Ive been on ADs since DD was a few months old - citalopram, then duloxetine, which was actually prescribved for stress incontinence, but was having the AD effect as well.

I had to come off the duloxetene while I had some urology tests, so I wanted to see how Id be without it. And I feel crap. But at the same time, Im seeing a lot of things clearly for the first time in ages - I feel as if ive had my head in the sand about a lot of things.

But now I feel very raw and unprotected, and Im sleeping badly - waking early feeling panicky - so I thought of trying 5 htp as Id heard it was gentler and had fewer side effects that prescribed ssris.

Does anyone know how long til you can expect to get an effect, and do you need to wean yourself off them in the same way as prescribed drugs? I got mine from Healthspan, it just says to take one before bedtime, up to three, try for three months then come off to assess response.

Any more info would be gratefully received!

<<lurks>>

even though it is not available in ireland . no idea why.

hope you feel better soon.

Thank you! I wonder why you cant get it in Ireland?

no idea. i toyed with asking my dad to buy it for me when he was out of the country but never did.

how is it going for you?

Ive only been taking it since Thursday - I dont know how soon I can expect to feel an effect. I dont really feel any different yet.

hi fubsy, a week now, hopefully it's kicking in a bit and you're feeling a bit less stressed

I've got some but because it's not recommended when breast feeding, I take it infrequently.

Have a look at the Patrick Holford website as he is a fan of it. There will also be other advices such as upping omega 3 uptake.

Have you thought about st johns wort ? This has just been recommended to by my dr & therapist.

HTH

Thanks, still a bit up and down, but sleeping better which is something. A lot of my depression is from things hanging over me that I need to deal with - when I was on the ADs I was hiding my head in the sand and not doing anything about them. So I need to make sure I do something now!

Interesting about upping Omega 3 uptake - I did a nutition profile on the Healthspan website, and that and vit Bs were recommended, so i am taking them as well.

Does anyone know if there is a problem with stopping it, like ADs, do you have to wean yourself off, or is it OK just to stop?

Hi I swear by 5HTP. It actually starts to work almost immediately and the only side effect I suffered was a little nausea. I take it for three/four month intervals and then have a break of about 8 weeks. I don't suffer any side effects from stopping taking it, none at all.

It helps a great deal with sleep and my PMT is non existant! It also helps with the food cravings/binges before my period.

I am taking a combined supplement at the moment of St Johns Wort and 5HTP which is also proving to be excellent.

HTH

Aha TFM, I think it was you I first heard of it from!

So do you just stop it, rather than wean off? And do you find the results better with St John's Wort than one on its own?

Yes, I just stop it. No side effects from doing so.

To be honest I find the effects from the combined one just the same, apart from the nausea isn't as bad.

If you take it at night it really does help with sleep

I get mine from Healthspan as they do the 100mg tablets. I take 300mg pr day.

HTH

Thank you! That's really helpful. Im only taking 100mg atm, but wondering if I need to up it a bit. Im sleeping better, but mis during the day.

Although thats pretty reactive, due to things going on, than due to a chemical thing I think.

Just noticed ive left a word out of the title of this as well - doh!

don't worry, I knew what you meant

I didn't notice any difference on 100mg but 300mg, wow! I was all singing all dancing!

When I first started taking it I took it for about 6 months without a break, then I noticed it wasn't having quite the same effect so I took a break then restarted after about 6 weeks and found it was as good as before.

I am a great fan of it!

I might add another one tonight then, see how it goes.

Hi again

Just a thought but, I notice from your profile that we are the same age, as of today anyway

I just wonder if we are suffering fom a bit of the same thing, feeling miserable for no apparant reason, and I mean really miserable, as well as highly emotional. Thats what's happening to me at the moment. i have nothing at all to be depressed about but some days it just takes over, that and an overwhelming tiredness too which just adds to it. I am sure my problems are hormone related.

I've doe a lot of research on the internet and I'm now giving Agnus Cactus a try. It does seem to be quite a wonder herb that regualates the hormones and alleviates depression, tiredness and lethargy. They are on offer at Holland and barratt at the moment, half price! So I've stocked up. I started taking them on Thursday, I can let you know how I get on with them if you like.

I just thought you if you google Agnus Cactus you might recognise some or even all of your symptoms and it might help you too

That's interesting - Ive thought for a while I might be in the peri-menopause. My GP did some tests and said they couldnt really tell, but I certainly get real ups and downs, and its worse near my period (and they are very erratic as well).

