Free The New Bible Cure for Depression & Anxiety by Md Don Colbert Page B

absorbed directly into the bloodstream. 4 This means that 5-HTP tends to be absorbed better than L-tryptophan. This also means that it is not necessary to take as high a dose of 5-HTP as tryptophan since more of it is delivered to the brain. Also, 5-HTP is a step closer to the formation of serotonin than tryptophan. And lastly, 5-HTP is able to raise the level of all monoamine neurotransmitters, which include norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, melatonin, and serotonin.
    L-tryptophan and 5-HTP are also quite effective in treating depression, which is usually associated with low serotonin levels. The normal dose of 5-HTP is 50 mg three times a day with meals or 150 mg at bedtime. However, after a few weeks, you may increase the dose to 100 mg three times a day with meals or 300 mg at bedtime. You should not take 5-HTP with any other antidepressants, such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil.
    L-tryptophan usually comes in a 500-mg dose. I usually recommend taking two to three capsules at bedtime. I recommend USP pharmaceutical grade, especially with L-tryptophan since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) linked a contaminated batch of L-tryptophan to a rare blood disorder called eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS), which was responsible for multiple deaths in 1989. It was taken off the market for a while, but has since been reapproved for use. Do not take both L-tryptophan and 5-HTP except under the supervision of a physician. It usually takes about three to four weeks to feel the benefits of these powerful amino acids.
    A Bible Cure Health Fact
    Caution About SSRIs and MAO-Inhibitors
    WARNING! Be careful if you are taking SSRI medications with either 5-HTP or tryptophan. There is a condition known as serotonin syndrome, characterized by restlessness, tremors and shivering, agitation, confusion, delirium, rapid heartbeat, diaphoresis, hyperreflexia, blood pressure fluctuations, and myoclonus. You are more prone to serotonin syndrome if you take an MAO-inhibitor drug with either 5-HTP or L-tryptophan, or if you are taking an SSRI medication with high doses of either 5-HTP or L-tryptophan. For this reason, please consult with your medical practitioner before taking 5-HTP or L-tryptophan if you are taking an SSRI medication, and do not take either 5-HTP or L-tryptophan if you are taking an MAO-inhibitor.
    L-tyrosine
    L-tyrosine is an amino acid that is eventually converted to dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine, which are neurotransmitters. Over the years, I have found that higher doses of L-tyrosine are fairly effective in treating some cases of depression.
    I usually start patients on L-tyrosine at 500 mg, thirty minutes before breakfast and thirty minutes before lunch. I gradually increase the dose and find that 1,000 mg to 1,500 mg of L-tyrosine twice a day, thirty minutes before breakfast and lunch, is usually effective for many individuals with depression.
    Be sure and take 10 mg of vitamin B-6 after taking L-tyrosine. Also, some people taking L-tyrosine benefit from taking an additional 500–1,000 mcg a day of sublingual B-12.
    D,L-phenylalanine is another amino acid that is converted to tyrosine and leads to the production of neurotransmitters. Both tyrosine and phenylalanine have mood-elevating properties and may be beneficial along with 5-HTP. The dose of D,L-phenylalanine is two 500-mg capsules in the morning on an empty stomach and one 500-mg capsule later in the afternoon on an empty stomach.
    St. John’s wort
    St. John’s wort is an herb that has been used for centuries to treat both depression and anxiety, with its medicinal uses first recorded in ancient Greece.
    An analysis of thirty-seven clinical trials concluded that St. John’s wort may only provide minimal beneficial effects on major depression; the clinical trials also found that St. John’s wort may be of greater benefit for people with minor depression. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the