phosphorylated serine

What do I use instead of Seriphos to help lower high cortisol that is affecting my sleep and making me anxious at night?

October 31, 2025 By Trudy Scott 28 Comments

Seriphos, a phosphorylated serine supplement that I rate highly and have personally used with success, is not available right now. I’ve had a number of people reaching out frantically asking for help:

What do I use instead of Seriphos to help lower high cortisol that is affecting my sleep and making me anxious at night?

It’s my top product for addressing high cortisol at night and I’ve been recommending it for years for this purpose (as did one of my mentors, Julia Ross). It’s extremely effective when used a few hours before high cortisol (as measured on a salivary cortisol test). It also starts to work within about a week for most individuals.

Unfortunately Seriphos has been unavailable for a number of months. The company has no information on when it will be available again but have assured me via email that the formulation will be the same. This is really good news after a previous debacle when the formulation changed in 2016/2017.

Until then, there are some other options that may be an effective alternative. And even if you still have some Seriphos in your calming/sleep stash I encourage you to pay attention as it’s important to have a backup plan for situations like this!

Read on below for information on phosphatidylserine, the cortisol/stress research and how it compares to phosphorylated serine; which phosphatidylserine products to consider instead of Seriphos; other options for lowering high cortisol levels (such as Cortisol Manager, Relora® lactium and bergamot); the amino acid theanine for neurotransmitter support and high cortisol; and additional resources when you are new to amino acids.

What is phosphatidylserine and how does it compare to phosphorylated serine?

From this 2023 paper, Phosphatidylserine: An overview on functionality, processing techniques, patents, and prospects

Phosphatidylserine is the part of cell structure in the body and has many beneficial functions especially in brain-related aging diseases.

Supplementation has been reported to show improved memory and cognition (including ADHD and Alzheimer’ s disease), and also better exercise performance. The research also shows benefits when it comes to lowering cortisol levels and feeling less stressed:

One study reported 300 mg/day for 1 month was “associated with feeling less stressed and having better mood in a sub-group of healthy young males.”
And another study using a moderate dose of 600 mg/day promoted “a desired hormonal balance for athletes by blunting increases in cortisol levels”, suggesting that phosphatidylserine “partly counteracts the stress-induced activation of the hypothalamopituitary-adrenal axis.”
One additional study reported that 800 mg/day for 10 days lowered “plasma cortisol concentrations in healthy inactive males”

As you can see the range of doses varies (which makes sense since we are all unique) but it has been established as a “safe oral supplement capable of attenuating the serum cortisol and creatine kinase responses to acute exercise stress.”

“Lower daily doses (<500 mg/day) for longer duration” are recommended for ongoing cognitive benefits. One study reported improvements in “behavioral and cognitive functions in a group of geriatric patients with cognitive impairment” who used 300 mg/day for 6 months.

Seriphos is unique in that it is a phosphorylated serine product – this is where the magic happens when it comes to lowering cortisol so well. It is similar to phosphatidylserine but as far as I am aware, there is no actual research on phosphorylated serine. They quote studies on phosphatidylserine on their site.

Which phosphatidylserine products to consider instead of Seriphos?

Here are two excellent professional grade phosphatidylserine products to consider. It may be a matter of trial and error to find what works well for your needs, plus adjusting the dose up as necessary.

Designs for Health PS 150 – Phosphatidylserine 150 mg: non-soy, sunflower sourced phosphatidyl serine with one capsule providing 150mg, so using a higher dose may be more effective:
- Feedback from a colleague: “We have equally good results with phosphatidyl serine, but the dose usually needs to be in the 300-500mg range, to equate to what 1 or 2 Seriphos capsules could do.”
- Feedback from another colleague: “We started using PS150 from DFH and love it.” He often uses this in conjunction with another Designs for Health product called Catecholacalm.
Designs for Health Phosphatidylserine Powder 200mg: One quarter teaspoon provides 200mg phosphatidylserine in a powder form.
- This one is made from soy (GMO-free) but may be easier to use to get higher doses. Per their site the powder is an “excellent delivery system for children and the elderly who may have difficulty swallowing capsules; it has virtually no taste and will dissolve into applesauce or any food.”

