Mood Change Medicine
Wellness
St. John’s Wort: Backyard Weed as Potent as Prozac
This mood-boosting herb that can be found growing in your backyard is shown in studies to be as effective as a variety of different types of pharmaceutical antidepressants including tricyclics like amitriptyline, SSRIs like Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft as well as other types of antidepressant medications. Continue reading
Depression, Anxiety & Insomnia: Is St. John’s Wort Effective?
St. John’s wort is as effective as pharmaceutical antidepressants like Prozac for the treatment of mild-to-moderate depression. And it has fewer side-effects than the drugs. A key drawback of St. John’s wort is its problematic and potentially dangerous interactions with numerous drugs. Continue reading
5-HTP: Are antidepressants effective, and if so why?
5-HTP might be as effective as SSRI antidepressants like Prozac. But that might not be saying much. Most (if not all) of the benefits of SSRIs “are due to the placebo effect,” a re-analysis of FDA studies found. Antidepressants and 5-HTP may work in ways that don’t involve boosting serotonin. Continue reading
How safe are 5-HTP supplements?
A task force composed of 31 leading academics and clinicians from 15 countries concluded—based on Grade A level evidence—that 5-HTP has “Acceptable safety data”. Case reports of serious side effects following excessive doses or combinations of certain medications with 5-HTP raises the possibility of risk. . . . Continue reading
5-HTP: Efficacy for Depression, Anxiety & Insomnia
5-HTP might be as effective for depression as Prozac, but the evidence of efficacy is unclear for both the supplement and the antidepressant pharmaceuticals. It’s possible 5-HTP might help some people with either insomnia or anxiety. But the evidence is less clear. . . . Continue reading
Low Tryptophan = Low Serotonin. Does Low Serotonin = Depression?
There’s a major controversy over whether or not depression is caused by low tryptophan and it’s consequence—low serotonin. Some researchers assert that there’s no support for the hypothesis that depression is caused by lowered serotonin. What does the science say about the causes of depression . . . Continue reading
Tryptophan for Sleep: Not as Simple as Popping a Pill
Without tryptophan there would be no melatonin, the backbone of the biology of sleep. But tryptophan’s role in sleep might be more about how it is affected by things like diet, light exposure and gut health than it is about the tryptophan itself. Continue reading
Tryptophan: Interactions with Drugs & Supplements
Tryptophan can interact with drugs and supplements that cause sedation, increasing the sedative effect. Taking tryptophan with any of these drugs, substances or supplements might cause excessive sleepiness and negatively impact the ability to drive or operate heavy machinery. Continue reading
How Safe are Tryptophan Supplements?
People have been taking tryptophan in supplements for over five decades with just occasional modest, short-lived side-effects.
Tryptophan is not addictive and does not appear to cause tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, or rebound insomnia like sleep drugs. When used short-term, it’s likely a safer alternative to pharmaceutical sleep aids. Continue reading
Are Tryptophan Supplements Effective for Anxiety & Depression?
Tryptophan deficiency has been linked to depression in some people. Not all tryptophan deficiencies are the result of inadequate intake. A deficiency can be caused by problems like absorption issues. Other treatments that are more effective for anxiety and depression include talk therapy, biofeedback, mindfulness and other supplements like . . . Continue reading
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