catecholamines

Tyrosine had an amazing effect: he had more clarity, could interact with people and joke, and he started reasoning in a more organized way

September 20, 2024 By Trudy Scott 8 Comments

I tried tyrosine yesterday, and Wow! What an amazing effect!

I answered positively to many of the low catecholamines symptoms and I’m also trying to break my coffee addiction – I take espresso shots throughout the day to get through.

So I gave it a try and took 300 mg of tyrosine yesterday at 4pm.

I had more clarity, I could interact with people, I could joke, I started reasoning in a more organized way.

I can’t believe how powerful tyrosine is. Now I finally understand that my brain fog is a result of low dopamine among other neurotransmitters and me drinking that much coffee is just a symptom of low dopamine and I would not need it otherwise.

Today, thanks to tyrosine, I’m better equipped to break this addiction, although I’m a bit scared about a few things before I can use it more spontaneously.

Steve shared this wonderful feedback in a blog comment. I said how happy I was for him and thanked him for sharing.

He also asked a few questions about his sleep being impacted, the chances of getting dependent on tyrosine and concerns for thyroid health. I addressed his questions (read my feedback below) and links for further reading about the catecholamines and using the amino acid tyrosine as a supplement. I also share some tyrosine research, my tyrosine recommendations for quitting coffee, and a key nutritional deficiency to address (low thiamine/vitamin B1).

Tyrosine impacted his sleep (and how to prevent this)

This was the first of his questions:

I could not fall asleep last night because of tyrosine. I was awake 3 hours after my regular bedtime. Maybe because I took it in the afternoon and I drank 2 cups of coffee that morning? Coffee never kept me from sleeping.

There is a simple way to get the benefits of tyrosine and not have it impact your sleep. Tyrosine is best used on waking, mid-morning and only mid-afternoon (no later than 3pm) if sleep is not an issue. If sleep is an issue we start with using it on waking and mid-morning.

I recommend having the bottle of tyrosine beside the bed especially if an espresso shot (likely in Steve’s case) or cup of coffee is needed to get going first thing. Right away it’s helping with the caffeine addiction and offering energy and clarity or focus. It’s also boosting dopamine and improving mood … “I could interact with people, I could joke”.

He could trial just twice a day and then consider another tyrosine no later than 3pm and see how he feels and watch for sleep impacts.

I mentioned to Steve that all this is explained in my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” which I recommend everyone reads before using amino acids.

One important consideration with high caffeine consumption like this, is a strong possibility of vitamin B1/thiamine deficiency. I share more about this here. Zinc and other B vitamins can become depleted too.

Will the brain adapt and become dependent on tyrosine?

This is a common question I get about the amino acids and Steve was justifiably concerned about it too:

If I’m taking tyrosine to correct low dopamine in my brain, don’t you think that the brain will adapt and will be dependent on tyrosine to create enough dopamine? What is the real cause behind the brain lacking dopamine? I took psychiatric medication in the past and I know they can affect the brain long term; so isn’t it the same about tyrosine?

Using a foreign substance to hijack the brain’s normal working and chemistry and then be dependent on it to produce the right amount?

How will the tyrosine correct this imbalance and help me heal? Do I go back to low levels when I stop it?

There are no concerns about dependence. Tyrosine is addressing low levels of dopamine, one of the catecholamines. It should be a short-term solution when other nutritional imbalances (like low zinc, low vitamin B1 low vitamin B6, low iron etc) are addressed and the dietary changes (all laid out in my book) are implemented too.

Short-term could be a month to 3 months for one-person and up to 6-12 months for someone else. It really depends on the complexity of health issues and other compounding factors (like Steve’s past use of psychiatric medications).

As you can read below, Steve is already gluten-free and dairy-free so this is a great start.

A question about tyrosine and thyroid concerns

I have a history of hypothyroidism in my family and I’m afraid that tyrosine could trigger that for me? I’m healthy now and I eat Gluten/Dairy free

Tyrosine is actually one of the raw materials the thyroid needs and uses for the synthesis of the thyroid hormone thyroxine so there is no issue with it triggering hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid).

There is, however, an issue with Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder that can cause hyperthyroidism (or overactive thyroid). Tyrosine should not be used in this instance. You can read all the amino acid precautions here.

Tyrosine and the research: cognitive performance

Here are some excerpts from this paper: Effect of tyrosine supplementation on clinical and healthy populations under stress or cognitive demands–A review

Consuming the amino-acid tyrosine, the precursor of dopamine and norepinephrine, may counteract decrements in neurotransmitter function and cognitive performance…

Tyrosine does seem to effectively enhance cognitive performance, particularly in short-term stressful and/or cognitively demanding situations.

The conclusion made by the authors is in line with how I recommend using tyrosine i.e. only when “dopamine and/or norepinephrine is temporarily depleted.” This is the same for all amino acids and we use the symptoms questionnaire as a starting point to indicate the possibility of low levels of each of the neurotransmitters.

Tyrosine can also be calming and help with sugar addiction too

As you can see from these blog posts, tyrosine has many applications:

And this blog is a good introduction to using tyrosine for improved focus, motivation, energy, a good mood and even for easing anxiety

Additional resources when you are new to using tyrosine and other amino acids as supplements

As always, I use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low low dopamine/catecholamines or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue.

