• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

everywomanover29

Food, Mood and Women's Health – Be your healthiest, look and feel great!

  • Blog
  • About
  • Services
  • Store
  • Resources
  • Testimonials
  • Media
  • The Book
  • Contact

dyskinesias

5-HTP in Parkinson’s disease: benefits for depression, levodopa-induced motor complications, anxiety and sleep issues

March 19, 2021 By Trudy Scott 28 Comments

5-HTP and Parkinson's Disease

Research shows that the amino acid 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan), the intermediate metabolite of tryptophan in the production of serotonin, offers benefits for Parkinson’s disease patients. It has been reported to ease depression and to reduce levodopa-induced motor complications. This was reported in two separate studies by the same research team at the University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. They were small studies and considered preliminary. However, given what I know about the effectiveness of 5-HTP (for depression, anxiety and insomnia), I consider it a major step forward for Parkinson’s disease patients.

In this study, Efficacy and safety of 5-hydroxytryptophan on depression and apathy in Parkinson’s disease: a preliminary finding, 25 individuals with Parkinson’s disease were enrolled and “patients received placebo or 50 mg of 5-HTP daily over a period of 4 weeks”

The findings were as follows:

a significant improvement of depressive symptoms during the 50-mg 5-HTP treatment compared with placebo.

In this study 5-HTP was not shown to reduce apathy symptoms. This is not surprising to me, given that we typically see the amino acid tyrosine help with apathy symptoms associated with low catecholamines, rather than low serotonin.

In this study, Efficacy and safety of 5-Hydroxytryptophan on levodopa-induced motor complications in Parkinson’s disease: A preliminary finding, 12 Parkinson’s patients who were diagnosed with levodopa-induced dyskinesias (involuntary, erratic, writhing movements of the face, arms, legs or trunk) and motor fluctuations were included. Patients received placebo or 50 mg of 5-HTP daily over 4 weeks.

The findings were as follows:

a significant improvement of levodopa-induced dyskinesias during the 50 mg 5-HTP treatment.

The study authors make the serotonin-dyskinesias connection, stating that “Several studies have indicated that altered serotonergic neurotransmission may contribute to the motor features commonly associated with Parkinson’s disease drug treatment such as levodopa-induced dyskinesias.”

Both studies were single-center, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over trials, and both recommend larger studies, longer treatment duration and different doses in order to corroborate these early findings.

Sleep disorders, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and anxiety in Parkinson’s disease

As reported in this paper, Spectrum of Non-Motor Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease

Despite their significant clinical importance, the awareness of non-motor symptoms is quite negligible. Sleep disorders, gastrointestinal dysfunction, olfactory disturbances, anxiety, and depressive episodes are some of the most common non-motor presentations.

5-HTP helps with depression, anxiety, sleep issues (more here: Sleep promoting effects of combined GABA and 5-HTP)  and digestive issues.

Given what I know about the effectiveness of 5-HTP in my clients with anxiety, low mood and sleep issues, I consider this research a major step forward for Parkinson’s disease patients who may also experience anxiety, depression and sleep issues.

5-HTP also improves focus and when to switch to tryptophan

I was surprised to read that it has been hypothesized that ADHD and Parkinson’s disease share “several overlapping anatomical and neurochemical changes.”

As you can see from these blog posts, in addition to boosting mood, 5-HTP also improves focus and ADHD symptoms:

  • 5-HTP benefits both adopted daughters who had prenatal exposure to alcohol: they are happier, more focused and can stay on task
  • ADHD: 5-HTP melts have been a miracle for one of my adopted kids

One caution with 5-HTP is that it can raise salivary cortisol and cause a “wired-tired” feeling. When this happens we switch to tryptophan, always starting with a trial in order to figure out the ideal dose.

Typical dosing of 5-HTP for low serotonin-type anxiety

I find that using 50 mg of 5-HTP 1-3 times a day is a typical starting dose for my adult clients who have the low serotonin-type of anxiety (mental anxiety, worry, panic attacks, ruminations), low mood, insomnia, sugar cravings, irritability, PMS, anger issues and TMJ.

Keep in mind that in these 2 studies, 50 mg of 5-HTP was used only once a day, and everyone was given the same dose. There is never a one-size fits all approach with the amino acids and we adjust up or down based on symptoms, using a trial approach. I’d love to see this approach used with follow-up studies.

