6 replies to this topic

[brainfarmer]

Hello. For the last year or so I've been exploring nutritional therapy for my difficulties with depression/anxiety/attention deficit disorder. I've made a lot of progress with SAM-e, sublingual coenzyme b vitamins, and a variety of other supplements. However for a while I've been dissatisfied with the lack of viable options for serotonin precursors. L-tryptophan is controversialy unavailable in the US and based on my reading and personal experience 5-HTP seemed like a dead end. Until last night, that is.

5-HTP is a single metabolic step from becoming 5-HT(serotonin). When administered orally, most of the 5-HTP is converted to 5-HT in the stomach, intestines, and bloodstream. This is bad because 5-HT cannot cross the brain blood barrier(BBB), and too much serotonin in the bloodstream causes unpleasant side effects. Then, almost a year after dismissing the supplement it occured to me that a sublingual administration would have a better opportunity to cross the BBB unchanged while far less would enter the GI tract where it will cause discomfort. Based on this idea I placed about 15mg 5-HTP (from a 100mg capsule ofgriffonia simplicifolia extract) under my tongue last night. After several minutes (without swallowing) I noticed a pronounced serotonergic effect. I then spit out the remainder and rinsed my mouth to minimize ingestion. No major side effects were noticed, and I plan to repeat again tonight. Today I've felt quite good, rather light-hearted despite the realization that BAC no longer sells pyridoxamine.

I just did a websearch, and sure enough there are a couple sublingual 5-HTP formulations on the market. I would recommend trying these to anyone seeking the benefits of 5-HTP with reduced side effects.

BF

[scottl]

Tryptophan is available on the web (use froogle for cheapest).

[Dom]

Would snorting 5-HTP be a good idea?

[ajnast4r]

Would snorting 5-HTP be a good idea?

no

[Advanc3d]

Would snorting 5-HTP be a good idea?

no

it wouldnt be a good idea but it works
ive tried it and it hit me within a few minutes, and you only need 1/3 of the dose

Note: it will make u sneeze if u do it wrong because 5htp powder is airfloat.

Sublingual works a lot better than oral but snorting it actually makes me feel it.
now days i only feel 5htp when i sleep as i have very vivid dreams on it.

Ive taken enough 5-htp over the past 2 years that i dont feel anything from it anymore unless i took MDMA the night before. i think i gained a mad tolerence to 5htp :(

[lieb2101]

I personally have had great luck with 5-HTP for a couple months until I gained a huge tolerance to it... now it doesn't do anything for me. I'm going to try to go off it for a week or two to see if I can re-gain its effectiveness. I also have had good luck taking it sublingually.

I'm specifically concerned with the effects of having too much serotonin in the blood system as I hear a side effect can be heart valve fibrosis. Not good for me considering I just had a congenital faulty heart valve replace a year ago.

Can anyone back up the claim that if you take 5-HTP sublingualy that it will minimize this risk? What about taking it with a B Complex (or just B6)? I don't think L-tryptophan has the same risk but I haven't found a safe source of it yet.

Thanks,
-B

Edited by lieb2101, 14 January 2009 - 02:23 PM.

[OneScrewLoose]

I don't see how this would reduce the risk that much. The 5-HTP still gets in the bloodstream and can still be converted to serotonin.