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What Is A Therapeutic Dose Of B Complex For Depression As Well As 5 HTP And Tyrosine?
Question: Im currently experiencing a very bad experience with anxiety and depression. It started in october 2016 but it only lasted for 3 weeks and it slowly disappeared. i took st johns wort for this and stopped after i felt better. i was back to normal until around mid January when it felt like it was coming back. i tried st johns wort for a couple of weeks and stopped. Then in march i started taking sam-e but only took 400mg a day for about 3 weeks and i stopped. i recently started taking 100mg a day of 5htp and 750 mg of tyrosine for about 2 1/12 weeks along with a high potency multivitamin, 1500mg of omega 3, 400mg of magnesium and b complex. Its really frustrating because i dont feel like my normal self and just when i could be having some ok days or it feels like its lifting it comes crashing down and its been like that since january. I would describe it as sorta mild and it feels as if it comes in waves. I can still function go to work, take care of my kids, sometimes even laugh a little bit but its still feels like a dark cloud hovering over me robbing me of my XXXXXXX and happiness. My question is whats a therapeudic dose of B complex for depression as well as 5htp and tyrosine and how long til i can start feeling its effects?
Brief Answer:
Herbals and supplements don't have much support in literature for anxiety
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
There are several supplements that have been used in anxiety disorders with some having some support in literature for being effective and some not being better than placebo (empty pills) in anxiety situations.
Among the supplements you have tried, 5 HTP is the one that has some support in the literature that might help with anxiety if taken for a short time but most of the time it is not enough to treat it. The dose that is generally tried is 150 mg-300 mg a day divided in 2-3 doses during the day but as told it is not FDA approved for treatment of depression and anxiety.
Vitamin B and Tyrosine are not found effective in studies and St Johns wort is not recommended to be used as anxiolytic if we compare its risks and benefits.
There are several other drugs that have been found in big serious and high quality studies to be effective in depression and anxiety and that are also FDA (Food and Drug Association) approved.
The ones that are very effective with good tolerance from most patients and minimal side effects are the new antidepressants called SSRI. They will need to be used for several months and you will need to have regular visits with your doctor to adjust the dose to your needs. These drugs will help you feel better.
To help the process of healing combining drugs with counselling is the best and most effective treatment.
Also setting an agenda (sitting down and writing down healthy behaviors that you will commit to). For example: regular walks in quiet nice parks during the week, regular exercising (doesn't need to be heavy), regular meetings with a person that you know is willing to hear to you but is good at keeping secrets, eating regular meals, committing to regularly do activities you would enjoy, avoiding caffeine especially in the late part of the day and during the night, not smoking, not using alcohol. These are good healthy behaviors help with our mental health and might augment the effect of the treatment.
I hope this is helpful and answers to your question.
Regards,
Dr. Zotaj Antoneta
General & Family Physician
Herbals and supplements don't have much support in literature for anxiety
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
There are several supplements that have been used in anxiety disorders with some having some support in literature for being effective and some not being better than placebo (empty pills) in anxiety situations.
Among the supplements you have tried, 5 HTP is the one that has some support in the literature that might help with anxiety if taken for a short time but most of the time it is not enough to treat it. The dose that is generally tried is 150 mg-300 mg a day divided in 2-3 doses during the day but as told it is not FDA approved for treatment of depression and anxiety.
Vitamin B and Tyrosine are not found effective in studies and St Johns wort is not recommended to be used as anxiolytic if we compare its risks and benefits.
There are several other drugs that have been found in big serious and high quality studies to be effective in depression and anxiety and that are also FDA (Food and Drug Association) approved.
The ones that are very effective with good tolerance from most patients and minimal side effects are the new antidepressants called SSRI. They will need to be used for several months and you will need to have regular visits with your doctor to adjust the dose to your needs. These drugs will help you feel better.
To help the process of healing combining drugs with counselling is the best and most effective treatment.
Also setting an agenda (sitting down and writing down healthy behaviors that you will commit to). For example: regular walks in quiet nice parks during the week, regular exercising (doesn't need to be heavy), regular meetings with a person that you know is willing to hear to you but is good at keeping secrets, eating regular meals, committing to regularly do activities you would enjoy, avoiding caffeine especially in the late part of the day and during the night, not smoking, not using alcohol. These are good healthy behaviors help with our mental health and might augment the effect of the treatment.
I hope this is helpful and answers to your question.
Regards,
Dr. Zotaj Antoneta
General & Family Physician
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Answered by
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