If you suspect low levels of any of the neurotransmitters and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the practitioner/health team you or your loved one is working with.

There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, gluten, blood sugar control (this is covered in an entire chapter too), sugar cravings, anxiety and mood issues.

The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acids that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs.

If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), a good place to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program (if you have low GABA symptoms). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support.

If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. This is also a paid online/virtual program with an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.

Wrapping up and your feedback

I appreciate Steve for sharing his success with tyrosine and asking these questions. I do hope this information has been helpful for you and for him too.

Now I’d love to hear from you – does any of this resonate with you? Have you had success like this with tyrosine or experienced other benefits?

If you’re a practitioner is tyrosine one of the amino acids you use with your clients/patients?

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.

“Potion” of tyrosine, Endorphigen, GABA and tryptophan has been nothing less than a miracle for my depression and anxiety – how long can I remain on these?

August 11, 2023 By Trudy Scott 21 Comments

Amy shares how much her particular “potion” or combination of amino acids has helped her depression and anxiety and wants to know how long she can remain on them:

I currently take 500 mg of l-tyrosine in the morning, 1 Endorphigen 2xday, 1 GABA calm 2x day and 1000 mg of tryptophan before bed with some natural calm & true calm. This “potion” has been nothing less than a miracle. I feel pretty good.

The past few years have been rough, managing depression and anxiety with frequent relapse, and I finally feel ok.

I don’t want to wean off yet and am curious as to how long I can remain on these. Is it dangerous to keep on it too long? Is there a maximum time? I follow your blog and reached out to you last year. Your information has been extremely helpful. Thank you.

I’m glad to hear Amy is doing so well on this miracle combination and finally feels ok. Before stopping the amino acids, the goal is to address diet, gut health, nutritional imbalances, toxins and all the underlying factors that lead to low catecholamines, low endorphins, low GABA and low serotonin.

It’s fine to stop taking them and see how you do and add some or all of them back if you find you still need that neurotransmitter support. This is one of a few approaches I use with clients. But here are times when it’s best to wait and continue using them (like when on the pill and when affected by seasonal depression). I share my insights on this and other ways to cut back below.

How long can you remain on amino acids and when do you consider stopping them?

There is no set time frame for staying on the amino acids. As I mentioned above you can stop taking the individual amino acids and see how you do and then add some or all of them back if you find you still need that neurotransmitter support. This is one of a few approaches I use with clients.

Other approaches include: completely stopping one amino acid at a time and monitoring symptoms or reducing the amount one amino acid at a time, also monitoring symptoms. I prefer the latter especially with someone like Amy who has been “managing depression and anxiety with frequent relapse.”

I can also hear that she has some hesitation about stopping her “potion” and going with your gut is a good thing too. She also has a few confounding factors that make me feel staying on them longer may be in her best interest. One factor is her long-term use of birth control pills.

Long term use of birth control pills and the impact on mood and nutritional status

Amy also shares about her use of the birth control pill and how she suspects it’s a factor in her depression and anxiety:

I should also mention I just went off birth control pills. I have taken them since age 16 only stopping for 3 pregnancies and breastfeeding. I am 46. I’ve been on for painful periods. I made the decision to stop for fear of clots, cardiac issues and most importantly my mental well being. I truly believe they contributed to my depression. I believe I’m in perimenopause and have higher than normal anxiety. I’m extremely worried about my periods if I stop the pill and think my amino acid supplements help these worries and I cope better. That’s why I’m reluctant to stop the supplements but still worried about long term use.

Because Amy has been using the birth control pill for around 25 years I’d have her continue with the amino acids for now and address the effects on her gut health and nutritional status first.

Women taking the pill and other hormonal contraception are more likely to be depressed. A Danish study published in JAMA Psychiatry of more than 1 million women aged 15 to 34, with no prior history of depression, were included in the study and followed for 13 years. The researchers found that those women who used the pill were 23% more likely to be depressed and use antidepressants.

You can read more about the effects of the birth control pill on this blog and my book review of “Beyond the Pill” by Dr. Jolene Brighten. As you’ll read it causes vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant depletion (such as folate, B12, vitamin B6 and zinc).

She did actually come back and share that she tried and it didn’t work out going off the birth control pill. She was unable to manage the pain. She needs to address all these root causes first.

There is also no reason for her to be worried about long term use of the amino acids when they are clearly addressing her neurotransmitter imbalances.

The seasonal impact on mood and anxiety

I don’t have clients make changes to their amino acids in the Fall or Winter when there can be seasonal impacts on mood and anxiety. She had shared this too:

I’m more prone to depression this time of year. I think with these 2 factors [seasonal mood changes and the pill] I’ll stay on the regime until the spring.

This is a wise decision for Amy.

I would also hold off on making changes if someone is prone to airborne allergies. This is because there can be a higher need for neurotransmitter support when there are allergies.

Amy has already made many diet and lifestyle changes so she is heading in the right direction:

I have given my diet an overhaul. Not perfect but significantly less refined carbs and sugar. Plenty of fresh produce, healthy fats and protein ( especially animal). I also have committed to daily “body movement”: yoga, Pilates, max trainer, light weights or bike.

All of these changes are starting to support her overall nutritional status and resilience.

A recap of the amino acids Amy is using and the rationale for each one

If you’re new to using individual amino acids, here is a quick recap of the amino acids Amy is using and the rationale for each one.