Other options for lowering high cortisol levels: Cortisol Manager, Relora^® lactium and bergamot

Cortisol Manager by Integrative Therapeutics – 2 capsules contain a proprietary blend of: ashwagandha (Sensoril®), L-Theanine, plus a blend of Magnolia (Magnolia officinalis) and 100mg of phosphatidylserine (soy free). I have seen mixed results with this product:
- A colleague shared this: “Cortisol Manager can be dosed up to 2-3 tablets per day and used with or without additional phosphatidyl serine which can easily go as high as 600 mg.” He has seen salivary cortisol levels shift with this approach and shared: “Interestingly, I never saw those changes with Seriphos despite being a heavy user between 2009 and 2011 so I thought it was just hype.”
- Feedback from someone on my blog: “Cortisol Manager was too stimulating with the Ashwagandha”
- Feedback from a practitioner who first used Cortisol Manager personally and then switched to Seriphos at my recommendation: “Cortisol Manager did nothing for me. I dosed it high enough and took it for a month – but I felt nothing. Seriphos, on the other hand, worked the same night, within an hour or two.”
Relora®, a proprietary blend of Magnolia officinalis bark extract and Phellodendron amurense bark extract
- This 2013 study, Effect of Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense (Relora®) on cortisol and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects, found that after 4 weeks of supplementation (500 mg /day, with 250 mg at breakfast and 250mg at dinner) these were the results seen in the Relora® group (compared to the placebo group):
  - salivary cortisol exposure was significantly lower (18%)
  - lower overall stress (11%)
  - lower tension (13%)
  - less depression (20%)
  - less anger (42%)
  - less fatigue (31%),
  - less confusion (27%)
  - and significantly better mood state parameters (11%) and vigor (18%)
Biotics Research De-stress, contains Lactium®, also known as hydrolyzed casein.
- I have used this product with clients with good results and based on the research it lowers high cortisol. It’s also calming because it works on the GABAA receptor.
- You’ll also see Lactium® referred to as alpha-s1 casein hydrolysate, hydrolyzed casein concentrate, and tryptic hydrolysate from bovine milk alphaS1-casein. More on this blog
There is very promising research on essential oils lowering cortisol levels – such as bergamot. In this blog I share an animal study that shows very promising results: Acute effects of bergamot oil on anxiety-related behaviour and corticosterone level in rats

both bergamot essential oil and diazepam exhibited anxiolytic-like behaviours and attenuated HPA axis activity by reducing the corticosterone response to stress

The amino acid theanine for neurotransmitter support and high cortisol

Theanine is a calming amino acid that supports low GABA, low serotonin and low dopamine, and has been shown to help with stress levels when salivary cortisol is high.

A 2021 study, A Randomized, Triple-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study to Investigate the Efficacy of a Single Dose of AlphaWave^® l-Theanine on Stress in a Healthy Adult Population, 200 mg of AlphaWave^® l-Theanine was shown reduce “salivary cortisol in healthy, moderately stressed adults” and increase frontal region alpha wave activity.This was “indicative of relaxation in the brain and suggest a calming response.”

The authors conclude as follows:

Four weeks of supplementation with 200 mg of l-theanine has been shown to improve trait anxiety scores, suggesting that continued supplementation with AlphaWave^® l-Theanine may have positive effects on trait anxiety as well, which may be an important application in longer-term stress management.

As you may already know, I am a proponent of long-term stress management with individual amino acids such as GABA, theanine and tryptophan/5-HTP. And the more I learn about the benefits and mechanisms of theanine the more excited I get!

Additional resources when you are new to using theanine, GABA or other amino acids as supplements

We use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low GABA (indicating a possible need for GABA or theanine) or low serotonin (indicating a need for tryptophan or 5-HTP) or low endorphins (indicating a possible need for DPA) or low dopamine (a need for tyrosine) other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue for you.

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, sugar cravings, anxiety and mood issues. The importance of quality animal protein and healthy fats is also covered.

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. We’ll be launching a budget-friendly homestudy version in a few weeks – sign up for the wait list here (the live version with Q&A is offered only a few times a year). The amino acids GABA and theanine are covered.

If you also need serotonin support, the Serotonin QuickStart Program is a good place to get help. This is also a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance on using tryptophan and 5-HTP safely, and community support during 5 LIVE Q&A calls. You can sign up to be notified when the next live launch of this program is happening.

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.

Now I’d love to hear from you …

Have you used Seriphos with success in the past for lowering high cortisol and helping with sleep and middle of the night surges or adrenalin-type anxiety and panic?

Have you had success with any of the Designs For Health or other phosphatidylserine products? How much did you need to use to get results?

What about Cortisol Manager, essential oils, Relora or lactium? Or something else?

Do you also use theanine with success? And if yes, how much helps you?

Feel free to post your questions here too.

Seriphos to lower high cortisol: Help prevent an adrenaline-type surge and waking with anxiety and panic. Your questions answered

January 26, 2024 By Trudy Scott 16 Comments

When you have high night-time cortisol it can cause you to wake in the middle of the night with anxiety and/or feeling like you’re having a panic attack. If your cortisol is really high in the early morning (outside of the normal range), you can also wake with a jolt and feelings of anxiety and panic. Seriphos, a phosphorylated serine product, can help to lower your high cortisol and eventually prevent these symptoms.

