I want to reccomend the natural supplement 5-HTP (Griffonia simplicifolia) I have had sever depression since I was about 13 years old. Praxil, Prozac, and Zoloft did work for me, but they all had side effects. Also eventually each anti-depressant stoped working after I reached the highest dosage.
My Natuopathic doctor put me on 2 cap's 3 times a day ( 50mg a cap) and after about two weeks of taking them I've been feeling wonderful! I feel even better then I did with anti-depressants and I have NO side effects! I have a sex drive, I have energy, I don't have back pain anymore, I feel good when I wake up, I keep the house clean, I go for long walk, I enjoy crafts again, and seeing my friends..I can breastfeed my son knowing that he's not getting drugs in his system.
5-HTP is a little expensive ($25 for a bottle of 90 caps), and may not work for everyone but it's worth a try for sure....
__________________ Sarain
My age: 25
DX: age 13
Single
Shiatsu Therapist
Suprise Pregnancy...Now I have Gabriel Aaron,
Born January 19th 2006
I have tried 5-HTP (Griffonia simplicifolia) myself. Bought it at the drug store without any doctor's prescription. I am taking 150mg pill twice a day, one in the morning and one before going to bed along with a 200 mg pill of St. John's Wort.
I feel wonderful, however, suppose the dosage is too high, since I completely lost my sexual drive, I guess, due to excess in serotonine. The feeling is as if I had undergone chemical castration. I can look at a nice naked woman with indifference...
I will lower the dose to fix that.
Well, Sarain, I am affraid your body will get used to 5-hydroxitryptofan as it got used to Paxil and other medications. Doctors advise switching from time to time.
You should also take fish oil (rich in omega 3 acids) and B group vitamins.
Well the 5-HTP is still working really well for me. I haven't noticed any reduction in sex drive or any others side effects. I also take b-vitamins, fish oil, and I excercise. If this combonation stops working for me I'll find some thing else. I know that clinical depression is an illness, and I will alway have it..However, I will always work hard to manage it. Now that I have a child I have to stay on top of my depression at all times.
__________________ Sarain
My age: 25
DX: age 13
Single
Shiatsu Therapist
Suprise Pregnancy...Now I have Gabriel Aaron,
Born January 19th 2006
Hey I am taking 5-htp, one 50ml cap before bed, and I have found that it helps, i am no longer crying all the time and everything isnt such a big effort, if that makes sense. I wanted to try something natural before i went to the doc for anything stronger.
__________________ Chrissy To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Dan
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ok so i am VERY interested in this product. right now i am taking zoloft and even tho it seems to be working alright for my depression (i don't have to cry for no reason and i don't feel 'icky' all the time) but i still have the whole insomnia and lack of concentration and muscle aches that comes with my depression. since i moved i haven't been able to get into see a new psychiatrist or even a gp so would i need to see them to find out if i can or should take 5-htp with my zoloft. also do i get this from a health food store or like wally world or would i need a prescription for it?
any info would be greatly appreciated since from all the stuff that i have looked up online since seeing this post has been good.
__________________ Merideth (26) To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
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Meds- 2000mg met, 50mg Zoloft, melatonin, 1000 I.U. Vitamin E, Aleve DX- PCOS DX officially in 2000 (first cyst in 1994), along with other things
If women are supposed to be less rational and more emotional at the beginning of our menstrual cycle when the female hormone is at its lowest level, then why isn't it logical to say that, in those few days, women behave the most like the way men behave all month long?--Gloria Steinem
DO NOT take 5htp with another anti depressant. too much serotonin can be very bad for you.
although 5 htp is 'natural' and not regluated by the food and drug administration, the only difference is that it makes sure that your system has as much 'stuff' as it needs to make a lot of serotonin, while i think zoloft is an SSRI(?) which inhibits the 're-uptake' of serotonin, so what serotonin your body does make, has a longer activation time in your body. so taking the 2 together can be very bad and cause an overdose type thing called 'serotonin syndrome'...
it's kinda like how taking sleeping pills and drinking both work on the same systems so it's dangerous to take together.
not saying one type of anti-depressant is better or worse, just to be careful!
Is this safe to take while TTC? I looked online and found that there is "not much information on 5 HTP and pregnancy" at this time. Some women do take it during pregnancy. I think I'd stop taking it if I got PG, but I want to know if it can delay ovulation or something along those lines....I am very interested in it!
__________________ Kristen (Me) - 25, DH - 36
Mommy to my miracle twins, Evan & Leah, born at 28 weeks, 4 days
Leah - Fed via G-tube currently
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5-HTP Is Working For Me! 
very interesting 
