5-htp for adrenal insufficiency?

[sferios]

I've just read a bunch of articles about 5-htp (an amino acid precursor to serotonin) stimulating the HPA axis and increasing cortisol levels.

Has anyone tried this when tapering through the lower doses of pred?

[SnazzyD]

Got any links to them?

[sferios in reply to SnazzyD]

Sure. I try to read just the scientific articles (i.e., studies and study reviews).

1. This study shows significantly elevated baseline cortisol levels in patients with either depression or mania given 200 mg of 5-htp daily.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/660...

2. This study measured cortisol in depressed patients 90 and 120 minutes after administration of 5-htp, which were significantly higher, particularly in patients who were more depressed, and more so in women.

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

3. This study is about serotonin itself (5-ht), not 5-htp (the direct precursor to serotonin). It explains how serotonin stimulates the HPA axis on every level.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/111...

4. This is a high-level article explaining the role of serotonin in cortisol production.

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Many of the articles propagated in the "adrenal fatigue" stable tend to be quite old from a time when it was all thought to be very simple. Increasing understanding of the HPA axis suggests it isn't quite as simple as was originally thought.

[PMRnewbie2017]

"Increases in serum cortisol levels greater than 5 micrograms/dL were significantly more frequent in both unmedicated depressed and manic patients than in the normal controls. "This stands out as being the crux of all the references cited. Increases in serum cortisol are found in patients who already have altered brain chemistry because they have depressive illness. In researching the references I came across some new research concerning Orexins. Something I was not familiar with. These proteins have even more influence on the HPA axis and cortisol production. As PMRpro has indicated, we still know little about the precise functioning of all the aspects of the HPAaxis and cortisol production. One point of note is the statement "locally produced 5HT". Not orally ingested.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention, but sadly I don't think it's the answer.

[Cantfindanam]

No But I just started on Boswellia Serrata known as nature's steroid.Absolutely fab stopped a lot of pain .

Rheumatologist fine with me taking it and I am hoping the more I taper the effect remains the same.

[MiniSpec in reply to Cantfindanam]

Boswellia Serrata is also known as Frankinsense, and if you've ever read a Bible then you'll know the three wise men took some to give to the infant Jesus. As such I guess it's a very old and well known remedy for pain, and has the endorsement of the Bible!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to MiniSpec]

Maybe, but he was definitely too young for PMR...as were most in those days...

[Leafsong66 in reply to Cantfindanam]

HI! I took the Boswellia for my frozen shoulder Prior to my GCA diagnosis. It seemed to coincide with the cessation of my acute pain to the frozen less painful state. I would be interested to revisit it once i get down lower on steroids (currently 9 mg)

[Sillydogsmum]

For these trials/ opinion pieces to be relevant to folks with PMR etc they would need to have included subjects given 5HT on various doses of pred ( ie those already adrenosuppressed)and then compared them with the folks on nothing as controls. I cant access the full text to critically assess the methodology , analysis etc. in detail though. Also presumably these depressed folks are already affected by abnormally low serotonin levels. One study doesn't appear clear as to whether subjects are already on SSRIs.