Confused whether 5-HTP is serotonin agonist or a receptor. Could Relpax...

Question: Confused whether 5-HTP is serotonin agonist or a receptor. Could Relpax...

Answer:

Dear MJ,

5-HTP is neither a receptor nor an agonist. It's an amino acid produced by the human body from the essential amino acid L-tryptophan (LT), which is found in dietary proteins. It's clinical value is in it's ability to increase production of serotonin

5-HPT should not be used by those of us who take any of the triptans, SSRI antidepressants, or some other medications. As always, it's bets to check with your doctor before taking any supplements. If you'd like to read more about 5-HTP, we have this article:

5-HTP: Check Before You Swallow
5-HTP is a potentially valuable dietary supplement that promotes the body's production of serotonin. It's important, however, to treat such supplements as you would any other drug.

As for Zomig and Relpax, certainly one could work better for you than the others. Individual Migraineurs sometimes need to try a few different triptans before finding the one that works best for them. There are now seven triptans available. Here's information on them for you:

Triptans: Overview and Profiles
In 1992, the FDA approved the first of a class of medications that many Migraineurs call "miracle drugs." That drug was sumatriptan (Imitrex®, Imigran®), the first triptan. Here are both general information on triptans and detailed profiles of each.

Good luck,
Teri Robert

Dear MJ:

I agree with Teri's assessment of your situation.

John Claude Krusz
 

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