My Experience With Tryptophan

[BlueEyes]

Wasn't sure if I should post this here or in a different section, so I'll let one of the "Laurie's" decide that for me!

I just thought I'd give you all a lowdown on my experience with trying Tryptophan. One of the BIG THINGS to know about tryptophan is to NEVER take this while still on an antidepressant. I'm 3 months off it now and, due to some insomnia/anxiety that cropped up, I figured I'd give it a shot.

Bear in mind that I was only on this for a week at most, and that my largest dose was a 500 mg capsule. They generally suggest two 500 mg capsules at night for insomnia, but I figured I'd try just one and see where that took me.

On the positive side, it definitely helped with any insomnia I had. I wouldn't say I felt it the first night but by the 3rd night, I definitely felt a difference in the quality of sleep I was experiencing.

However, even by the first day I noticed a bit of stomach upset. Couldn't put my finger on it, but my stomach just didn't feel right.

So I went ahead and did tons of research on the internet; they said nausea could be a symptom at first but would go away. And they also said to try either taking it on an empty stomach OR taking it with a bit of food to alleviate any stomach discomfort.

I tried both ways. Either way, I was steadily losing any appetite I had for ANYTHING fast.

Fast-forward to the end of my tryptophan experiment - I had to stop it due to severe nausea. Now I don't get nauseous very often, if anything I have more intestinal issues than anything "further up" in the stomach tract. But by the 5th-6th day of my taking this at night, I was so nauseous I could barely stand up straight.

I tried taking peppermint tea the following day after a tryptophan dose, I tried taking Maalox, I tried EVERYTHING. Trust me, if I can get decent sleep, I'm pretty much willing to swallow a bus if necessary to get me through it.

But honestly the nausea was AWFUL.

I may revisit this stuff as I go further along in this whole WD process. I was in fact on Prozac for over 15 years, so I know that despite the fact I took my last tiny dose of it on August 13th of this year that it's STILL not totally out of my system. Not sure if the nausea has anything to do with that but just trying to figure all this out.

Also, if I do try it again, I will try a lesser dose - maybe 250 mgs instead of 500 mgs. It seems the smallest capsule they make is 500 mgs, so I'd probably have to open one up OR just buy it in powdered form and go from there.

I know of other people who are on tryptophan and have had NO PROBLEM with stomach upset, so this could be just me and my body chemistry. I used a good brand and I've used this other brand in other vitamins that I take, so I don't think it's a matter of trying out a different manufacturer - I just think my body is just NOT ready for this quite yet.

Terri

[NewQuestions]

You seem to be doing pretty well overall considering how long you were on Prozac! Are you experiencing anything beside insomnia, anxiety and nausea?

[BlueEyes]

I guess I *am* doing okay despite the fact I've been on this cr$p over 15 years, and considering that I'm still able to hold down a full time job when all is said and done.

My problems BEFORE going on ADs were insomnia and anxiety, so the fact that these are also WD symptoms can really set me off on an emotional roller coaster sometimes. AND the fact that I'm perimenopausal doesn't help much either.

I think finding out about CBT has helped me tremendously in that I try not to get "emotionally tied in" to any insomnia and/or anxiety attack.

And the nausea actually only started AFTER I the tryptophan - which honestly I fully expect to go away once THAT is out of my system. So I don't even chalk up nausea as one of my WD symptoms.



Terri

[HanPanes]

I took 220mg of Tryptophan for about two weeks and it signficantly helped my mood but the second week I had an upset stomach NON STOP, I stopped the tryptophan and everything settled immediately. I didn't really experience nausea but couldn't go out for fear of not being near a bathroom - not nice.

Since then I've taken 5 HTP which works much better for me and no side effects even though I'm still on 8 mg of Prozac. It doesn't work all the time but I wouldn't be able to get out of bed for the depression at the moment if I didn't take it. I'm aware that you shoudn't take it on SSRIs and if it all goes ***s up then it does but it helps right now so I'm continuing.
Maybe you could see if 5 HTP agrees with you any better? Just a thought

[Songbird]

For anyone who does not know: tryptophan (an amino acid) is the pre-cursor to 5HTP, which is the pre-cursor to serotonin. About 90% of the body's serotonin is in the digestive system. Digestive upset is a common side effect of tryptophan and 5HTP.

[pax80]

have you tried inositol, i believe it can help people with sleep issues. I don't have sleep issues but tried it for anxiety , it made me extremely tired and sleepy all day. I took 500mg.