Depression Symptoms And 5-htp

Depression may be caused by a chemical imbalance in your brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain that is thought to play a significant role in depression. Low-serotonin levels are associated with increased feelings of depression. An amino acid derived from plants, 5-HTP elevates the level of serotonin in the brain. As such, it is used as a natural antidepressant. Consult your doctor before taking 5-HTP.

Warnings

You can purchase 5-HTP over-the-counter, without a doctor's prescription; but taking this supplement without consulting your doctor can be harmful to your health. This is especially true if you take antidepressant medication, since 5-HTP can increase the potency of these drugs. It may also have similar effects when taken with other supplements such as tryptophan, St. John's wort and SAMe.

Appetite

Appetite may increase or decrease during periods of depression. Therefore, changes in eating behavior along with associated changes in weight are both characteristic of depression. According to Dr. Michael T. Murray, author of "5-HTP: The Natural Way to Overcome Depression, Obesity, and Insomnia," 5-HTP prevents weight gain by regulating hunger. The author also says that it is an effective weight loss supplement and can be used to treat obesity.

Sleep

Changes in sleeping patterns are common during times of depression. There may be a need for increased sleep, known as hypersomnia, or an inability to fall asleep or insomnia. Insomnia may also be manifested by difficulty staying asleep throughout the night or experiencing unrefreshed sleep. Purportedly, 5-HTP increases the quality of sleep so that lost energy is restored, and the body is prepared to meet its demands for the following day.

Headaches

Depression takes a mental and physical toll on the body. One common physical ailment associated with depression is headache. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, there is some evidence to support the use of 5-HTP for certain types of headaches in children and adults. One such study was conducted by F. Titus, et al., and was published in "European Neurology" in 1986; the researchers found that 5-HTP effectively reduced the intensity and duration of migraine headaches.

Side Effects

Although rare and generally mild, some side effects are associated with 5-HTP. The most commonly reported side effect is nausea. Other side effects include headaches, dry mouth, dizziness and constipation. These conditions are also side effects of SSRIs, a common classification of antidepressant drugs. However, the percentage of patients experiencing such side effects from SSRIs is significantly greater than the percentage of patients who experience these side effects from taking 5-HTP.