Zoloft mae me worse.

Mark in Idaho
I think that I need the Mirt because my sleep is still disturbed. If I don't sleep, my anxiety reaches an impossible level and sets me up for a horrible next day. Also, it's impossible me to nap the next day if I don't sleep well. If I get into a few nights of bad sleep I'm scared I'll have a major setback.

I've been on a good sleep pattern for about two weeks so if it continues, I'll look at coming off in the next few weeks. I'll go ahead and buy the generic GABA and order the other.

Thanks again.

L-tryptophan does cross the blood brain barrier. If it didn't you wouldn't ever have serotonin made there.

It is serotonin itself that does not cross. The serotonin in the body, cannot enter the brain.

L-tryptophan does cross but does have a problem if other amino acids from protein are in high amounts in the serum..(following a protein meal). These other aminos compete for crossing so tryptophan is reduced, but not totally blocked. It is recommended that L-tryptophan be taken away from protein containing food by several hours...and can be taken with carbohydrates instead. It is thought that the body controls the serotonin synthesis in brain, by this mechanism, to prevent high levels from occurring.

Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine (Atarax) and like its cousin Benadryl is very sedating. Another product similar OTC is Unisom, which is also sedating. These just make you drowsy.

Dramamine II however, (meclizine) does have some tranquilizing properties. Meclizine is Antivert, and also an antihistamine (used for vertigo and nausea,and seasickness), but it has some weak tranquilizing actions like the antipsychotics. Dramamine-II is OTC and typically found in small packages for seasickness--10 or 12 tablets. All of these I've mentioned are chemically derived from early antipsychotics. Phenergan also (which retains some antiemetic actions from its parent Thorazine).

see if you can get on the cancellation list for an earlier appt. That got me in two months early at a shrink--i do it at every specialist now and almost always get in earlier than expected

if you have to wait for 6 weeks, maybe you can get advice from an MD before then to see if you should wean off the zoloft or if you can switch from zoloft to lexapro or something else w/o a waiting period. i think it depends what drugs you'll switch to so hard to say before you know that. sooner you get headed the right direction with meds, the better. but you'll make it through this, and in the not too distant future will be breathing great sighs of relief that this period has passed.

I over simplified my comments. L-Tryptophan easily converts to serotonin in the gut but this serotonin does not cross the blood brain barrier. The L-Tryptophan that crosses the blood brain barrier must be processed into 5-HTP by an enzyme (tryptophan hydroxylase) that is strictly controlled on the brain side of the blood brain barrier. This 'metering' system regulates the amount of serotonin available to the brain. There is some discussion about whether this tryptophan hydroxylase system malfunctions causing a deficient amount of serotonin to be made available.

5-HTP, on the other hand, readily converts to serotonin without this metering system creating a risk of serotonin syndrome when 5-HTP is combined with an SSRI.

Basically, the amount of serotonin available from L-Tryptophan on the brain side of the blood brain barrier is limited. Some even suggest that if serotonin is deficient, adding L-Tryptophan does not correct this deficiency. These people suggest taking 5-HTP to bypass this broken metering system. It is something I have considered trying.

mrsD, I'd love to hear what you know about this L-Trypt vs 5-HTP issue. There are a wide variety of positions presented on this issue.

I enjoy deep breathing and meditation. It helped me a ton!

I also enjoy relaxing teas that increase GABA in the brain. Passionflower, lemon balm, valerian root are a few that work well. They can be bought in extract forms by themselves or in an herbal tea blend. I like a tea by yogi called bedtime.

Eleuthero, hops, hawthorne berries (in many herbal teas) are also beneficial for anxiety.

Im literally in the sam position. and was wondering about trying the fight/flight therapy....it sounds alright but very skeptical. have you had any luck finding out more info?

Interesting post.

Sleep and anxiety have been major issues for me...my descriptions would be very similar to RAllen82.

Both are calming down now. I was sleeping a half hour to three hours a night during Oct.-Dec. and scared of any and everything.

Bud