She is using 500 mg of l-tyrosine in the morning. This supports low levels of dopamine/catchecolamines and improves the curl-up-in-bed kind of depression. You can read more about tyrosine here.

She is also using Endorphigen twice a day. This is a Lidtke product called Endorphigen and provides 500 mg DPA/d-phenylalanine per capsule. It raises endorphin levels, offering a mood boost, typically helping with weepiness and also emotional eating. You can read more about DPA here.

Amy is also using GABA Calm 2x day. This is a sublingual/chewable product made by Source Naturals and is a nice low dose of 125mg per chewable. You can read more about GABA here.

And finally, she is using 1000 mg of tryptophan before bed. This supports low serotonin and improves worry-kind of anxiety and depression, ruminating, obsessive tendencies and also sleep issues. You can read more about tryptophan here.

Keep in mind this is what Amy found works for her unique needs and would have done trials of the amino acids one by one to figure out which ones to use and how much of each to use. There is no one size fits all.

It’s not unusual for folks using the amino acids to describe their results as miraculous!

Resources if you are new to using amino acids as supplements

If you are new to using amino acids as supplements, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution (you can see all the symptoms of neurotransmitter imbalances, including low GABA, low serotonin, low dopamine, low blood sugar and low endorphins).

There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, gluten, blood sugar control, sugar cravings, anxiety and mood issues.

If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), a good place to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program (if you have low GABA symptoms too). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support.

Thanks to Amy for sharing her results and asking this question.

Have you seen similar benefits when using individual amino acids? If yes, which ones have helped you?

What approach have you used to stop or reduce your doses?

And have you continued using the amino acids because of the effects of the pill, seasonal mood shifts or seasonal allergies (or some other reason)?

If you have questions and feedback please share them here too.

Low lithium questionnaire and how we use lithium orotate with the amino acids

August 19, 2022 By Trudy Scott 44 Comments

This is the low lithium questionnaire that I use with new clients in order for us to figure out if a trial of low dose lithium, in the form of lithium orotate, may be helpful. The hallmark of low lithium is a rollercoaster of emotions. Keep in mind that this is just one of 12 questionnaires that I have my clients complete. Many of the following symptoms can have multiple causes, the labs may relate to other deficiencies and the conditions have other root causes. This questionnaire simply provides additional evidence that lithium orotate may help.

We typically do a lithium orotate trial, starting with 5 mg once a day, and going up to 10 mg twice a day. We do this after we have started trialing the respective amino acids for low serotonin, low GABA, low endorphins, low catecholamines and low blood sugar. A big clue that lithium orotate may be helpful (when many of the symptoms below are checked off) is when the amino acids for low serotonin (tryptophan or 5-HTP), low GABA (GABA or theanine), low endorphins (DPA or DLPA), low catecholamines (tyrosine or DLPA) and low blood sugar (glutamine) are not as effective as expected (based on the amino acids mood/neurotransmitter questionnaire).

Low lithium questionnaire

Symptoms
Mood swings (a rollercoaster of emotions)
Addictions and/or cravings
Depressed
Low self-esteem
Boredom
Easily distracted
Rebellious, disruptive behavior and/or aggressiveness
Irritability
Restless/internal anxiety (similar to low serotonin worry/ruminating anxiety)
Restless/external anxiety (similar to low GABA physical anxiety)
Anxiety ups and downs (fluctuations)
Melancholic pessimism
Suicidal thoughts
Disorganized with planning difficulties
Focus issues/ADHD
Insomnia
Procrastination and/or no initiative
Jack of all trades, master of none
Impulsive and/or lacking tact
Poor insight
Risky behavior
Cognitive issues
Migraines or cluster headaches

Effectiveness of amino acids
The amino acids for low serotonin, low GABA, low endorphins, low catecholamines and low blood sugar are not as effective as expected (based on the amino acids mood/neurotransmitter questionnaire)

Labs
Low white blood cell count
Low red blood cell count
Anemia
Low platelet count

Conditions
Anorexia nervosa
Heart disease (heart arrhythmias, history of heart attack)
Raised blood sugar or diabetes
Kleptomania
Alcoholism
Alzheimer’s disease
Fibromyalgia
Bipolar II
Gout
Hyperthyroidism
Nearsightedness or glaucoma
Herpes infections (current or prone to them)

If you are new to low dose lithium / lithium orotate

As I share in this blog, Upping my tryptophan and lithium orotate have been absolutely profound for me: I’ve been depression free and anxiety free for over a year, I’ve used lithium orotate with many clients and use it when folks have mood swings and anxiety ups and downs. It’s harder for the amino acids to work when there is a moving goal post and lithium orotate evens things out.

You can read Katrin’s wonderful results: “Upping my tryptophan dose and also including and upping the dose of lithium orotate has been absolutely profound for me. I’m off my SSRI/antidepressant (which I was off and on for a number of years). I’ve been depression/anxiety free for over a year. So fantastic.”

The above blog also includes additional information on the differences between low dose lithium / lithium orotate and prescription lithium carbonate. The latter is used at much higher doses and does have side-effects.