If you are new to the concept of low serotonin and the use of tryptophan or 5-HTP you will find this blog helpful.

Parkinson’s disease and GABA, flavonoids in parsley and insecticides

Here are some other useful blogs on Parkinson’s disease:

  • GABA and tryptophan for pain and anxiety in Parkinson’s disease?
  • Apigenin, a flavonoid in parsley increases brain connections, reduces anxiety
  • Fipronil insecticide: GABA/glutamate and anxiety, aggressive behavior, memory and Alzheimer’s disease in humans?

Have you or a family member with Parkinson’s disease used 5-HTP (or tryptophan) for easing depression and improving levodopa-induced motor complications?

Have you seen reduced anxiety, improved sleep, better digestion and better focus too?

If you’re a practitioner working with Parkinson’s patients have you used 5-HTP or tryptophan with success?

Feel free to post your questions and feedback in the comments below.

Filed Under: 5-HTP, Anxiety, Depression, Parkinson’s disease Tagged With: 5-HTP, anxiety, apathy, depression, dyskinesias, flavonoids, focus, GABA, gastrointestinal dysfunction, insecticides, levodopa-induced motor complications, Parkinson's disease, serotonin, sleep, tryptophan, tyrosine

Primary Sidebar

FREE REPORT

9 Great Questions Women Ask about Food, Mood and their Health

You’ll also receive a complimentary subscription to my ezine “Food, Mood and Gal Stuff”

Success! Check your inbox for our email with a download link.

Connect with me

Recent Posts

  • 5-HTP for a calm brain, and a racing mind at night: questions and answers
  • Night eating syndrome: is low serotonin a root cause and is tryptophan a solution?
  • GABA for easing physical anxiety and tension: some questions and answers
  • Tryptophan calms comfort eating, eases self-doubt, reduces uncontrollable late night snacking and results in a lot more peace around food.
  • 5-HTP in Parkinson’s disease: benefits for depression, levodopa-induced motor complications, anxiety and sleep issues

Categories

  • 5-HTP
  • AB575
  • Addiction
  • ADHD
  • Adrenals
  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Amino Acids
  • Antianxiety
  • Antianxiety Food Solution
  • Antidepressants
  • Anxiety
  • Anxiety and panic
  • Anxiety Summit 5
  • Anxiety Summit 6
  • Autism
  • Autoimmunity
  • benzodiazapines
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Books
  • Caffeine
  • Cancer
  • Candida
  • Children
  • Cooking equipment
  • Coronavirus/COVID-19
  • Cravings
  • Depression
  • Detoxification
  • Diabetes
  • Diet
  • Drugs
  • EFT/Tapping
  • EMF
  • EMFs
  • Emotional Eating
  • Environment
  • Essential oils
  • Events
  • Exercise
  • Fear of public speaking
  • Fertility and Pregnancy
  • Fish
  • Food
  • Food and mood
  • Functional neurology
  • GABA
  • Gene polymorphisms
  • General Health
  • Giving
  • Giving back
  • Glutamine
  • Gluten
  • GMOs
  • Gratitude
  • Gut health
  • Heart health
  • Histamine
  • Hormone
  • Immune system
  • Inflammation
  • Insomnia
  • Inspiration
  • Introversion
  • Joy and happiness
  • Ketogenic diet
  • Looking awesome
  • Lyme disease and co-infections
  • Medication
  • Mental health
  • Mercury
  • Migraine
  • Mold
  • Movie
  • MTHFR
  • Music
  • NANP
  • Nature
  • Nutritional Psychiatry
  • OCD
  • Oxalates
  • Oxytocin
  • Pain
  • Paleo
  • Parasites
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • People
  • Postpartum
  • PTSD
  • Pyroluria
  • Questionnaires
  • Real whole food
  • Recipes
  • Research
  • serotonin
  • SIBO
  • Sleep
  • Special diets
  • Stress
  • Sugar addiction
  • Sugar and mood
  • Supplements
  • Teens
  • Testimonials
  • Testing
  • The Anxiety Summit
  • The Anxiety Summit 2
  • The Anxiety Summit 3
  • The Anxiety Summit 4
  • Thyroid
  • Thyroid health
  • Toxins
  • Tryptophan
  • Uncategorized
  • Vegan/vegetarian
  • Women's health
  • Yoga

Archives

  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • July 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • November 2009

Copyright © 2021 Trudy Scott. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy | Terms of Use | Refund Policy