Melatonin and HTP-5 treatment for Peri-meno

[candi]

http://www.youngagain.com/5htp1.html

I changed gyn's due to insurance change at work. I was told by my new gyn to visit an office where they do menopause consultations and use natural treatments for perimenopause.

I filled out a questionairre and had a consultation with the gyn at this compounding pharmacy. I told them my preference was to be weaned off of the Mircette I am taking to control severe perimenopausal symptoms of night sweats, anxiety, cloudy thinking, vaginal dryness and low libido.

They said there has been much research on women between the ages of 45-50 where taking melatonin and HTP-5 (Tryptophan) will increase Seratonin levels. Evidentely they are having much success with this course of treatment in lieu of micromanaging hormones, just managing with better sleep and raised Seratonin.

Interesting! Evidentely HTP-5 can give similar results as anti-depressents in some people.

Wanted to share.

 

[LuckeeLaydee]

Candi:
This is very interesting. I have had a hard time with some of these issues (I'm 48) especially sleeping. Recently my doctor prescribed Ambien. I took it for a while in desperation, needing some good sleep. Now I am trying to wean myself off and having fairly good results with melatonin. I may add the HTP-5 and see if that helps as much/more. Thanks for the info for us perimenopause ladies.

Paula

 

[allwildgirl]

Interestingly enough, people who use Ecstacy also use HTP-5 to boost their seratonin levels

 

[toughYrun]

Candi,

Lots of questions for you:

Does the new gyn offer an alternative to the Mircette for the night sweats?

Isn't Mircette a birth control pill?

Does the Mircette help with low libido? I thought testosterone was what helped with that.

Are you saying that you new gyn says that improved sleep will help with all of the perimenopausal symptoms?

I'm so tired of dealing with these reverse puberty symptoms!!!

I was presribed Activella a month ago and it's helped somewhat but I've woken up sweaty the past few nights.

 

[candi]

Sorry it took so long to get back to the forum. Three day weekend off from work and computer still not hooked up at the new house.

Answers to question:

#1 Yes. The answer to the night sweats will be to put me on natural Progestin cream while I'm on the Mircette for about a month and then ween me off the Mircette and then if this works, keep me on the Progestin. She thinks I should be off the synthetic estrogen and by adding the progestin will give me a better balance of the estrogen my body will produce being off the pill. I tried over the counter progestin earlier on my peri-menopause journey but it did not help. The GYN said that it has to be the prescribed progesterone to assure you are getting the proper medication and dosage.

#2 Mircette is a BC pill. Most GYN's prescribe a low dose pill to regulate hormones. A BC pill turns off your natural hormones and regulates your hormones only giving you what is in the medication.

#3 The Mircette does not help low libido. As a matter of fact, the progesterone that's in BC pills can, in the majority of cases, actually reduce or eliminate libido. I believe the testosterone increased my libido, even though medical studies have not proven this is the case. But, testosterone will cascade into estrogen in the body, thus increasing the estrogen I am already getting from the BC pill therefore increasing the risk of breast cancer.

#4 Yes, the GYN said that improved sleep with the Melatonin and then the increased feeling of well-being (Seratonin levels) from the HTP-5 has been shown to help in medical studies. This would help with the anxiety and mood swings.

I don't know if this course of action will work for me but I can tell you I'm already sleeping much better. I'll keep you posted.

 

[candi]

Okay, missy. How do you know this?

 

[fitmomofone]

CAndi...thanks for the info...I'm about ready to go out and buy the stuff. I regularly suffer from interrupted sleep, some occasional hot flashes, some anxiety, and low libido. I had taken tryptophan about 23 years ago for poor sleep. I'm ready to try it again...can you tell me how much you take? I'll also ask the gyno if she's aware of the studies....any info would be so greatly appreciated, by me and my dh! Janet

 

[candi]

Janet,

Since this is new for me, I will need to look at the dosages prescribed on the bottle which is at home of course. I will look tonight and reply tomorrow.

I found it extremely promising that my old GYN sent me to this menopause specialist for a solution. The reason I stopped seeing her years ago is because I felt her office was more in the business of birthing babies than helping this baby boomer cope with a changing body. Evidentely as the years have passed, more and more patients are experiencing later life changes and they've found this referral a good way to address the problem.

 

[candi]

Okay, the dosage I'm to follow is:

Days 1 -5

1 each Melatonin 3 mg plus 5-HTP 50 mg. .5 to 1 hour before bedtime

If no improvement in sleep, increase dosage to:

1 each Melatonin 3 mg.
2 each 5-HTP 50 mg.

If no improvement in sleep, then increase dosage again to:

1 each Melatonin 3 mg.
3 each 5-HTP 50 mg

Comments on the paper the doctor gave me:

5-HTP is used to improve sleep, mood and appetite. It is supposed to make you nsomewhat drowsy when you have reached the correct amount. If you awaken feeling more drowsy, or if you notice more drowsiness during the day, decrease the dose by 1 capsule and call.

Melatonin is taken to restone the body's "cyclicity". It takes 6 months to get the full rejuvenating effects. You may or may not notice any effects on your sleep. It works best in darkness.

She also suggested I take a mutltivitamin/mineral combination plus a b-comples plus an additional 1000 mg of vitamin C.