inositol and 5-HTP

[Guest guest]

I have also purchased inositol and 5-HTP for my OCD/ADD son as well as for

myself (depression and nail picking). The inositol turned out to be a pain

because it has to be diluted in juice. Pills we can handle; something needing

to be diluted fresh daily we cannot. Alas. Does anyone else take it in another

form?

I did not give my son 5-HTP because it effects serotonin and he is on an SSRI

(Celexa). Personally, I don't see any advantage to using 5-HTP to a prescribed

SSRI--it isn't any safer because it is over the counter--au contraire. And I

mentioned it to my psychiatrist, who advised I not take it while on an SSRI

because they could be cumulative and give me some kind of serotonin problem that

one doesn't want to have. Next time I go off my SSRI I may try 5-HTP instead,

however. I'm not sure how they compare in price. If it increased my energy

level like it did your son's, I'd be very happy. But each person is so

individual in response that it probably wouldn't happen for me.

Judy

Re: Still Doing Okay - Knock on Wood!

> One more item to note, is that I reduced his inositol by 1 dose

about

> a month before school began (daring, I know) as he was doing so

much

> better. And he's still on the lower dose but I'm leaving it at

that,

> not about to go lower. I figure I'll just work him back up on it

if

> I see any stress coming on.

>

> Just wanted to share some GOOD news!

>

>

Hi

I'm new to this list. I have a son who is 9 with OCD and a daughter

6. I have really been trying to find alternatives to medications for

my son and have been exploring 5-HTP and inositol. I have found 5-

HTP to work very well for my son and used inositol briefly this

summer when his OCD manifested itself in a fear of choking so he

would not eat. I discontinued the inositol when he was over the hump

as it increased his energy level and we began to see some tics.

Currently we have him taking 5-HTP just before going to bed. I'd be

interested in hearing about your experience with inositol.

I have also been researching the role nutrition, environmental

toxins, allergies and vaccination ingredients (namely thimerosol),

play in children with OCD and related disorders (after some testing,

it appears that my son has a number of food allergies and a very high

mercury level). The book, Children with Starving Brains by Joquelyn

McCandless, MD is a great read regarding this. Sorry this is so long.

in MA