Today I’m addressing your questions about how to use Seriphos to lower high cortisol and help prevent an adrenaline-type surge – like dosing/timing at night and in the early morning, how long you can take it for, cortisol salivary testing, interactions, brands and another option to Seriphos.

Soma shared her symptoms on Facebook when I said I’d be taking questions:

Can feel the adrenaline rush “crash” over me. I responded so so to beta blockers but still having fitful sleep and occasional “shocks” into wakefulness in the night as if tragedy struck … fight or flight upon waking. Tremendous night sweats. Generally hyper vigilant as a person.

This is her question: “What dosage and when to take (how soon before bed) is recommended?”

Addressing dosage and timing is a good place to start (and a common question) but I asked her if she has done a 4-5x cortisol salivary collection to confirm that her night time cortisol is high. She has not done this simple and very effective adrenal test and I highly recommend it before using Seriphos. The reason is that low cortisol can often have similar symptoms to high cortisol and using Seriphos is going to make things worse.

What dosage and when to take Seriphos (how soon before bed) is recommended?

Assuming Soma has done the adrenal saliva test and knows her middle of the night cortisol (5th saliva collection) is high, using 1-3 capsules a few hours before the high cortisol seems to be most effective. For example, for 2-4 am waking this typically means taking Seriphos right before bed. In some instances, taking 1 on waking in the night can help too (for a maximum of 3).

If her late evening 10 pm (4th saliva collection) is high too, the dose can be split. For example, taking 1 Seriphos at 7- 8 pm (a few hours before the high cortisol at 10 pm) and 1-2 right before bed for the 2 -4 am high cortisol.

The bottle states to use 1 capsule with water 15 minutes before a meal. I’m really not sure why they state this.

How to use Seriphos for high morning cortisol and adrenaline surge on waking?

Syd asks this question about high morning cortisol (as confirmed by saliva adrenal testing):

Opinion about using it for confirmed high MORNING cortisol? (Yup, I know cortisol is supposed to be highest in the morning, but this is off the charts, literally, high.)

“Adrenaline surge” or “catecholamine surge” is exactly how I’ve explained it to people!! No cognitive worrying, just that surge.

Because Seriphos works best taken a few hours in advance of high cortisol, I typically have clients use Lactium in this situation. It’s a hydrolyzed casein product that also lowers high cortisol. If casein is an issue then Relora is another option. I’ve blogged about both – Lactium here and Relora here.

One other option is to experiment with Seriphos – using it in the morning and also trying it at bedtime.

Should I take two Seriphos? I wake halfway through the night

Anne asks this question:

I only take one capsule? Should I take two? I wake halfway through the night, usually due to a full bladder. I fall back to sleep easily if I use a CBD gummy. Tested high for cortisol throughout the day on a DUTCH complete test, which measures at least 4 times.

Anne has done a DUTCH test which includes 4 adrenal saliva collections but doesn’t know if her cortisol is high in the middle of the night. As mentioned above, 1-3 capsules of Seriphos is ideal so I have clients start with 1 and increase to 2 and then 3. Since her cortisol is high throughout the day she may do better using Seriphos in the day and continuing with CBD at night when she wakes.

She may also want to consider low GABA and/or low serotonin as factors causing her to not sleep through the night. This applies to anyone using Seriphos to lower high cortisol. More on amino acids below.

If she does have bladder issues addressing this is key too.

For how long can Seriphos be taken?

It is recommended to take a one-month break after 3 months of Seriphos use. Ideally, once some or all the root causes of high cortisol are addressed (like gluten, stress, parasites, infections, trauma etc), you should be able to stop anyway. Or take a break, retest cortisol and then continue.

Does Seriphos have any interactions? And is there any cohort who should not use it?

Someone asked about using Seriphos with a beta blocker and someone else asked about using it with a SSRI. I’m not aware of any medication interactions but it’s best to always discuss with the prescribing physician.

What brands make Seriphos and where can I find it?

There is only one product and it’s called Interplexis Seriphos. You can purchase this from my online store (Fullscript – only available to US customers – use this link to set up an account) and you can also find it on iherb (use this link to save 5%).

Since I mentioned Lactium above, Biotics Research De-Stress contains 150mg hydrolyzed casein or lactium. You can find this in my online Fullscript too – use this link to set up an account. For non-US customers, Life Extension Bioactive Milk Peptides also contains 150mg hydrolyzed casein or lactium (you’ll see casein decapeptide and lactium on the label.) You can find this on iherb (use this link to save 5%).

