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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by geno on June 27, 2002, at 19:41:24
Im currenty been titrating down from 50mg to 25mg for the last 2 weeks. I also started 50mg of 5htp in the morning with 25mg of zoloft. It seems a day or 2 later, after stopping the zoloft, i get these "electrical shock sensations". I figured 5htp would help such, but guess not. Someone posted to take the 25mg of zoloft every other day. How much and when should i take the 5htp? say 50mg for now, then up to 100mg day/night when i finally get off zoloft?
I under stand sssri blocks the reuptake of seratonin, or presynaptic antangonist which allows more seratonin to be inside the synapse and unable to reuptake back to the first pre nerve cell. 5thp, on the other hand, releases more seratonin or makes more. So what is better> reuptake or more seratonin release? im confused.geno
Posted by bookgurl99 on June 27, 2002, at 23:03:26
In reply to Switching to 5htp from Zoloft, but side effects?, posted by geno on June 27, 2002, at 19:41:24
I understand wanting to try a natural remedy. However, two 'sertrenogenic' substances in combination could cause 'seratonin syndrome,' which is potentially life threatening.Symptoms would include flu-like symptoms, sweating, a rash, or very vivid dreams or dream-like states. Even taking something like St. John's Wort or 5-HTP with an AD can cause it.
I would personally suggest getting _off_ the Zoloft first, allowing a week to two weeks to pass to clear the Zoloft through your system, and then adding the 5 HTP. Yes, you may have to deal with some withdrawal from the Zoloft. BUT, far better to deal with that than this complication that comes from mixing serotonin-boosting methods.
Posted by hildi on June 30, 2002, at 17:52:28
In reply to Switching to 5htp from Zoloft, but side effects?, posted by geno on June 27, 2002, at 19:41:24
> Im currenty been titrating down from 50mg to 25mg for the last 2 weeks. I also started 50mg of 5htp in the morning with 25mg of zoloft. It seems a day or 2 later, after stopping the zoloft, i get these "electrical shock sensations". I figured 5htp would help such, but guess not. Someone posted to take the 25mg of zoloft every other day. How much and when should i take the 5htp? say 50mg for now, then up to 100mg day/night when i finally get off zoloft?
> I under stand sssri blocks the reuptake of seratonin, or presynaptic antangonist which allows more seratonin to be inside the synapse and unable to reuptake back to the first pre nerve cell. 5thp, on the other hand, releases more seratonin or makes more. So what is better> reuptake or more seratonin release? im confused.
>
> genoYes- there is definately a chance of side effects! I just tried this recently and I am still recovering from what happened. I thought I would go 'all natural', so I weaned down to 25 mg zoloft and gave it a few days before trying St. Johns Wort - nothing happened (except blurry vision) so I stopped taking this. I waited a few more days and then tried SAMe. I wasn't feeling great from this, became anxious, so I stopped the SAME and I gave this a few MORE days (to let the SAMe leave my system) before trying 5-HTP. At this point I had too much serotonin in my system and I became very ill.
I would not recommend starting 5-HTP until the zoloft is completely out of your system. But, if you must do this, at least get down to a much lower dose of zoloft than 25mg before starting. Start shaving off portions of the pill from 25 mg down. Do not just alternate with 25 every other day. Slowly lower the dose down from 25mg to 23mg, 21mg, etc. . .But do this over a longer period of time than two weeks. Zoloft has a withdrawal effect (you are experiencing the electric shocks already) if you go too fast. Wean off this much more slowly and you'll feel better. Also, don't start at 50mg of 5HTP, start lower, maybe half of that. You do not want to get serotonin syndrome, which I believe was along the road that I was just on.
Posted by RonJohn on July 8, 2002, at 21:25:37
In reply to Re: Switching to 5htp from Zoloft, but side effects?, posted by hildi on June 30, 2002, at 17:52:28
What is serotonin syndrome? I'm currently taking 20 mg of Zyprexa with 10 mg of Paxil and 1200 mg of Trileptol. Is this combination of drugs ok?
This is the end of the thread.
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