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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
5htp causing strange reaction.
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
5htp causing strange reaction.
by echelon, Jul 11, 2007 12:00AM
I have been taking 5htp for about 3 weeks now and am finding it to be very good - much better than any SSRI that I've ever taken! I'm currently taking 100mg of 5htp last thing at night, with a cup of warm milk.
The only problem is, about half an hour after I've taken it my heart starts to pound and I got up last night to check my blood pressure and found that it was a bit elevated - 148/91 - I'm 37 years old.
I take Rhodiola Rosea each morning too. I'm taking some fish oil supplements, Ginkyo Biloba and a multivitamin/mineral supplement in the morning.
I also take a couple of brewers yeast tablets last thing at night too.
I was wondering if the 5htp acted like a monoamine oxidase inhibitor and is interacting with the yeast tablet. Is is Serotonin Syndrome? I don't feel particularly confused or sweaty, just the heart pounding. It's a bit like an anxiety attack.
When I get up in the morning I feel fine and my BP is back to normal.
The only prescribed med I'm taking is Propronolol 10mg in the morning for anxiety, but I had to take an extra one last night to stop the palpitations and lower my BP.
I honestly don't want to stop taking the 5htp as my mood is so stable and I feel so well. What could this problem be due to? I've bought some 50mg tablets this morning so that I can cut the dose and find out if that helps.
Any insight would be appreciated!
The only problem is, about half an hour after I've taken it my heart starts to pound and I got up last night to check my blood pressure and found that it was a bit elevated - 148/91 - I'm 37 years old.
I take Rhodiola Rosea each morning too. I'm taking some fish oil supplements, Ginkyo Biloba and a multivitamin/mineral supplement in the morning.
I also take a couple of brewers yeast tablets last thing at night too.
I was wondering if the 5htp acted like a monoamine oxidase inhibitor and is interacting with the yeast tablet. Is is Serotonin Syndrome? I don't feel particularly confused or sweaty, just the heart pounding. It's a bit like an anxiety attack.
When I get up in the morning I feel fine and my BP is back to normal.
The only prescribed med I'm taking is Propronolol 10mg in the morning for anxiety, but I had to take an extra one last night to stop the palpitations and lower my BP.
I honestly don't want to stop taking the 5htp as my mood is so stable and I feel so well. What could this problem be due to? I've bought some 50mg tablets this morning so that I can cut the dose and find out if that helps.
Any insight would be appreciated!
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Jul 13, 2007 12:00AM
, Jul 13, 2007 12:00AM
I understand your dilemma, but you have a problem to solve. Whenever you take so many different substances you become vulnerable to medication interactions that are not totally predictable. 5 htp is effective because it has the precursor elements of an ssri...combined with the others, and the anxiety blocker, it want be unusual to have an effect on your blood pressure. I think the person you want to consult is your internist, or if you are being your own doctor, at least cut down the dose to see what happens.
Member Comments (2)
by echelon, Jul 11, 2007 12:00AM
ps - I don't normally suffer from night time panic attacks. This has just started since taking the 5htp.