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

We use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low serotonin or low GABA and other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue for you.

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.

Have you had success with Seriphos (or Lactium or Relora) to lower high cortisol and help with anxiety, panic and/or adrenaline-type surges?

Have you used Seriphos in combination with amino acids and dietary changes?

If you’re a practitioner do you use Seriphos with clients/patients?

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.

Seriphos lowers high cortisol: prevent waking in the night and nighttime anxiety

October 20, 2023 By Trudy Scott 63 Comments

Seriphos is my favorite nutrient for lowering high nighttime cortisol in order to reduce night waking and nighttime anxiety. I’ve used it with success in the past and have just needed it again:

After coming back from Hawaii (I was there for just under 2 weeks), I was still waking a few times each night. Sometimes I would be awake for 2-3 hours! I’m a hot mess when I don’t get sleep through the night. With just 1 Seriphos before bed for 9 days I was sleeping through the night again. It was glorious!

High cortisol can be a temporary issue after international travel i.e. caused by jetlag and out of balance circadian rhythm. I will admit that I have a number of confounding factors – like my loss and grief (my darling mom has just passed away), being sprayed with insecticide on landing in Australia (which I suspect caused severe vertigo the day after I got back), and high blood pressure (and likely higher cortisol too) after drinking too much licorice tea for my voice loss. Whatever the causes of my high cortisol, Seriphos really helped me sleep through the night.

I ran out of Seriphos 2 nights ago and I was awake for 3 hours last night. I’ll be adding it back to my nighttime protocol as soon as my order arrives.

Seriphos is made by Interplexus and is a phosphorylated serine product. It is similar to the more recognized phosphatidylserine which is also used and known for lowering high cortisol – clinically and in the research. However, clinically, I have found Seriphos to be more effective and work more quickly.

UPDATE Feb 2024: I did end up tweaking my Seriphos dose a few times. After a few weeks I decided to trial 2 per night – this worked well. Then a few weeks later I trialed 3 per night – but after a few days I realized that even though it worked well for sleep it made me too tired the next day. For this reason I went back down to 2 Seriphos at bedtime.

UPDATE August 2024: I’m now using just 1 Seriphos at night and have added ox bile supplementation and a bright light panel in the morning because of bile issues. More on this below.

Seriphos for high cortisol due to trauma, loss of beloved cat and more

When I posted this on Facebook, I had a number of folks share how Seriphos has also helped them.

Kathy shared this: “I take two Seriphos at night for high cortisol that causes insomnia. It works well for me and helps me to relax. I have a significant trauma background that keeps me in fight or flight, so Seriphos is a must have at night. I do take a break from time to time if I am going through a less stressful time.”

Hopefully Kathy is also working on the trauma, doing trauma work and even incorporating other nutritional approaches which help so much with recovery – like zinc, vitamin D, a B complex, GABA and tryptophan etc. Taking a break from time to time is a good plan – I share more about this below.

Kim shared this: “Seriphos is a life saver – I started it when I was having cortisol/adrenaline issues a few years ago and have continued using it. I don’t ever want to be without Seriphos. A little over a month ago I unexpectedly lost my youngest cat. She was emaciated when I rescued her over 4 years ago and we turned around health issues. I feel so sad that she was dealt such a bad hand but we got her a loving home. My animals are everything to me and the grief is so difficult. She was a character and I love her so much.”

She uses one capsule in the evening but also uses a capsule during the day if she feels off. Hopefully Kim is also doing trauma work and other nutritional support too.

Janie shared this: “I have used it, years ago when my cortisol was off the charts, morning and at night. I was awake every night until 2am, unable to sleep. Seriphos certainly helped.”

She used 1 Seriphos per day for about 3 months.

Patricia said: “Please remember that there is Original Seriphos and the next gen Seriphos. I was one of thousands of people who had used original Seriphos for sleep and then they changed their formulation without telling us and then so very many of us were wide awake at night until we realized that they had changed the formulation.”

This happened in 2016/2017 and I blogged about that whole fiasco here – Seriphos Original Formula is back: the best product for anxiety and insomnia caused by high cortisol. You can read many other success stories on the blog and in the comments.

