What about 5-htp?

Medications
1

I’m just curious. This is similar to l-tryptophan and I see that quite a few people on here have tried it or are using it. Is it safe to take with a AP?

2

5-htp should be treated like a med. An AD med. It’s a “dangerous” supplement in my opinion. It’s more like a med than a supplement.

I’d definitely clear it with your doctor first.

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3

I tried 5htp 400mg/day and I had bad withdrawals, felt depressed while without it before taking it I was never depressed. I took it for negative symptoms but it did nothing. Though I read its as effective as ADs for depression but I was never diagnosed with depression.

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4

It can be dangerous when mixed with ADs. It increases serotinin and can only be taken safely with wellbutrin, since that AD doesn’t raise serotonin. There’s such a thing as serotonin syndrome which can be deadly.

Also, web md says, "Some people who have taken 5-HTP have developed a serious health condition called eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS). "

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5

Thanks for the input guys. @Aziz @everhopeful @anon4362788

I’m considering just trying the minimun dose of 100mg daily. I feel to flat. It’s not exactly a depression, it’s more like I don’t have the potential to be positive in a way and am stuck with OCD symptoms and lack of pleasure. If I just got a little push I think it would sustain me.

Probably the olanzapine is pushing my serotonin too low to such a point that it actually makes me mentally ill. It does ward off psychosis. I’ll give the meds that, but I feel I have worse mental health in many ways than before meds.

I tried L-tryptophan which actually eliminated all OCD symptoms and gave some pleasure, but got migraines and pains in my head. Burning in prefrontal cortex. So I had to give that up. I might be inclined to try and take it in minidoses. Like 100mg a day, but the standard capsules are 500mg.

I read that 5-htp has a shorter halflife than L-tryptophan which might be good. If I take it in the morning it clears up before my next AP dose hopefully.

I’m not taking any antidepressants, just the olanzapine, so at least there shouldn’t be risk of serotonin syndrome.

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6

I get that when taking anything thats psychoactive including decreasing my AP dose. I feel like my whole brain is cramping but its usually temporary as the brain gets used to it.

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