One of the many ways lithium works is via the impact on neurotransmitter production. This paper, Potential Mechanisms of Action of Lithium in Bipolar Disorder, states this: “At a neuronal level, lithium reduces excitatory (dopamine and glutamate) but increases inhibitory (GABA) neurotransmission.” It also increases protective proteins such as BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), helps reduce oxidative stress and is neuroprotective. This paper is referring to lithium carbonate and not lithium orotate but until we have more research on lithium orotate, I feel comfortable extrapolating, given what I’ve seen clinically with lithium orotate.

I’ve also blogged about low dose or microdose lithium here: Microdose lithium formulation is capable of halting signs of advanced Alzheimer’s and improving cognition. In a study published in 2020, “a team of researchers has shown that, when given in a formulation that facilitates passage to the brain, lithium in doses up to 400 times lower than what is currently being prescribed for mood disorders is capable of both halting signs of advanced Alzheimer’s pathology and of recovering lost cognitive abilities.” In this study, they used lithium citrate in similar doses as the lithium orotate i.e 3.2 mg to 6.4 mg NP03 based on 70kg of body weight (which is around 154.3 lbs).

Resources if you are new to using the amino acids as supplements (and where to get lithium orotate)

If you are new to using any of the amino acids as supplements, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution (you can see all the symptoms of neurotransmitter imbalances).

There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, gluten, blood sugar control, sugar cravings, self-medicating with alcohol and more.

You can find the amino acid products I use and a number of different lithium orotate products in my online Fullscript store.

Do you resonate with any of the above and have you used lithium orotate with success?

Was the rollercoaster of emotions and fluctuating anxiety a hallmark for you before using lithium orotate?

If you’re a practitioner, do you use lithium orotate with your clients or patients?

If you have questions please share them here too.

What if rewarding, comforting, numbing or distracting behaviors (caused by low endorphins) are causing low motivation, instead of low dopamine?

June 17, 2022 By Trudy Scott 21 Comments

One of the first things that comes to mind when someone is stuck and not able to get things done is low motivation caused by low catecholamines/low dopamine. But what if numbing, rewarding, comforting and/or distracting behaviors (caused by low endorphins) are holding you back and preventing you from getting things done instead? It may be low endorphins only or may be in conjunction with other neurotransmitter imbalances. The following question and stories from women in the community (and my insights and some of the research) may help you figure it out if any of this applies to you.

I posted a question to this effect on Facebook and there was a great deal of interest. Many folks shared examples of what their distractions are and how they fit into being rewarding and comforting for them. Here is what I posted:

I’m digging into the research connecting low endorphins and low motivation i.e. not being able to get stuff done! We associate low endorphins with physical pain, emotional pain and comfort/reward eating. But in a similar way that emotional eating /comfort food is used to numb us out and reward and comfort us, certain behaviors can do this too. Here are some examples you may relate to:

mindless scrolling through Facebook or other social media platforms instead of working on your new project

binge watching hours of Netflix shows instead of getting to bed early so you’re productive and motivated (and not distracted)

playing video games for days (and not going outdoors, eating proper meals and even bathing)

All of these are also an addiction and we know low endorphins are a factor when it comes to addictions too. There is also an endorphin/dopamine connection hence the motivation aspect I’m looking into.

Can you relate to any of this and has endorphin support (with the amino acid DPA/d-phenylalanine as a supplement) or exercise or LDN (low dose naltrexone) helped with your low endorphin symptoms, your lack of motivation and the distractions you almost create for yourself?

I’d expect the amino acid DLPA (dl-phenylalanine) to help since it works on boosting both low endorphins and low dopamine. I am really curious about DPA because some folks can’t tolerate DLPA or it’s contraindicated.

What are some examples of your distractions and what has helped you?

Sarah: finds looking for split ends and cutting them off very rewarding. Is this a low endorphin behavior?

Omgosh this is so me. I often wonder what the heck is wrong with me. I look around at everything that needs to be done but just get overwhelmed and have no motivation to get it done. I don’t know where to start and then get anxious about it. I will immerse myself looking for split ends in my hair instead, I can spend easily over an hour at a time just sitting there looking for split ends and cutting them off. I find it very rewarding and it’s become such a habit now that if I’m out publicly and see a pesky split end l can’t ignore it and as Í don’t typically carry scissors with me (because that would be weird right?!) so I bite them off. I often think I must look like a nutter! I am always thinking what is wrong with me???!!

Sarah describes a rewarding activity perfectly and I’d suspect endorphin support – using the amino acid DPA (d-phenylalanine) – will likely help her. This behavior is her distraction from getting things done. It’s such a distraction that she cannot ignore it even when in public.

Since she also mentions overwhelm and anxiety I’d also want to explore low GABA physical-type anxiety and low serotonin worry-type anxiety and consider trials of both GABA and tryptophan (or 5-HTP).

There may also be an obsessive element to her distracting behavior and serotonin support (with the above, inositol and possibly NAC) has been shown to help with trichotillomania (recurring habit of pulling one’s hair).

Bonnie: low motivation almost feels physical or like something is missing in my brain. Low endorphins and low dopamine?

I relate to this very much – low motivation almost feels physical or like something is missing in my brain, also an almost inability to focus or organize how to do something or get through the day. I have low motivation with poor focus … but I am also constantly craving reward, comfort, or some kind of boost in energy or pleasure to motivate or energize me – this used to be things like sweets or chocolate but I have been lowering sugar/attempting to quit.