Address the causes of your high cortisol: jetlag, grief, toxins, licorice intake

As you can see from my example there can be a number of causes of high cortisol and you always want to address these causes while using Seriphos so you can eventually stop using it:

International travel i.e. caused by jetlag and out of balance circadian rhythm. I’m home so this is no longer a contributing issue.
Loss and grief can have physiological effects and high cortisol is one of many effects: “It appears that cortisol remains elevated for at least the first 6 months of bereavement. For some, cortisol elevation may become chronic”. The loss of my darling mom is going to take time but I am making time for grieving and I’m nurturing myself. As I navigate this period in my life I’ll continue to share what has helped me. I suspect I may need Seriphos for longer than the usual 3 months.
Being sprayed with insecticide on landing in Australia (which I suspect caused severe vertigo the day after I got back). It’s well-recognized that environmental toxins are hormone disruptors and affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and cortisol. I’m addressing this with active detoxification and my portable infrared sauna.
High blood pressure and likely higher cortisol too after drinking too much licorice tea for my voice loss. I have stopped the licorice consumption and my blood pressure is back to normal.

Other possible causes of high cortisol include day to day stresses, food sensitivities such as gluten, high sugar consumption, parasites and so on. Each factor needs to be addressed.

I do recommend Salivary cortisol testing before using Seriphos

Salivary cortisol testing is something I do with all my clients anyway. And I do recommend salivary cortisol testing before using Seriphos and the other cortisol-lowering nutrients mentioned below.

I will admit that I didn’t follow my own recommendation because I’ve had high nighttime cortisol in the past and recognized the symptoms. I had also identified all the above root causes and I desperately needed to sleep. I now have an adrenal saliva test kit on hand and will report back when I get the results.

Seriphos will only work for waking in the night if cortisol is high

One woman shared “I have never slept through the night in years. It would be delightful to get to the morning without waking.” Seriphos will very likely help if her cortisol is high.

Keep in mind there are many causes of not being able to sleep through the night and Seriphos will not help if cortisol is not high. Other root causes for insomnia/waking in the night (and nighttime anxiety) we consider and investigate are:

Low GABA and low serotonin (I always start with these while waiting for salivary cortisol results to come back),
Low melatonin

The following factors need to be addressed as root causes of sleep issues, anxiety and other symptoms (like gut issues, pain etc.), and also keep in mind that they are very possibly contributing to your high cortisol too:

Gluten and other food sensitivities
Caffeine and sugar intake
Oxalate issues and/or toxins exposure affecting bile production (this affected my sleep last year)
EMFs
Parasites and other gut issues like IBS/SIBO etc.
Disrupted circadian rhythms connected to liver/gallbladder/bile issues – more on that and bright light here. (Research does support a connection between high cortisol and cholestasis i.e. “stagnation, or at least a marked reduction, in bile secretion and flow.”)

A few folks reported they had tried Seriphos without success and it may well be that they don’t have high cortisol. Or they would possibly benefit from another approach to lower their cortisol (more on this below).

What are my options if I have high cortisol at night and Seriphos has the opposite effect?

One person said it had the opposite reaction. Joanne shared this: “Seriphos had the opposite effect on me. [One Seriphos] gave me extreme anxiety, kept me awake all night. Saliva tested consistently high cortisol at night so it should have helped. Been trying to work out why it would and how it might inform how I treat my insomnia.”

I’ve had a few clients do better with less than the recommended 3 per day and one not being able to use it at all. I suspect an allergic reaction or that it’s just too high a dose for some folks. The capsule could be opened and less could be used.

If this doesn’t work, other options for lowering high cortisol include lactium/hydrolyzed casein, Relora® (which contains Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense), essential oils such as bergamot and some herbal adaptogens. You can also read about some phosphatidylserine products I looked into when the Seriphos product was changed.

Forest bathing also helps to lower high cortisol levels and I recommend it for everyone.

Where does using Seriphos fit into everything else that I’m doing to address my insomnia and/or anxiety?

I typically don’t start with Seriphos right away with clients unless we know cortisol is high. As mentioned above I always start with assessing for low GABA and low serotonin and we do trials of the respective amino acids based on the symptoms questionnaire.

I also assess for low blood sugar and dietary factors like gluten, caffeine, sugar, quality animal protein intake etc. as covered in my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution.” More about my book here. It does include a chapter on the amino acids and how to use them too.

Then we start to dig deeper and would consider Seriphos or lactium for anxiety caused by high night time or even high morning cortisol or high cortisol at other times of the day.

With many folks all of the above often applies. And we continue with assessing for each of the 60+ nutritional and biochemical root causes of anxiety/waking in the night (which does include liver/gallbladder/bile issues).

Where do I purchase Seriphos and how much do I use? What about taking a break?

You can purchase Seriphos from my online store (Fullscript – only available to USA customers – use this link to set up an account) and you can also find it on iherb (use this link to save 5%).

