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.
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Farooqji
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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.
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.
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
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:
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).
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.
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5 years of Sinemet and Dyskinesia
Does getting more sleep ever worsen PD symptoms?
Vitamin B1 dose for an early PD patient?
Is it OK to take Mucuna ALONG WITH Sinemet?