I haven’t tried any supplements mentioned but I’m very interested to learn more as this significantly affects my life.

She says her low motivation feels physical or like something is missing. It’s great she has that awareness and she is spot on – she is missing the specific action of certain neurotransmitters (which can be resolved with amino acid supplementation).

We address neurotransmitter imbalances, one at a time:

DPA for low endorphin support to help with the comfort/distraction/reward
And tyrosine for dopamine support to help with the inability to focus and needing something to energize her
Her inability to focus or organize could be due to the spinning we see with the low GABA type of physical anxiety too

She also shares that she has “feelings of anxiety, hopelessness and self judgment” so low serotonin worry-type anxiety is also likely in the mix.

As always it’s best to trial one at a time and find the ideal dose before trialing the next one. I recommend trialing in the area that causes the most distress. What is great is that addressing all this will make quitting sweets and chocolate easy and with no feelings of deprivation.

Jennifer: video games are hard to break free of / switches to learning languages. Could it be low GABA and an inability to prioritize?

All of the above but video games are especially hard to break free from. Luckily I decided to use those dopamine hits to my advantage and am closing in on a 1000 day Duolingo streak, having made it to the end of the French, Norwegian, and Japanese courses. Yes I neglect other things, but it’s better than wasting time on video games. I do worry a bit that I would lose interest if my chemistry was fully balanced, but then again there are more important things that I could be doing.

I congratulated her on her language learning and shared that it’s common to switch one addiction for another. For example alcoholics quit drinking and then get addicted to sugar or caffeine unless they address their neurotransmitter imbalances.

Jennifer has been using GABA without much success yet and once she finds the ideal dose it may be the solution or part of the solution for her spinning and inability to prioritize (which she “chalked up to ADHD, but also only became a problem when I got sick.”

Initially I would focus on GABA support (for physical anxiety) more than endorphin support, because she shares she also has all these other low GABA symptoms:

acrophobia (which started when she got sick)
proctalgia fugax/rectal spasms (recently developed
and burning mouth (which was a big part of her mold symptoms)

Keep in mind mold can deplete GABA and other brain chemicals so this does need to be addressed (home/office remediation and healing from the mycotoxin effects), in addition to using amino acid support.

She does check all the boxes on the symptoms questionnaire and it’ll be interesting to see which other amino acids help her with this gaming/language learning challenge. There may well be a low endorphin distraction and reward aspect too.

As always it’s best to trial one amino acid at a time and find the ideal dose before moving on to the next one.

Some of the research

I actually went looking for the research to support what I was seeing in terms of these struggles folks are experiencing i.e. another type of low motivation that is driven by low endorphins and has a numbing, rewarding and addiction aspect.

As mentioned above there is an endorphin/dopamine connection. This paper, Opioids for hedonic experience and dopamine to get ready for it, summarizes it well:

Brain dopamine has been suggested to rather code for the preparatory aspects of behavior, while brain opioids [endorphins] seem to mediate the perception of the hedonic [or pleasant] properties of rewards.

There is an addiction/cravings aspect with each of the neurotransmitter imbalances, including low endorphins. As mentioned above, these distracting behaviors can also be addicting. And we know low endorphins are a factor when it comes to addictions to drugs, carbs/sweets and behaviors.

DPA destroys the enzyme that breaks down/inhibits endorphins and in essence raises endorphin levels, This paper discusses beta-endorphins and the reward mechanism and how they can induce euphoria, reduce pain and ease addictions and distress: “Long known for its analgesic effect, the opioid beta-endorphin is now shown to induce euphoria, and to have rewarding and reinforcing properties.” You can read more about DPA here.

With regards to DLPA (which supports low endorphins and low dopamine), a really interesting study identified low endorphins and low catecholamines as a probable cause of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) or PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) in some women. I blogged about this study and the use of DLPA here.

When it comes to exercise, this study, Opioid Release after High-Intensity Interval Training in Healthy Human Subjects, highlights the effects of different exercise intensities on opioid release, with moderate-intensity exercise being more beneficial for endorphin support. You can read about the impacts of exercise on pain, reward, and emotional processing and “the most commonly adopted theory on physical exercise induced euphoria …the ‘endorphin hypothesis’.”

LDN (low dose naltrexone) is often used in autoimmune conditions and to help with inflammation. This article, The Uses of Low-Dose Naltrexone in Clinical Practice, provides a good overview, and states that “unlike higher doses of naltrexone, LDN acts on β-endorphin receptors to stimulate the release of endorphins in the body.” I’m not advocating the use of LDN instead of DPA or DLPA, but if you’ve been prescribed LDN you may have observed the endorphin boosting effects.

Brain chemical imbalances to consider when you experience low motivation and can’t get things done

Here is a short summary of brain chemical/neurotransmitter imbalances to consider when you have low motivation and can’t get things done:

Low endorphins – the less recognized low endorphin/comfort/distraction type as discussed in this blog
Low dopamine/low catecholamines – this is what we think of as the classic low motivation trigger where there is also poor focus, low energy and sometimes curl-up-in bed kind of depression
Low serotonin is another less recognized kind of low motivation I’ve blogged about: What if overthinking, fear, anxiety and worry (caused by low serotonin) is holding you back instead of low motivation/low dopamine?
Low GABA is also not recognized as a trigger of low motivation but since anxiety can cause inability to prioritize and spinning, this could be a factor too
Low blood sugar could also be a factor since it affects focus and energy

Resources if you are new to using the amino acids as supplements

There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, blood sugar control, sugar cravings, self-medicating with alcohol and more.

