5htp
 

Has anyone ever tried 5HTP to help with serotonin levels? I have been reading that this helps with carb cravings? Any info?

WebMD 5-htp warning

I wouldn't use it unless a doctor prescribes it.

The best way to get rid of carb cravings is to Not. Eat. Carbs. Sorry, supplements will not help if you are carb intolerant, or addicted to sugar. CAD can work some people, but for me and others, a small amount of any grains or sugar, sets off cravings, leading to starting, stopping, restarting.

I agree with Janet, I wouldn't depend on 5HTP (or any other supplement) to deal with cravings. We feel so much better and in control when we can kick the addiction.

I've taken 5HTP a couple of times and the second time I was on it (not under a doctor's care), it wasn't a great experience moodwise.

I used to take it to help with mild depression. It worked for awhile, but one day my mood fell off a cliff. Never felt so depressed in my life. It just sorta happened without any trigger, and thankfully I quickly recognized that it was probably the 5HTP. Went off it and mood went back to baseline.

I was actually hoping it might work for mood/anxiety as well. I read it helps with that as well as carb cravings.

Recommend you read both Dr Davis's Wheat Belly and Dr. Perlmutter's Grain Brain books, for the latest information on how grains can effect depression, mood and anxiety. So many testimonials of improvements on both their websites and FB pages after eliminating all grains.

http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/?s=Depression

https://www.facebook.com/permalink....209766919069873

http://www.drperlmutter.com/5-keys-...hp/?hvid=2axZqP

I couldn't take it long enough to find out if it worked on mood. Upset my stomach terribly. I have a $20 bottle of it sitting in a cabinet with about 4 pills gone... :(

Dr Daniel Amen recommends it for several uses. It is safe if you use if for the right reasons IMO. You can gget Dr AMens books to read the details and understand the use.

Dr Atkins recommends a number of nutritionals that are helpful for a variety of specific issues. I have recently (4-6 weeks ago)started L- tyrosine and will never go back to living without it. THis increases dopa mine and norepinephrine; it also deals with stopping the urge to binge. It has worked for me on both accounts.

5HTP is one that I have looked at and after careful consideration I have decided not to use it at this time as it increases seratonin and I need to bring up the levels of dopamine to balance the seratonin levels. It sits on the vitamin shelf, so I have faith in its ability to work. Dr Amen has not steered me wrong yet.

He's seems an interesting guy, having only heard parts of his PBS specials. Which book of his many do you recommend?

You might want to read Julia Ross' The Mood Cure. If you don't need 5-HTP it could raise your serotonin too much causing serotonin syndrome.

I used one bottle to try to help with my carb cravings while I was working on getting into ketosis. My draw back? I an hour after taking it, I was super horney . . . . I'm serious! it was tough but you know we all can work through our . . . feelings.