Would Lexapro function exactly like 5HTP,and are there any studies to suggest that 5HTP could be as good or better than SSRI's?
Lexapro is an SSRI and it does NOT function like 5-HTP. The main effect of 5-htp is to provide the body/brain with additional serotonin precursors, which is helpful if there's a shortage of tryptophan or other important factors in the diet. 5-htp has a minor complication in that it can be changed into serotonin in places where it's best not to have it, but that's a topic I'm not qualified to explore further.
As I said above, the SSRI class of pharmaceutical is far more complex than any serotonin-boosting supplement. For example, most of them antagonize one of the 5HT receptors (5HT1a IIRC), and this effect is responsible for many of the unpleasant side effects experienced during the first few weeks of use. A major reason that the medication's effects improve after a while is that the 5HT1a receptors up-regulate in response to the antagonist, so there's a return to baseline of that system and in the meantime there has been a gradual build-up of available serotonin.
But that's just one of many effects of Lexapro. I have a close friend who is a brilliant psychiatrist, and he once explained to me how drugs like Lexapro tend to diminish GABA release. He told me this because I had been hospitalized after having a seizure on Celexa, which is very similar to Lexapro. He said that my seizure was probably due more to my GABA receptors going bonkers rather than serotonin syndrome. I said I would tell my psychiatrist about this but he responded, "Don't bother, they won't understand."
The point of that story is to say that SSRIs are complex creatures. They can work wonders for you, they can do little or nothing, and they can fuck you up. You really just have to give one a try to see what happens. It might be an excellent choice for you!
Serotonin depletion is something I don't like since I'm on this for the long term.Isnt it the reason for ssri poop out?Or is that more likely receptor downregulation?
I don't know the answers to those questions, but receptor downregulation sounds plausible. I'm in a support group for people with combined mental health problems and addiction. We share success and horror stories about medications. In the 4 years I've been attending, it seems like almost everyone has had to change medications because what they were taking stopped working. Or they change dosages. Sometimes people have to go up, sometimes they have to go down on dosage. Fortunately there are so many alternatives that everyone seems to find something that works for them if they're persistent about trying.
Edited by deeptrance, 27 February 2014 - 01:58 AM.