The bottle states to use 1 capsule with water 15 minutes before a meal. Clinically, using 1-3 capsules a few hours before the high cortisol seems to be most effective. For 2-4am waking this typically means taking Seriphos right before bed. In some instances, taking 1 on waking in the night can help too (for a maximum of 3).

With high cortisol in the night and on waking, I have clients use Seriphos before bed and lactium on waking.

It is recommended to take a one-month break after 3 months of Seriphos use. Ideally, once the root causes of high cortisol are addressed, you should be able to stop anyway. Or take a break, retest cortisol and then continue.

I’ll share some research and how Seriphos differs from phosphatidylserine in a follow-up blog if there is enough interest.

I appreciate all the feedback from these women in my community.

Have you used Seriphos (a phosphorylated serine product) to help with high cortisol and waking in the night/nighttime anxiety caused by any of the?

What do you suspect the cause(s) of your high cortisol is or was? And have you confirmed high cortisol with a saliva cortisol test?

Have any of the other products mentioned above helped to reduce high cortisol? If yes, have you compared them with Seriphos?

Let me know if you’re interested in a follow-up blog that includes some research and how Seriphos differs from phosphatidylserine.

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.

Lactium® (alpha-s1 casein hydrolysate/hydrolyzed casein) for lowering high cortisol, reducing anxiety and improving sleep

October 14, 2022 By Trudy Scott 29 Comments

Lactium® is my second choice for lowering high cortisol and reducing the type of anxiety that we see when cortisol is high i.e. anxiety that feels like an adrenaline-type surge. It is especially helpful when cortisol is high as you wake up. This can be confirmed by a 4 collection saliva test. The reason why Lactium® is the best choice in a situation like this is because Seriphos (a phosphorylated serine product) is most effective for lowering high cortisol when it’s used 3 hours before the high cortisol measurement and you can’t do this when anxiety and adrenaline-type surges happen on waking in the morning. This is where Lactium® shines. It also helps to reduce anxiety at other times in the day and to improve sleep.

The Lactium® research

There is research supporting the use of Lactium® for improving sleep, reducing anxiety and lowering high cortisol. The number of Lactium® studies are not extensive but the results are very promising and correlate with what we see clinically. Here are a few of them:

Effects of a tryptic hydrolysate from bovine milk alphaS1-casein on hemodynamic responses in healthy human volunteers facing successive mental and physical stress situations

“The study subjects were (double blind) randomly allocated to ingest three times, 12 hours apart, two capsules containing either 200 mg of alphaS1-casein hydrolysate or bovine skimmed milk powder as a placebo.” They were then subjected to successive stress situations. There was a significant decrease of plasma cortisol concentrations and heart rate remained stable in the Lactium® group. The study conclusion is as follows: “On the basis of blood pressure and cortisol changes, these results suggest an anti stress profile of this alphaS1-casein hydrolysate in human subjects.”

A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Clinical Study of the Effects of Alpha-s1 Casein Hydrolysate on Sleep Disturbance

48 participants exhibited mild to moderate degree of sleep disturbance and after 4 weeks of Lactium® use, “overall perceived sleep profiles in sleep diaries were significantly improved … represented by increased total sleep time and sleep efficiency, as well as decreased sleep latency and wake after sleep onset.” It was concluded that Lactium® “was well tolerated and could improve sleep quality, with possible cumulative beneficial effects with long-term administration.”

Effect of Alpha-S1-Casein Tryptic Hydrolysate and L-Theanine on Poor Sleep Quality: A Double Blind, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial

39 subjects were given a supplement containing Lactium® and theanine for four weeks. The authors concluded that “given its beneficial effects without notable adverse events, it would be advantageous to use these nutraceutical ingredients to promote better sleep quality” (and in a larger study).

You’ll see Lactium® referred to as alpha-s1 casein hydrolysate, hydrolyzed casein concentrate, and tryptic hydrolysate from bovine milk alphaS1-casein.

INGREDIA of France manufactures Lactium and you will see some of the studies have been initiated and/or co-authored by them.

The product I use is called Biotics Research De-Stress. It contains 150mg Lactium® in one capsule. I’ve had clients use 1-2 capsules at a time, based on symptoms and the relief they feel.

Lactium® works on GABAA receptors

What is really interesting is an animal study that reports Lactium® works on the GABAA receptor: A tryptic hydrolysate from bovine milk αs1-casein enhances pentobarbital-induced sleep in mice via the GABAA receptor

It was found that Lactium® “enhanced the sleep induced by pentobarbital sodium in mice. It also promoted slow-wave (delta) EEG activity in rats; a pattern indicative of sleep or relaxation.” The authors state that the effects are “probably mediated through the GABAA receptor-chloride ion channel complex.”

