5-HTP & Stuttering

[Stevelaz]

Hi,

Does anyone know if 5-HTP reduces stammering?

Has anyone here taken it?.....any help?

[ak47oooo]

I havent taken it, but what makes you think it does?

[Stevelaz]

I read somewhere that it can reduce anxiety etc and this may well have a knock on effect with stammering.

Also, it also mentioned that it affects the serotonin levels and again, this can affect stammering.

Just thought I'd put it out there in case anyone has any experience with it.

[ak47oooo]

I'm actually interested in a drug called Pagoclone. It's supposed to reduce stuttering with no side effects.


Here's how I heard about it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEitDTX2ZAo

found this is google
http://www.stutteringstudy.com/

[Stevelaz]

We are all waiting for this one to happen....

It's due to start FDA Phast III trials in the near future....a double blind multi centre study that will probably last for 12+ weeks then 1 yr trial where all participants will recieve the drug.

IF it gets through FDA III trials, it may well be on the market in 2010/2011, but its a big IF.....lots of drugs fail at various stages of the trials and of course a drug company needs to sponsor it too....its all about the money I'm afraid.

Hopefully it will be succesful and medication will be a large step forward to reducing (but not curing) our problems.

[Stevelaz]

More on 5-HTP

A friend of mine gave me so more info on 5-HTP, apparently its supposed to "have an indirect effect on dopamine. Its primary effect is to increase serotonin levels and they in turn regulate the production (or release – not sure right now) of dopamine".

We all know that drugs like zyprexa etc regulate/reduce dopamine in the striatum area of the brain and reduce stuttering - it makes sense that this would do the same.

Thoughts anyone?

[ak47oooo]

well I get the vibe the effect wouldnt be much... If I'm choking down pills, I'd want a reasonably large effect. This pill isnt even associated with treating stuttering, unless my google search missed something.

[Vermillion]

Might give it a try one day..

Have you tried phenibut? suposed to be used to treat stuttering in russia, its a supplement

[Stevelaz]

Cheers for the info on phenibut - Looks like its been used in Russia for many years and works on the GABA much like pagoclone.

Might give it a go !

[ak47oooo]

I dunno dude, used in Russia? Pre or post soviet union?

[Stevelaz]

From looking at it on the internet, it is widely used across the world - It was originally developed in Russia though.

It's available non prescription as a supplement.

I will do full research on it before I even consider using it.

[ak47oooo]

Let us know what you find out about it 'cause I might try it too. Might as well.

[Scotte85]

I just orderd 90 50mg capsule's of 5-htp, Ill keep you all updated how it goes for me and if it actually helps.

[Stevelaz]

Any updates on this?

Anyone ever use 5-HTP..results?

[stutterfly]

Hi stevelaz, in response to your post about any stutterers using 5-htp. I've been taking the supplement daily now for about 3 weeks and can definitely feel a difference. That isn't to say its completely removed my stutter, but it has lowered the frequency and and duration of my blocks. I take 2X 100mg of 5-htp a day on an empty stomach. I think it has more to do with the calming and anti-anxiety properties of the supplement more than anything else. I would definitely recommend it to everyone here (this is my first post) , it's inexpensive with no side effects. Another option is to take the supplement Tyrosine which regulates the dopamine and I think could also have a positive effect on stuttering. I've yet to try Tyrosine myself , but would be interested to know the results if someone else has. I will keep everyone informed if Tyrosine also has positive effects. Both Tyrosine and 5-htp are available over the counter for roughly 150 ZAR ( 20 USD )

[Stevelaz]

Stutterfly,

Thanks for the posting and the info - much apreciated.

I'm glad that the 5-htp is working, I too started taking it this week...just 100mg per day for the first few days and then 200 from today.

The "science" agrees that it should help, i.e. increase seratonin (reduces anxiety and therefore stops the production of excess dopamine) plus it depletes dopamine too, it should help for sure.

When did the effects become noticeable for you? and are you blocking less frequent and less hard.

