Depression affects 1 in 10 Americans, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. Depression --- extreme, long-term sadness that prevents you from performing some of your normal daily tasks --- is a serious medical condition that requires both psychological and pharmacological treatment. Phenylalanine, an amino acid, is one potential medication that may help treat depression, but, as with all medications, consult a health care professional before using phenylalanine.
About Phenylalanine
Phenylalanine is an amino acid that your body requires, but is unable to produce endogenously, or on its own. Therefore, you must get sufficient amounts of phenylalanine in your diet. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, phenylalanine comes in three forms: D-phenylalanine, which is the manufactured form; L-phenylalanine; or the natural form; and DL-phenylalanine, a compound containing both D- and L-phenylalanine. The potential uses of phenylalanine include treating chronic pain, vitiligo, Parkinson's disease and depression. More studies are needed to verify the effects of phenylalanine on depression; you should talk to your doctor before taking phenylalanine supplements for any reason.
Phenylalanine and Depression
Phenylalanine, whether used alone or in combination with other medications, has improved mood in depressed patients. A study published in the 1984 issue of the "Journal of Neural Transmission" states that 250 mg of phenylalanine per day combined with 5 to 10 mg of 1-deprenyl, a medication used to treat Parkinson's disease, decreases symptoms of depression in 80 percent of inpatients and 90 percent of outpatient cases. Even when used alone, 50 to 100 mg daily doses of phenylalanine was able to reverse the symptoms of depression in 74 percent of patients, an article in "Arzneimittelforschung/Drug Research" explains. However, these studies were performed in the 1970s and 1980s and have not been tested fully. Further research is required to verify the use of phenylalanine as an adjunct to more conventional antidepressant therapy.
How Phenylalanine Works
Your body uses phenylalanine to produce potent neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters, especially norepinephrine, are associated with mood modulation and behavioral changes, the University of Maryland Medical Center states. When you are suffering from from a phenylalanine deficiency, you develop confusion, fatigue and depression. Theoretically, increasing phenylalanine levels will enhance the mood-stabilizing effects of norepinephrine.
Other Medications
A variety of other medications treat depression. Most of these drugs affect the function or production of neurotransmitters. Examples of drugs used to treat depression include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricylic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Finding the right medication is often an arduous task that requires constant medical supervision and proper patient feedback, MayoClinic.com explains. Each case of depression is different, and medication that works on one patient may not be effective in treating another depressed patient. Treatment for depression focuses on improving the patients overall mood without exposing the patient to debilitating side effects.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Phenylalanine; Steven Ehrlich, NMD; June 2009
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention; An Estimated 1 in 10 U.S. Adults Report Depression; March 2011
- "Journal of Neural Transmission"; L-deprenyl Plus L-phenylalanine in the Treatment of Depression."; W. Birkmayer, et al.; 1984
- "Arzneimittelforschung/Drug Research"; Therapy of Depression by Phenylalanine. Preliminary Note.; E. Fischer, et al.; January 1975
- MayoClinic.com; Depression (Major Depression): Treatments and Drugs; February 2010