Id be interested to know how you get on with this stuff! I think Ive seen it in the Healthspan catalogue as well, so I will have a look.

By the way, does that mean you have a birthday today? Happy birthday if so!

Hi Ladies, glad I came back & checked this

I am feeling particulary miserable to today - DD2 is shouting all the time (I think she might be suffering with blocked ears) & my nerves are in shreds

I have restarted my 5HTP & will up it again to 300mg. DD2 hardly BF's anymore.

Please can you advise the dosage of the st johns wort ? I am so desperate to feel better that I am considering going back on the AD's but would prefer not to.

I have also taken agnus castus to help with my hormones/womb toning (I think that's what it does - I'd had a miscarriage & it's supposed to help get everything back on track) It had a fantastic side affect for me - whopping great orgasms !

I feel better already

Thank you for the birthday wishes Fusby yes, it was yesterday. Had a lovely day.

I can relate to the periods being erratic, i'm just starting mine again after only finishing the last one 8 days ago, and that one was 5 days late. It's not pleasant is it.

I know it may be all in my mind but I am sure I can feel the agnus cactus working already. The tiredness isn't as debilitating and I do feel a lot brighter. I looked at in in Healthspan but i couldn't find a dosage, these from Holland and Barratt are 400mg and I take two in a morning and two at bedtime. I'm also taking a magnesium supplement which is supposed to help. Just a thought but, have you ever had your thyroid checked? I suffer from an underactive thryoid which can make things lot worse, it makes you prone to depression and tiredness etc

Another thing that helps me a great deal ladies is to follow a gluten/wheat free diet. The results of that are amazing!!

Don't let your DD get to you Shortcircuit, things like that seem much worse when you are depressed. I take the St Johns and 5HTp as a combined pill which I buy from Simply Supplements (online) but, I have taken them separately. I took the 5htp at bedtime and took 2 x 100mg of St Johns in a morning. The difference bewteen the two is that the 5HTP starts working more or less immediately whereas the St John's takes 3 weeks to kick in. And I must admit I was attracted to the 5HTP because it is a know appetite suppressent too

HTH ladies

PS SC, the agnus cactus helps to regualate your hormones so it aids fertility. It is supposed to be a really good herb to help you conceive.

I was just wondering, you say you have almost finished bf your little one so I wonder if your hormones are out of whack too? Maybe agnus cactus would help you? Its half price in Holland and Barratt until I think the 19th of this month. I got mine online and they were delivered within 4 days of me placing the order. I also got the Health magazine from Holland and Barratt and there is a really good article in there about herbal supplements and agnus cactus is one of them

thanks - I am currently trying to workout what to buy & where.

I did conceive DD2 very quickly after the agnus castus + reflexolgy + accupuncture.

You might be right about the bf. I hadn't thought about it before, because DD2 (28mths) only feeds in the morning & not every day.

I've taken 300mg of 5htp just now (8pm) & will hopefully buy additional supplemnts online.

Thanks again.

Wow Shortcircuit, wish Id known about Agnus castus and orgasms while I still had a partner! Hope you feel abit better with the 5htp. Im increasing my dose, but half my problem is my ex giving me grief and worry about some financial issues.

TFM - I have had my thyroid checked, twice, and they always say it's fine, in spite of me having just about every symptom of underative thyroid. I know that alternative therapists will say that conventional medicine doesnt pick up or recognise all the people with underactive thyroid, but what can you do!

Fubsy, now you know for the future

Know what you are saying ref the thyroid. I've just had a test & although it was quite low, wasn't low enough.

NT's say Dr's don't test correctly (something about T4's converting to something else), but you can test yourself by taking your temperature every morning & recording the results.

Will have a google & see what comes up.

Have you looked into iodine supplements ?

found this here

patrick holford

You can test your thyroid function yourself with the Broda Barnes Temperature Test. Take your temperature before you rise in the morning – if it is consistently below 36.5ºC, this suggests your thyroid may be underactive.

I keep forgetting to take my temp in the morning!

I tried 2 tabs of the 5htp, and was very dizzy in the morning, so i dont know if that is too much I will go back to 2 and see what happens.

I dont feel it is making much difference to my actual mood, although Im def sleeping better and I havent got the neck and shoulder ache I normally have when I wake in the morning. So I might need to try St John's Wort I think.