7 replies to this topic

[kadlec]

I want to try Lexapro for depression.

What worries me a bit is that I'm not sure how to tell what kind of supplements I can still take when I go on Lexapro.
I worry about interactions and especially serotonin syndrome.

Does anybody know if you can use whey protein powder when you're on a SSRI? Whey also contains L-Tryptophan which must not be taken when you're on a SSRI. Does this mean that whey is a danger as well? Where is the difference for example between taking a pill which contains 1gr L-Trypto and consuming a whey drink which also contains 1 or grams of L-Trypto?

I also take Spirulina powder 3 grams per day. Spirulina contains all kinds of nutrients,vitamins and amino acids.
What if it contains a nutrient which interacts with Lexapro? To me it seems virtually impossibly to really know if there could be interactions or not. Certainly this hasn't been tested before.

[blood]

Dunbar, is that you?
(I'm guessing you're locked out of your other account?)

There is no risk, at all, in consuming whey powder or other protein rich foods (steak, eggs, tofu, spirulina) in conjunction with SSRIs. There has never been a reported case where someone ate a protein-rich item of food while on SSRIs, and as a consequence developed serotonin syndrome.

My understanding is that various amino acids compete with eachother for transport across the blood brain barrier. When you consume a balanced protein source (whey, spirulina, steak, eggs, etc) many different amino acids are competing for access to the CNS/ brain, meaning your brain won't be flooded with e.g., tryptophan (even if the item of food contains a good amount of tryptophan).

Even the prohibitions against taking tryptophan or 5-HTP with SSRIs are a bit over the top. I've taken tryptophan or low doses of 5HTP on a daily basis while on various SSRIs, and only ever noticed positive effects.

[username]

I think that serotonin syndrome is a little overemphasized. Doctors combine SSRIs with other meds such as antipsychotics, but when it comes to more natural things everyone goes crazy because it's so dangerous
I wouldn't worry too much about it. Especially normal amounts of tryptophan in food. It's a different matter when you take supplements, but even then it's not very likely to happen unless you go over the top.

[abcmanomandriepunt1]

If i'm not mistaking lexapro doensn't work on dopamine like other SSRI's. I think many supps are safe but i would watch out with maoi's and serotonerg stuff. just don't take like l-tryptophane, 5htp, bacopa, lithium, resveratrol, quercetin and other maoi's . There are for instance a couple of seriously bad reports about combining bacopa with ssri's on longecity. You might not get serotonin syndrome, but seriously fry your brain if you take too much.

Food and whey also contains a lot of l-tryptophane but it's different then taking a supplement and I think taking a tryptophane supplement is a bit risky, but whey and food is ofcourse safe.I disagree with people saying supplements are just harmless, same goes for medicines. Many doc's say meds are harmless, but people saying supps are completely harmless or without a risk are also wrong in my opion. Everything that messes with neurotransmiters has some risk with it. drugs, supps, medicines. I had so many bad reactions to supplements, drugs and medicines which severly messed me up that I'm really precautious and I think it's good you are also precautious .

I take citalopram and I don't take anything that is serotonerg or Maoi, just for safety measures. Sane doc's don't combine SSRI's with maoi's as well, cause that's dangerous.

[BlueCloud]

Don't take curcumin with it. See my post here : http://www.longecity...tonin-syndrome/

[blood]

Don't take curcumin with it. See my post here : http://www.longecity...tonin-syndrome/

Interesting.

I take one Meriva capsule/ day alongside my Effexor. I get a boticeable mood drop if I skip the Meriva for more than a few days.

[kadlec]

Dammit!
Does this mean that when you take a SSRI you must not eat curcuma? I use curcuma a lot in meals.

And why is resveratrol an issue with SSRI? Does this mean wine is also forbidden? Damn, why is this so complicated?

I feel like it's virtually impossible to rule out all possible interactions.

[Thorsten3]

Dammit!
Does this mean that when you take a SSRI you must not eat curcuma? I use curcuma a lot in meals.

And why is resveratrol an issue with SSRI? Does this mean wine is also forbidden? Damn, why is this so complicated?

I feel like it's virtually impossible to rule out all possible interactions.

You mean tumeric? I doubt you put pure curcumin into your meals. Curcumin is a tiny percentage of the tumeric spice, so I doubt you'd have anything to worry about. Curcumin, on the other hand, is a highly potent MAOI, so could in theory cause a reaction.

Resveratrol is a milld MAOI, too. But so is tobacco. Does that mean smokers are at risk if they take SSRIs? In all honesty, I think you just need to quit being so paranoid. Just take the Lexapro, and chill out. Stop worrying about stupid shit that isn't even worth thinking about. Have faith in your Doctor.

Tryptophan is found in virtually all foods on the planet. Surely there must be billions of people getting serotonin syndrome? Tryptophan is easily shoved out the way by other amino acids at the BBB. Even on a low protein diet, tryptophan would still be outcompeted at the BBB. Perhaps, if you went on a zero protein diet (not sure if that's even possible), then hyperdosed tryptophan and took your SSRI - you might run into an issue (if you were sensitive to such a reaction).

5HTP, however, would be a different situation. Or hyperdosing a tryptophan supplement, might also have potential for causing a reaction. But why would you do such a thing? Both supplements are garbage and have zero evidence behind them for anything at all. If you are taking an SSRI, you are hardly going to need taking one of these worthless supplements on top (what are they going to improve, that the SSRI isn't already taking care of?). SSRIs though, at least have studies proving their efficiency in certain conditions (lexapro is excellent for panic).

Edited by Thorsten2, 28 March 2014 - 09:30 PM.