|
| quote: | Originally posted by NeoPhono
5-HTP as in 5-hydroxytryptaphan? It's a naturally occuring precursor to seretonin, but it's only found in the brain, at least in great quantities. Like other drug precursors, such as L-DOPA for Parkinson's patients, the problem you run is raising your plasma concentrations of the finished neurotransmitter, in this case 5-HT. What does that mean? Neither I nor anyone else is really sure (to any definitive degree). I've heard of bad things that can happen, but I'm not sure if there are any conclusive studies of the risk of increased levels of 5-HT in the blood.
It will increase seretonin levels, but unlike SSRIs, it will raise levels throughout the body instead of just in the brain. Whether that is a cause for concern or not, I'm not sure.
If I had to guess based on my knowlege of the systematic effects of 5-HT, I would say that in moderate amounts, 5-HTP would be reasonably safe. |
5-HT receptors are present in most of your organs; the reason the ones in the brain are especially important is because they are linked intimately to the pleasure/reward neural networks that your brain builds.
If you eat too much 5-HT, the body will not utilize the excess... simple as that.
I agree which what you're saying, by the way... we don't really know much about this stuff, and it seems that in moderate amounts it is safe.
Personally, I've taken 3 100mg griffonia capsules (5htp) per day as a natural supplement, and it didn't give me any negative sideeffects, and many subtle positive mood boosts.
Also, after a chemical binge, whether it be drugs or alcohol or whatever, there is always the chance for chemically induced dopamine imbalances that cause a "fake" kind of looming depression... if and when I start to feel that, I take a 5-HTP right away, then 3 the next day, and it always goes away. This could be partially or wholly placebo and everyone's personal pharacology is different, but as for me... if it ain't broke don't fix it.
EDIT: They recently discovered that MDMA permanently increases the number of dopamine regulator sites in the neural net, which in theory would lead to the user having a greater capacity to feel happy in the future.
|