5-HTP The Natural Alternative to Prozac [Paperback]

John Morgenthaler (Author), Lane Lenard (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Smart Publications; 1 edition (May 1, 1998)
• ISBN-10: 0962741841
• ISBN-13: 978-0962741845
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,259,306 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening Info. about 5-HTP!, February 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: 5-HTP The Natural Alternative to Prozac (Paperback)

I found this book to be invaluable. I had been on lots and lots of antidepressant medications and none of them worked for very long, nor without side-effects(in some cases the benefits didn't outweigh the side-effects). This book gave me HOPE! with no side-effects! I now take 5-HTP daily and feel much better.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Feel better, the natural way, January 10, 2004

By 

Pieter "Toypom" (Johannesburg) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: 5-HTP The Natural Alternative to Prozac (Paperback)

This little book deal with the natural alternative to anti-depressants like Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil. This is the amino acid 5-hydroxitryptophan which increases the availability of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Whereas the drugs work by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin, 5-HTP raises serotonin levels in a natural way and therefore has fewer and less severe side effects.

The authors cite various clinical studies to show that 5-HTP may be helpful in relieving depression, alleviating anxiety, panic and obsessive-compulsive disorder, reducing the pain of migraine and fibromyalgia, improving sleep and suppressing appetite. There is also preliminary evidence that 5-HTP may be useful for treating the discomfort of PMS and for reducing aggression. The authors also discuss the safety concerns of taking this amino acid, its drug interactions and provide dosing guidelines.

There is growing evidence of the efficacy of a variety of natural substances in the above conditions; these include the amino acids L-Tyrosine, DL-Phenylalanine and Tryptophan. One drawback of the book is that the authors only discuss Tryptophan in some detail and make cursory references to the herb St. John's Wort, while other natural substances like Trimethylglycine, Essential Fatty Acids and Acetyl-L-Carnitine are also showing great promise.

The booklet nevertheless contains valuable information and serves to introduce this natural anti-depressant to a wider audience. For a more comprehensive look at all of the aforementioned and other nutrients, I recommend Ray Sahelian's book Mind Boosters: A Guide To Natural Supplements That Enhance Your Mind, Memory And Mood.