As you may already know, GABA is one of the amino acids I use extensively with folks with low GABA physical anxiety and related sleep issues. There is also compelling research on the benefits of GABA and theanine for improving sleep and easing anxiety.

I have found that many of my clients do well on both GABA (when GABA levels are low) and Lactium® (when cortisol is high). Lactium® can be used in the daytime and at night when cortisol is high (and so can Seriphos).

Seriphos and other ways to lower high cortisol

As I mentioned above, Seriphos is my first choice for lowering high cortisol and easing this type of anxiety, especially when cortisol is high during the night. Seriphos is a phosphorylated serine product and I find it much more effective than regular phosphatidylserine products.

If you’re new to Seriphos here is my blog post – Seriphos Original Formula is back: the best product for anxiety and insomnia caused by high cortisol

There are other ways to lower cortisol too:

Relora – Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense (Relora®) lowers cortisol and reduces stress and anxiety
Forest bathing – Anxiety, stress and high cortisol: forest bathing to the rescue
Reducing Wi-Fi exposure – Wi-Fi is an important threat to human health and may contribute to unresolved anxiety, SIBO, oxalate issues and high cortisol
Tapping – Tapping (or EFT) for reducing anxiety, depression, pain and cravings, plus physiological changes in cortisol, heart rate, blood pressure and SigA
Essential oils – Orange essential oil to alleviate PTSD, fear, stress and anxiety

Resources if you are new to using GABA and other amino acids as supplements

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, including low GABA).

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, sugar cravings, self-medicating with alcohol and more.

You can also find Biotics Research De-Stress in my online store (see link above for how to set up an account and purchase).

Have you used Lactium® for improving your sleep, reducing anxiety and/or lowering your high cortisol?

Have you also used any of the above approaches to lower cortisol or reduce anxiety too?

How quickly did each one help?

If you’re a practitioner do you use Lactium® with success?

If you have questions please share them here too.

Seriphos has been reformulated – what do I use to lower high cortisol?

September 30, 2016 By Trudy Scott 121 Comments

Last month I wrote a blog called Tryptophan and melatonin make a big difference but why do I still wake at 4am? and included a section about high night-time cortisol (measured with an adrenal salivary test) also being a factor with insomnia and waking in the night, often with anxiety. I then shared my top product for lowing high cortisol, Interplexus Seriphos, and had a number of readers (very kindly) inform me that Seriphos has been reformulated. One person shared this:

In your blog you recommend Interplexus Seriphos for those who have a high cortisol problem. What you may not know is that Interplexus changed its proprietary formula sometime March/April 2016 to a form which no longer works for many of us.

This is also true for me as I have been taking the new formula and the sleep issues have returned: waking at 2 am and not being able to go back to sleep. I have asked my functional medicine doctor and called Interplexus but they cannot help. Since you are an expert in such matters, PLEASE, help find another product like the old Seriphos (prior to March 2016) so that all of us who were happy with the old product can get back to the business of sleeping through the night.

Someone else shared this:

I was using the phosphorylated serine found in Interplexus Seriphos from November 2015 until present. For the first 6 months it was like a miracle pill calming me and leaving me feel normal, not like Niagara Falls was rushing through my veins.

Sometime in the spring 2016 I noticed the Seriphos was not working and read the reviews on Amazon that Interplexus had changed the formula.

I was not aware that the formulation had changed

I was not aware that the formulation had changed and love that I get to learn from my community too – thank you for letting me know!

I had not seen any new clients since just before the Anxiety Summit in June and my existing clients who are using the original Seriphos have enough stock to not have noticed the change or brought it to my attention.

It’s such a pity it has been reformulated because it’s been so powerful for lowering high cortisol and quickly when 1-3 x Seriphos (the original) are taken about 2-3 hours before the high cortisol. I first learned about this phosphorylated serine product when working with Julia Ross and continued to use it very successfully in my practice.

As you can see from the feedback above it truly was a lifesaver for these two women and for so many individuals.

I’m going to share what I have discovered thus far

I like to share what I know works but so many of you are desperately seeking a solution right now. I promised to look into what has happened so I’m going to share what I have discovered thus far.

It’s always helpful to learn from feedback from others (both positive and negative) so I read through Steve Gibson’s negative review on Amazon and found the very long thread of comments under this.

I also reached out to my colleagues to ask what they are now using:

some had not ever used Seriphos
some were also not aware it had changed (the old and new labels are deceptively similar)
some had used phosphatidyl serine and found Seriphos to be more effective
and many have had/do have success with phosphatidyl serine.

I also contacted Interplexus and was told there are no plans to go bring back the original formulation and they very nicely communicated that they’re sorry and feel they’ve done their best in communicating that it’s a new product.