Keep us all posted, as I will too.

[Stevelaz]

Scotte85......any updates on how 5-htp has affected you?

Stutterfly - keep us posted on your progress.

I started taking it on 22nd Sept - so far so good......no side effects and feel "better"....not very scientific huh??!!.......its early days and I will post results good or bad.

[stutterfly]

hey stevelaz. I started noticing the effects relatively quickly (2-3 days) but more in psychological way (elation, relaxation, calmness) and my verbal skills quickly started to improve. It has by no means eliminated my blocks but I manage to get out of them in a matter of seconds and the frequency of them has dropped drastically. Please note that I am also using conventional speech therapy (soft contacts, prolongations) , so I'm not sure if there will be any improvement without these techniques. Would be interesting to see what effects it is having on you...?

[Stevelaz]

Hi Stuterfly,

So far so good.......its been just over a week and I feel calmer for sure, by all accounts it takes 2/3 weeks for the full effects to work, so you should be there by now.

Blocks are reduced and less severe....since adopting the McGuire programme, I have mostly full control over my speech now and have done so since May.

Just have issues with my name (not always) and B and D sounds

Any advice about getting over these sounds would be great.

How's your experience on 5-htp so far?

Thanks

Steve

[stutterfly]

hey steve, i'm still doing well on the 5-htp, my speach is definitely predominately fluent with only a random small block happening sometimes. It's natural for "B", "D", "P" and "T" to be the hardest sounds as they are the hard contact letters. I do have some advice on how to smoothly get out of a block starting with these letters but I've got no idea how to explain it by only typing. Have you ever learnt soft contacts? it's basically just "softening" hard contact words using airflow and voicing. I'll try and find an article on it and forward the URL to you. Glad the 5htp is also working for you ( I find 300mg a day to be most effective, one pill in the morning, afternoon, and evening)

[stutterfly]

Hey steve, heres a URL for a basic overview of fluency shaping techniques, hope it can be of some help to you. http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Speech-Language_Pathology/Stuttering/Fluency-Shaping_Therapy/Fluency-Shaping_Techniques

[JesseR]

This is really great news. Certainly peeked my interest.
Does anyone know of possible side effects after long term use?

[ratboy]

I only have to add that from what I've researched as an amateur neurologist (kidding, kidding) the dopamine/serotonin mechanism in the brain works like a balance. As dopamine levels go up, serotonin is suppressed; and vice versa. From what you have said then, increasing the availability of serotonin in the brain would definitely decrease stuttering. There are also different kinds of serotonin and dopamine, which along with the exact place in the brain where the excess dopamine in the brain of stutterers is located prove to be the most difficult facts in the possible development of medications.

I checked out the 5-htp in my local GNC... $11 for the pills, I might try it too... whatever.

[urbanmermaid]

hey steve, i'm still doing well on the 5-htp, my speach is definitely predominately fluent with only a random small block happening sometimes. It's natural for "B", "D", "P" and "T" to be the hardest sounds as they are the hard contact letters. I do have some advice on how to smoothly get out of a block starting with these letters but I've got no idea how to explain it by only typing. Have you ever learnt soft contacts? it's basically just "softening" hard contact words using airflow and voicing. I'll try and find an article on it and forward the URL to you. Glad the 5htp is also working for you ( I find 300mg a day to be most effective, one pill in the morning, afternoon, and evening)

300mg?! It says on the bottle u can take a maximum of 200mg per day. I looked on the net and there it said the max dose shouldnt exceed 400mg... hmm.
What happens if u overdose on it? Serotonin syndrome which can cause even death. Scary.

Btw, has anyone tried that phenibut thing? I read it can cause addiction and is compared to Valium. So how come its available without prescription as a supplement?!

[nik037]

I'm actually interested in a drug called Pagoclone. It's supposed to reduce stuttering with no side effects.


My BF is a Pharmacist. Believe me, there isn't an Rx Drug that has NO side effects. