Guarana - wonder supplement? Holiday in Madeira spent in bed! High temperature and of course absolutely 0 energy.

[karenthyroid]

I'd been feeling pretty good - as i'd discovered Guarana which gave me more energy and cleared the head for good thinking at last. However, when i went on holiday and started to relax (as is often the case) i got what is probably the flu. I then spent the 5 days left of my holiday and the week i've been back since in bed. I'm going to start taking Guarana again as my flu symtoms are all but gone and i now need my energy back. I'm on 100mg Levothyroxine and 10mcg T3 per day. Does anyone know of any reason why i shouldn't take this wonder suppliment?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Guarana contains a large amount of caffeine. Which some people seem fine with whereas others are less so. (I seem to be able to consume quite a bit in the forms of tea and strong coffee and never have a problem.)

Like everything, take is easy and don't go mad.

[karenthyroid]

Thanks, i used to take it before 12mid day so it wouldn't keep me awak at night as i already have sleeping problems. I'm looking to take Seratonine for a while to get rid of the depression brought on by this recent illness. Do you know how i should go about this? I've looked on the site and can only find questions about it? I try not to suffer with depression despite the thyroid problem, looking after my Father who lives with me and has Alzheimers and my husband and i both losing our company and not having worked for nearly a year! thanks, karen

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to karenthyroid]

The medics do things which are supposed to increase levels of serotonin but they do this with anti-depressant medications called Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors.

Some foods do contain some serotonin. Have a look here for starters:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serot...

I really wonder if your thyroid levels are right?

I would be very wary of taking serotonin.

[Naomi8 in reply to karenthyroid]

I have underactive thyoid (hashimoto)I have been suffering from depression with anxiety for 2 years.I have tried Serotonin in the form of 5HTP (available from health food shops and online)It is suggested that 50mg before bed is the best dose to srart with.I have tried it twice with a good gap in between.

It made my anxiety worse.

I have also tried guarana but I think the energy boost from cafeine is not a healthy energy boost.

[wobblybee]

I have taken 50gm of Sertraline (at night) for over a year. Overall, anxiety has

become less noticable. Sleep patterns vary from being sound asleep, to being

awake every couple of hours throughout the night. But, I wouldn't put this down

purely to the medication. It's such a personal decision taking something like this,

I don't regret it.