If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), a good place to get help is the GABA Quickstart Program (if you have low GABA symptoms). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support. There are many moms in the program who are having much success with their kids.

With much appreciation for these women for sharing their stories and allowing me to provide my insights for them and you. We all have much to learn from each other.

Can you relate to any of this and has endorphin support with the amino acid DPA (d-phenylalanine) used as a supplement) helped?

What about exercise or LDN (low dose naltrexone) or DLPA (dl-phenylalanine)?

What are some examples of your distractions or rewarding/comforting/numbing behaviors?

And do you have a mix of neurotransmitter imbalances to address? Which is the most troubling area for you?

If you have questions please share them here too.

DLPA (DL-Phenylalanine) eases PMDD/PMS symptoms in women who experience declining endorphin levels in the second half of their cycles

March 18, 2022 By Trudy Scott 23 Comments

Mood swings, intense sugar cravings, comfort/binge eating, sadness, anxiety, crying, cramps and increased pain, irritability, anger, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, overwhelm, feelings of unease and dissatisfaction, aggression, heartache, and/or insomnia are common for many women during the second half of the menstrual cycle i.e. in the luteal phase. You may relate to all or some of these symptoms. And you may have been diagnosed with or may identify with PMS (premenstrual syndrome) or PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder – similar to PMS but more serious).

Research shows improvements of these symptoms with the amino acids tryptophan (which provides serotonin support) and GABA (which supports GABA levels). Although there is no research that the pyroluria protocol improves symptoms it’s something I see clinically all the time. (I’ve written about this extensively and share more on this below)

A really interesting study published in 1989 identified low endorphins and low catecholamines as a probable cause for some women – Prevention of Late Luteal Phase Dysphoric Disorder Symptoms with DL-Phenylalanine in Women with Abrupt β-Endorphin Decline: A Pilot Study

I recently came across the above paper and prior to this, had not considered this as a primary root cause. Here is the excerpt from the abstract:

Twenty-two women with late luteal phase dysphoric disorder were treated with DL-phenylalanine during the 15 days prior to menses in a double-blind crossover study.

DL-Phenylalanine was shown to be more effective than placebo in attenuating many symptoms characteristic of luteal phase dysphoric disorder. This amino acid was chosen because of its hypothesized actions in attenuating the symptoms associated with the sharp decline in central β-endorphin levels during the late luteal phase in women with luteal phase dysphoric disorder.

Let’s review a few terms… Late luteal phase dysphoric disorder is a synonym for PMDD. The luteal phase is one stage of the menstrual cycle and occurs after ovulation and before your period. When you feel dysphoric you feel very unhappy, uneasy, or dissatisfied. With the downward endorphin shift at this time, period pain and other pain can be worse, and weepiness and emotional symptoms increase. The need for comfort or reward eating also increases. The study authors suggest these PMDD symptoms may “closely resemble those seen during morphine or heroin withdrawal.”

Based on my experience I do feel comfortable extrapolating these findings to PMS and even peri and post-menopausal women who experience some or all of these symptoms (other than actual periods and period issues in post-menopausal women).

Study participants, dosing and timing of DLPA and improvements

The participants in the study were white, middle-class, and between 24 and 29. Each woman took one 750 mg of DLPA at breakfast and lunch for the 15 days prior to the expected onset of their periods.

In the study groups, it was found that “initial improvement started at the end of the first month of DLPA therapy. Continued therapy brought increased relief from symptoms by the end of the second month. Interestingly, the greatest period of improvement occurred during the washout period” at the end of the third month possibly due to a delayed action of DL-phenylalanine.

The authors make the following conclusion:

DL-phenylalanine was found to be safe, well-accepted, and without significant side effects. The significant improvement it produced with many of the symptoms characteristic of Late Luteal Phase Dysphoric Disorder [PMDD] suggests that it may prove a useful addition to the therapeutic armamentarium for this syndrome.

Keep in mind that a typical starting dose of DLPA is 500mg used 2-3 x per day and it’s typically used between meals for best effects. Ideal is also to customize dosing to your unique needs. In this study, everyone received the same dose at the same time. For these reasons it’s even more impressive to see results like they did.

It makes sense but I have just not used DPLA alone and only in the second half of the cycle

It’s a very small pilot study but given my experience with the amino acids DLPA, DPA and tyrosine, and the vast number of women I have worked with who had symptoms like the above, it makes sense. Using the above three amino acids in combination with dietary changes, tryptophan, GABA and the pyroluria protocol, this approach has offered relief for many of my clients. I have just not used DPLA alone and only in the second half of the cycle.

In case you’re wondering why I mention the three amino acids DLPA, DPA and tyrosine above, it’s because:

DLPA (the amino acid used in this study) supports both endorphins and catecholamines (dopamine is one of them)
Or DPA (supports endorphins only) can be used with tyrosine (supports catecholamines only) instead of DLPA which does both

I blog about the differences between DLPA and DPA here, together with all the symptoms we look at when considering doing a trial.

