Tryptophan and update on Peggy

[Momster]

Wow!! I just did some research on tryptophan and there's a scary warning about it on the web, but other information stating that information was put out by the big U.S. drug companies?????
Anyway, I checked the US food and drug site and apparently it's banned in the U.S.??
Anyone know anything about this subject?
It's working for me, but I want to ask my Dr. about that warning, so will print it out and ask her about it.
I haven't had any bad effects and have taken it for three nights. I don't want to get into the habit of taking it, so won't take it tonight and see how I do.
To me, it seems more sensible to take a natural product than a drug, but will do more research on it. I'm also going to talk to some people at health food stores.
I think it's going to be hard to get a straight answer because the health food stores want to sell their products and the drug stores want to sell their drugs.
Look like I've got a project.
Tex??? You're good at finding out answers. Peggy can't right now. It will be good to have her back.
I'll be seeing her on Thursday to take her in to get her wrist checked and back again the following Tuesday for her neck. Will keep you all up to date. She's definitely on the mend and, I'm sure, will be very happy to get rid of the wrist cast and neck brace. They're really cramping her style.
She hopes to be back to work in Nov.

Have a nice Sunday.

Love - Momster

[tex]

Hi Momster,

Apparently the ban occurred because of an isolated case of product contamination. It's now legal, and available without prescription in the U S, as it should be.

Tryptophan is simply a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, and should be generally safe for the general population. It is a natural product, but I would assume that the current production is synthetic, though this is just a guess on my part. After it was banned, that opened the door for the introduction of other, more dangerous 5-HTP products, such as Prozac, and it's ilk, from which the drug companies have profited greatly, and caused many problems for some of their customers.

This site explains the details of what happened with tryptophan:

http://www.lightparty.com/Health/5-HTP.html

Yes, the drug companies love to see the banning of cheap, natural products that work, and they almost always find a way to profit handsomely from it.

Also, you might be interested in this Snopes article on the effectiveness of turkey, as a sleep aid:

http://www.snopes.com/food/ingredient/turkey.htm

Love,
Wayne

[Lucy]

Shucks, Wayne, you beat me to it. I was just about to post stating that I like to make turkey burgers for our evening meal at times as I rest really well during the night afterwards.

Guess it wasn't just the seconds or the sweet desserts that made me want a nap after Thanksgiving dinner when I was a kid --think it had lots to do with the amt of Turkey that I'd consumed.

Wouldn't eat it before having to drive or operating dangerous equipment though. Definitely a meal for when you're in for the night.

Yours, Luce

[Arlene]

Hi Momster. I'm sure it's just fine. I see an MD who doesn't believe in prescription medicine and she only deals in holistic meds. She gave me tryptophan about six months ago. As a licensed MD I don't think that she would be able to prescribe it to me if it was banned and I fully trust her. I'm sure it's fine, although, one can't be too careful.

Much love
Arlene