![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
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 Lao Tzu on August 6, 2011, at 12:51:49
In my opinion, I have a negative reaction to DL-Phenylalanine, but do find with L-Phenylalanine as far as the depression is concerned. I suppose it's the D isomer that I cannot tolerate. DL doesn't help my depression at all, but the L version is very pleasing. Has anyone else had this experience. Dr. Daniel Amen recommends the DL version for depression, but in my experience, this may only help some people, while the L version may help others.
Lao
Posted by Johnnybaklava on August 8, 2011, at 11:54:31
In reply to DL Phenylalanine vs. L Phenylalanine, posted by Lao Tzu on August 6, 2011, at 12:51:49
Me too. I still have DL in my cabinet and may try it again but the L form seems to give me more get-up-and-go, while the DL is OK but I don't get the same effect. It doesn't make me worse, really, I just don't notice the "coffee to the head" feeling I do with L.
Posted by bleauberry on August 14, 2011, at 13:28:57
In reply to DL Phenylalanine vs. L Phenylalanine, posted by Lao Tzu on August 6, 2011, at 12:51:49
The D or DL version will introduce the endorphin/opioid angle, which for some people won't feel good. Increased opioids can make some people feel dysphoric. Other people euphoric. Other people just normalcy.
The L form does not have any opioid action, so it is basically just helping produce more norepinephrine and some dopamine.
I don't think any doctor should recommend any particular form of amino acids, but rather give a manageable list to sample for trial and error. Those choices imo would include 5htp, tryptophan, NAC, DL-phen, L-phen, D-phen, tyrosine, glutamine, and gaba. Maybe the doctor you mentioned has just seen more success with DL than the others in his own practice, dunno.
In any case, you are a master at trying stuff and weeding out the duds, so I am happy to hear you have successfully pinpointed one that is good for you.
Posted by bleauberry on August 14, 2011, at 14:19:43
In reply to DL Phenylalanine vs. L Phenylalanine, posted by Lao Tzu on August 6, 2011, at 12:51:49
This is just a guess, but I think maybe a way to make opioid mechanisms such as DL work good is to block the mu receptors. A super tiny dose of naltrexone can do that. LDN therapy is usually thought of in terms of 1.5mg to 4.5mg at bedtime. However, doses much smaller than that....ultra ultra low....block the mu receptors but not the others. The mu receptors are involved with dysphoria.
Heroin addicts have discovered that these ultra ultra low doses prevent tolerance and withdrawal, and they theorize it is because those tiny doses are only impacting the mu receptors. We're talking tiny....1/10th of 1mg and smaller.
Maybe the DL or D form are allowing extra endorphins to flood all the related receptors, but the fact that one of those receptors is the mu receptor makes the difference between whether someone feels good with it or not...depending on the status of their mu receptors in relation to the other opioid receptors.
Dunno. Just thinking out loud.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Alternative | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.