As you can see from the images above the bottles, I tend to disagree and find it confusing:

V1. The very old bottle (many years ago): Phospholylated Serine on the front

V2. Old label, original formulation (2 years ago?): Phospholylated Serine on the front

V3. New label, new formulation (5 months ago): Phosphatidylserine on the front

So what are your options instead of Seriphos?

It’s going to be a good 3 months before I can definitively give you feedback so these are my suggestions right now since it’s too soon to know for sure. These are based on what I already know, some common sense, some of what we know from the research, feedback from colleagues, and feedback from real people who have been searching for alternatives and trying various combinations:

Cortisol Manager by Integrative Therapeutics (1 capsule contains 50mg phosphatidyl serine, theanine and other ingredients)
- - A colleague shared this: “Cortisol Manager can be dosed up to 2-3 tablets per day and used with or without additional phosphatidyl serine which can easily go as high as 600 mg.” He has seen salivary cortisol levels shift with this approach and shared: “Interestingly, I never saw those changes with Seriphos despite being a heavy user between 2009 and 2011 so I thought it was just hype.”
  - Feedback from someone on my blog: “Cortisol Manager was too stimulating with the Ashwagandha”
  - Feedback from a practitioner who first used Cortisol Manager personally and then switched to Seriphos at my recommendation: “Cortisol Manager did nothing for me. I dosed it high enough and took it for a month – but I felt nothing. Seriphos on the other hand, worked the same night, within an hour or two.”

Designs for Health PS 150 – Phosphatidylserine 150 mg: non-soy, sunflower sourced phosphatidyl serine with one capsule serving of 150mg
- Someone shared this on Amazon: “We have equally good results with phosphatidyl serine, but the dose usually needs to be in the 300-500mg range, to equate to what 1 or 2 Seriphos capsules could do.” I don’t know which brand they use used.
- Feedback from a colleague: “We started using PS150 from DFH and love it.” He often uses this in conjunction with another Designs for Health product called Catecholacalm.

Phosphatidyl Serine Powder 50 gms: One quarter teaspoon provides Phosphatidyl Serine 200 mg in a powder form.
- This one is soy-derived (GMO-free) but may be easier to use to get higher doses
Enerphos by T.E. Neesby [Update Oct 2025 – this product is no longer on the Neesby site]
- - It is advertised to be same formula as the original Seriphos
  - Julia Ross recommends this as a replacement
  - One practitioner shared that she has had similar results with this product.
  - I’ve also had feedback from colleagues saying it works half as well. Perhaps doubling the dose would be more effective?
Lactium, also known as hydrolyzed casein
- Biotics Research De-stress is a product I use with clients with good results. It’s calming and based on the research it also lowers high cortisol
There is very promising research on essential oils lowering cortisol levels – such as bergamot and I wonder if this approach could be incorporated too?

Update Nov 11, 2016: Relora, which is a proprietary combination of Magnolia bark extract and Phellodendron bark extract that studies show reduces cortisol and perceived daily stress and anxiety, improving mood and reducing fatigue.

I know the original Seriphos was very affordable and very effective for the cost. Using higher amounts of the above products and various combinations is likely to be much more expensive but at least it’s an option to provide relief until we find a longer term solution or until a Seriphos-type product becomes available.

Address all the possible underlying causes of high cortisol

We also don’t want to lose sight of why long-term use of Seriphos is needed and be sure to also focus on addressing all the possible underlying causes of high cortisol: stress, parasites, infections and inflammation, gluten sensitivity and other food sensitivities, low calorie eating, medication side-effects etc.

Please share what helps

If you’ve used Seriphos in the past and have found a solution please let us know.

If you are looking for an alternative to Seriphos please share this list with your practitioner in case they are not aware the formulation has changed. And have them help you find the right combination for your particular needs. Please come back and share what helps so we can all benefit.

If you are a practitioner and have your favorite product or combination please share what is working for your clients/patients.

Update November 18, 2016: I emailed Interplexus asking if they will be bringing back the original Seriphos formula and received this message from them:

Yes, the information is correct we will be returning the previous formula of Seriphos and are expecting to have it late November, unfortunately we do not have a completion date as of yet so the estimated time frame is not a guarantee. It will be the same formula as before and we will also manufacture a Phosphatidylserine standalone product in the future. If you have further questions or concerns feel free to contact, and you’re also welcome to check on the status of Seriphos periodically.

Update January 20, 2017:

The original Seriphos formula is back. This blog post has additional information – Seriphos Original Formula is back: the best product for anxiety and insomnia caused by high cortisol