Depression Blog.com

I took this amino acid years ago and it seemed to help with anxiety. I tend to obsess and worry. It helped. THe only thing that I am not sure of is the possibility of toxicity. You can buy it at your health food store, but I would do some research before you rely on it solely.

I have been taking 1000 mg. of Tryptophan for the past 6 weeks and have developed abdominal pain, bloating, nausea and loss of appetite. Don't know if it is related to the Tryptophan or just coincidence. I have been sleeping better since taking it. I am going to see a doctor this week to get her opinion.

Ive been takin tryptophan nightly for the past week and it gives me really strange and livid dreams which i interpret as my brain trying to work out my strange and depressed feeling, it deffinitly helps me sleep better but then i cant get up in the morning, i cant get anything done.

I have been off antidepressant meds for four months now and every day i am really suffering. I feel so overwhelmed with despair and hopelessness and i am fatigued and lethargic. I took tryptophan for the first time the other night because i initially had great and wondrous results when i first started taking the antidepressant meds...then it stopped working, however i feel like i have really low levels of serotonin and tryptophan is suppose to take care of that. I felt soooooooo drowsy the next morning and for most of the next day. Does anyone know how long it takes to work and does the drowsy feeling subside after awhile?

Lindsay Barrett,
You definetely need to make sure you take it before bed. You also can try lowering the dosage to relieve you of most of the drowsiness that you experience during the day. Best of luck.

I started taking Tryptophan a week ago because I have been feeling depressed and stuck emotionally- feeling hopeless and lethargic for a couple of weeks. I have never taken medication. I sleep very deeply now, but feel drowsy and tired during the day and have a loss of appetite. Also I have had some sudden skin rashed come up, which don't last very long. I am not sure weather to continue taking it or if it is too strong.

I have suffered from severe insomnia for last three months, Tryptophane is helping, but I need to take it at 9 pm with food and give it time to work (500 ml). I have been on it for two weeks now. Since this last Sunday I am having heart palpitation for hours on end. The doctor says it is not related. Has anyone else experienced this condition after taking T.?
thanks
Ms.S (age 47)

To MS. S.

I have also begun experiencing palpitations after 2 weeks on l'tryptophan. I wake up suddenly after 4-5 hrs of deep sleep feeling sedated but also feeling very anxious --racing thoughts and heartbeats and I'm sweating. Please continue to post. As an aside, I often have odd reactions to most meds and non-meds. A friend suggested I look for a different mfg to see if it's in the compounding.

Dale

I have been taking Tryptophan for a couple of years. i used to take only 100 mg at night on an empty stomach and the anxiety got way lessend. for the past year I've been taking 100 mg X2/day also on an empty stomach. my anxiety comes every couple of weeks still but at least I feel better most of the times. I wonder if taking tryptophan onthe long run is bad and make your body stops producing serotonin.