of l-dopa and decarboxylase inhibitor carbidopa). Brain serotonin is decreased in PD, but reduction in dopamine receptors is more severe. In PD, 5-HTP helps counteract negative effects that l-dopa in Sinemet has on sleep and mood. 5-HTP also improves physical symptoms of PD.

● Nine of 10 people with PD have depression as a reflection of serotonin levels. The lower the level of serotonin, the more severe the depression. Starting 5-HTP at 75  mg and increasing by 25  mg every 3 days until depression was relieved, or up to a maximum of 500  mg/day for 4 months gave impressive results in PD patients on Sinemet. Dosage range for response was only 75 to 125  mg.

● CAUTION: increasing serotonin with 5-HTP in patients not taking Sinemet can worsen symptoms of rigidity.

[Hidden]

I am taking 5htp with Mucuna and my symptoms impoved.

[bassofspades in reply to Hidden]

Me too

[glenandgerry in reply to bassofspades]

What dosage are you taking?

[bassofspades in reply to glenandgerry]

37.5 mg twice per day. Never missed a dose.

[park_bear in reply to bassofspades]

It is OK to take 5-HTP with mucuna but NOT with carbidopa/levodopa!See here:

healthunlocked.com/cure-par...

[glenandgerry in reply to Hidden]

What dosage? Thanks

[Hidden in reply to glenandgerry]

37.5 mg 2 x per day.

[Rosabellazita in reply to Hidden]

What is htp

[Farooqji in reply to Rosabellazita]

it's a supplement

[Kia17]

I totally agree with that. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like Zoloft also do the same as 5-HTP if are taken without Sinemet.They make PD symptoms much worse. I read a research few months ago that SSRIs won’t help PD patients and other groups of antidepressants should be considered.

[Xenos in reply to Kia17]

SSRI did not help me, on the contrary. I tried three of them for months, under medical supervision.

Three-cyclic anti-depressant helps (Amitriptylin).

[Jennyjenny2 in reply to Kia17]

My husband has deteriorated rapidly over the last 4 or 5 weeks with depression exacerbating his symptoms. He was started on Lexapro (same category as Zoloft) 2 1/2 weeks ago and has continued to decline. Please can you remember where you read the research as he goes back to the doctor in 2 days.

[Farooqji in reply to Jennyjenny2]

Clinician's Handbook of Natural Medicine

SECOND EDITION

Joseph E. Pizzorno Jr, ND

Michael T. Murray, ND

Herb Joiner-Bey, ND

[Kia17 in reply to Jennyjenny2]

I will search and let you know once I found it.

[Jennyjenny2 in reply to Kia17]

Thank you so much. I've tried googling to no avail.

[Farooqji in reply to Jennyjenny2]

Complete article extracted from the book is in the following link

drive.google.com/file/d/1CQ...

[parkie13]

Good to know. Thanks

[Farooqji]

According to Med scape,

A few reports have suggested that SSRIs may aggravate parkinsonian symptoms. However, trials assessing the effect of SSRIs on motor performance in PD patients failed to find a significant worsening of motor symptoms

medscape.com/viewarticle/47...

[Jennyjenny2 in reply to Farooqji]

Thanks so much for all your input. It's really appreciated as I'm overwhelmed with everything at the moment.

[silvestrov]

Here is an older thread featuring SSRIs, bupropion/wellbutrin and tricyclic antidepressants. It notes which ones are best for PD and there are comparative studies:

healthunlocked.com/parkinso...

[Jennyjenny2 in reply to silvestrov]

Oh thank you so much for all that info. It's greatly appreciated. I must admit I'm still a bit overwhelmed with it all, but I've printed it off and I'll take it to the doctor (hope it gets well received by him).

[bassofspades]

An ssri is not the same as 5htp. Ssri's block serotonin reuptake. 5htp is a precursor to (your body making) serotonin. St John's wort is a natural ssri as well.

[Jennyjenny2 in reply to bassofspades]

Unfortunately my husband tried St Johns wort and sadly it didn't help him.

[Erniediaz1018 in reply to Jennyjenny2]

Maybe he didn't take enough or allow time for it to enter the bloodstream

[Jennyjenny2 in reply to Erniediaz1018]

Yes looking back I have wondered that myself...

[Hidden]

St. Johns wort works very well for me.