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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Mixing L-Tryrosine with St.John's Wort safe?
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.
Mixing L-Tryrosine with St.John's Wort safe?
by roger, Nov 23, 1999 12:00AM
I have been on St. John's wort for a month, and was wondering fi I could also start taking l-tyrosine.
I realize you can't with MOA's, but they have been used with tricyclics; so I wonder where it stands with saint john's wort?
what adverse symptoms/warning signs should I watch out for?
thanks so much
R
I realize you can't with MOA's, but they have been used with tricyclics; so I wonder where it stands with saint john's wort?
what adverse symptoms/warning signs should I watch out for?
thanks so much
R
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS.MD-AJ, Nov 24, 1999 12:00AM
Roger,
Tyrosine is an amino acid that forms the building block for catecholamine neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and norepinephrine. However, dietary changes in tyrosine levels do not influence the synthesis of catecholamines. Tyrosine is certainly not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of any mental health disorders.
St. John's Wort is a herbal product that is claimed to relieve symptoms of mild to moderate depression. Henry Ford Health System does not advocate the use of herbal products, because their safety and efficacy have not been proven, nor does the FDA regulate their contents or manufacturing specifications. Please discuss the use of herbal products and all over-the-counter supplements with your doctor.
Tyrosine is an amino acid that forms the building block for catecholamine neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and norepinephrine. However, dietary changes in tyrosine levels do not influence the synthesis of catecholamines. Tyrosine is certainly not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of any mental health disorders.
St. John's Wort is a herbal product that is claimed to relieve symptoms of mild to moderate depression. Henry Ford Health System does not advocate the use of herbal products, because their safety and efficacy have not been proven, nor does the FDA regulate their contents or manufacturing specifications. Please discuss the use of herbal products and all over-the-counter supplements with your doctor.
I've tried psychotherapy 7 times with psychiatrist, psychologist & councellors, most of these durations really helped me work a lot of things out, but I never did actually "feel" any less stuck in a slump or depressed.
Since 1987 I have tried imipramine, desipramine, trazodone, prozac, luvox, serzone, paxil, wellbutrin and celexa.
None of these things worked, and if they did somewhat, then the side effects where unbearable.
The only thing that has worked for me, with absolutely no side effects, is precription l-tryptophan at night (prescribed by my MD) and saint johns wort & a SAD light during the day. In only a month, I dont feel stuck, I can get to sleep, wake up, and for the first time in my life I dont obessess over things all day.
I think that its a real shame when doctors have the attitude of automatically turning their backs on anything that isn't created in a lab by a pharmaceutical giant, ironically because of safety.
There is scientific evidence of the effectiveness of saint john's wort, l-tryptophan combined with antidepressants; and if L-tryrosine was completely useless, then psychiatrists in the US and Canada wouldn't prescribe it with success.