In this study, they used DLPA which boosts endorphins and catecholamines. As I share in my DPA vs DLPA blog, I prefer DPA (d-phenylalanine) for endorphin support when symptoms are severe. But DPA is not always available so DLPA is a good alternative, assuming the person can handle the catecholamine support. Some people can’t and there are some contraindications too.

I’d love to see follow-on research covering the following:

A larger group of women using DLPA
Individualizing the dosing of DLPA to each person’s unique needs
Correlating results with the low endorphin and low catecholamine symptoms questionnaire
Comparing DLPA alone with a combination of DPA + tyrosine (with each individualized based on unique needs)

Serotonin and GABA support for PMS/PMDD, and the pyroluria protocol

In this paper, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder the authors share that PMDD

comprises emotional and physical symptoms and functional impairment that lie on the severe end of the continuum of premenstrual symptoms. Women with PMDD have a differential response to normal hormonal fluctuations.

It’s recognized that serotonin and GABA play a role:

This susceptibility may involve the serotonin system, altered sensitivity of the GABAA receptor to the neurosteroid allopregnanalone [a naturally occurring neurosteroid which is made from the hormone progesterone], and altered brain circuitry involving emotional and cognitive functions.

They share SSRIs that are considered as the first-line treatment. Second-line treatments include oral contraceptives, calcium, chasteberry, and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

However, as I share in this blog, research supports the use of tryptophan – Tryptophan for PMS: premenstrual dysphoria, mood swings, tension, and irritability

A study published in 1999, A placebo-controlled clinical trial of L-tryptophan in premenstrual dysphoria, tryptophan was found to reduce symptoms of PMS when used in the luteal phase or second half of the cycle (i.e. after ovulation).

I mention GABA in this blog and the fact that many anxious women I work with also have pyroluria or signs of low zinc and low vitamin B6 and adding these nutrients, together with evening primrose oil, provide additional hormonal and neurotransmitter support, and help with the social anxiety.

Resources if you are new to using DLPA (or other amino acids) as supplements

If you are new to using DLPA or the other amino acids as supplements, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution (you can see the low endorphin and low catecholamine symptoms.)

If you suspect low levels of endorphins and/or low levels of catecholamine and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the team you or your loved one is working with. Blog posts like this are intended to add value to the chapter on amino acids, which contains detailed information on doses and time of the day for dosing.

The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acid products that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs.

If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. It’s an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.

Have you considered that there may be different types of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) or PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) i.e. a different combination of root causes and therefore different solutions?

And have you had success with DLPA alone (providing both endorphin and dopamine support) or by using a combination of DPA (endorphin support only) and tyrosine (catecholamine support only).

If you’re peri or post menopausal have you also seen success with any of these amino acids?

Have the other amino acids, tryptophan and GABA or the pyroluria protocol helped too?

If you’re a practitioner please share what you’ve seen with clients/patients.

Feel free to ask your questions here too.

What is the difference between DPA and DLPA (amino acids) and which one do I use for weepiness, heart-ache, pain and energy?

March 11, 2022 By Trudy Scott 75 Comments

Today we address a very common question I get: “What is the difference between DPA and DLPA?” The follow-up question is this: “And what symptoms do they help with?” These are both amino acids that help to boost certain feel-good neurotransmitters. DPA (d-phenylalanine) supports endorphins, whereas DLPA (dl-phenylalanine) supports both endorphins (to a lesser extent than DPA) and catecholamines (to a lesser extent than tyrosine).

Depending on your imbalances and symptoms, they could help with weepiness, heart-ache, comfort eating, emotional support, pain relief, better focus and energy, and even improved motivation.

I mostly recommend DPA (which I call a-hug-in-a-bottle) and share the reasons why below, but some people do really well with DLPA. It’s a matter of figuring out the best one and dose for your unique needs.

DPA for low endorphin symptoms

DPA (d-phenylalanine) is an amino acid that destroys the enzyme that breaks down endorphins. Endorphins are feel-good chemicals that you experience with an endorphin rush when you go for a run or when someone gives you a big hug, when you show kindness to someone or an individual does something nice for you.

Taking the amino acid, DPA, as a supplement helps to raise your endorphins and helps when you feel weepy and overly emotional and reduces the need to self-medicate with treats as a reward or for comfort.

This amino acid is a favorite with so many of my clients and community because it makes them feel so lovely … a warm and fuzzy feeling. I often call it a-hug-in-a-bottle!

Here are the low endorphin symptoms I have my clients rate if they are considering a trial of DPA:

Heightened sensitivity to emotional pain
Heightened sensitivity to physical pain
Crying or tearing up easily
Eating to soothe your mood, or comfort eating
Really, really loving certain foods, behaviors, drugs, or alcohol
Craving a reward or numbing treat

Tyrosine for low catecholamine symptoms

Tyrosine is the amino acid that boosts catecholamines and helps with focus, motivation, energy (especially when you crave carbs for energy) and the blah kind of depression. It’s wonderful for helping you easily quit coffee/caffeine (when you are using it to “self-medicate” due to low catecholamines). It also provides support for the thyroid.

Here are the low catecholamine symptoms I have my clients rate if they are considering a trial of the amino acid tyrosine:

Depression and apathy
Easily bored
Lack of energy
Lack of focus
Lack of drive and low motivation
Attention deficit disorder
Procrastination and indecisiveness
Craving carbs, alcohol, caffeine, or drugs for energy

DLPA for both low endorphin and low catecholamine symptoms

If someone has both low endorphin and low catecholamine symptoms, a trial of DLPA could be considered. DLPA supports both endorphins (to a lesser extent than DPA alone) and also catecholamines (to a lesser extent than tyrosine used alone). You could think of it as doing half and half of each.

Low endorphin symptoms:

Heightened sensitivity to emotional pain
Heightened sensitivity to physical pain
Crying or tearing up easily
Eating to soothe your mood, or comfort eating
Really, really loving certain foods, behaviors, drugs, or alcohol
Craving a reward or numbing treat

And low catecholamine symptoms:

Depression and apathy
Easily bored
Lack of energy
Lack of focus
Lack of drive and low motivation
Attention deficit disorder
Procrastination and indecisiveness
Craving carbs, alcohol, caffeine, or drugs for energy

Why I prefer my clients use DPA and tyrosine, rather than DLPA

Many people do well with DLPA (you can read one example below) but over the years I have streamlined my amino acid recommendations and seldom suggest DLPA. Here are the reasons why I prefer DPA:

DPA is not stimulating and doesn’t affect sleep. However, DLPA can be stimulating for anxious folks (and the majority of my clients have anxiety). For this reason, DLPA can not be used later than 3pm as it can affect sleep and for some folks with really bad sleep issues it can’t be tolerated later than mid-morning (in a similar way to tyrosine).
I like to have clients use DPA alone so we can clearly identify the benefits they are experiencing for their low endorphin symptoms and then use tyrosine alone so we can clearly identify their low catecholamine benefits.
There are no precautions or contraindications with DPA. However, DLPA has the same precautions as tyrosine. This limits using it for endorphin support. These are the precautions:
- Overactive thyroid/Grave’s disease: tyrosine, DLPA (avoid)
- Phenylketonuria (PKU): tyrosine, DLPA (avoid)
- Melanoma: tyrosine, DLPA (avoid)
- High Blood pressure: tyrosine, DLPA (watch)
- Migraine headaches: tyrosine, DLPA (watch)
- Bipolar disorder: tyrosine, DLPA, glutamine (watch)
The women I work with who do have low endorphin symptoms have reported superior benefits from DPA compared to DLPA, especially for emotional pain and emotional eating.
Some folks can’t tolerate tyrosine and these same folks have a hard time with DLPA.

The one disadvantage with DPA is that it’s not as widely and readily available as DLPA. It often needs to be purchased online (I list some brands below).

Here is some feedback from folks to give you an idea how these amino acids have helped them.

As you’ll see, there are some individuals who do well with DLPA so it’s really a matter of looking at the symptoms and doing a trial.

DPA helps Missy with weepiness and a deep heart-ache (and tastes like dark chocolate)

Missy shares how DPA helped her deep heart-ache sort of feeling:

I have found I was using this product incorrectly. If you are feeling fine, you do not feel much of anything from it. But today I was weepy and felt that deep, heart-ache sort of feeling. I chewed 1000 mgs (2 capsules) and it DID help lift that awful feeling within 15 minutes.

Notice that she said if you’re feeling fine you don’t feel much at all. This is true of all the amino acids – they only make a difference when you need them.

Missy said that she chewed the capsule, however around 2019, the gelatin capsule was replaced with a cellulose capsule. It’s much more palatable when it’s opened up into the mouth. I blog more about opening the capsule here.

She also reported what about half my clients say:

Tastes like slightly bitter dark chocolate 🙂

The remainder of my clients don’t like the taste at all, although many say the taste grows on them. I’ve always been in the dark chocolate camp and find it quite pleasant tasting.

DLPA helps Toby with energy and pain relief (he has CFS and fibromyalgia)

Toby has a diagnosis of CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) and fibromyalgia and shared how DLPA helps him:

I’ve played around with (I think) all variations of these aminos and have found unequivocally (in the sense of definite and fast observable changes as opposed to none) that DLPA is the one that works for me. I have wondered what that means. I am male, 45, diagnosed with CFS and fibromyalgia and have speculated that in lay terms the DLPA gives me a bit of energy and pain relief (endorphins). Is that a logical conclusion?

He posted an image of the DLPA product he used and said this:

After putting it on my tongue, very quickly I get an agreeable boost in energy and pain relief. I have not experienced this with DPA or tyrosine.

Based on what I’ve covered above with the symptoms you can see that Toby has made a very logical conclusion. He is getting both endorphin support (the pain relief) and catecholamine support (the energy).

Resources if you are new to using DPA or DLPA as supplements

If you are new to using the amino acids DPA or DLPA as supplements, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution (you can see the low endorphin and low catecholamine symptoms.)

The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the DPA and DLPA products that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs.

For DPA I have used the Lidtke Endorphigen product for years and it’s a firm favorite with my clients (and I’ve used it myself).

I recently purchased a bottle of Doctor’s Best D-Phenylalanine to test and it works just as well as the Lidtke product.

If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. It’s an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.

Do you have any of the low endorphin and/or low catecholamine symptoms and have you seen benefit with DPA, DLPA and/or tyrosine? If yes, please share what benefits.

Has this blog provided clarification on DPA vs DLPA, and will you be changing how you use these amino acids going forward?

If you’re a practitioner please share what you use with clients/patients.

Feel free to ask your questions here too.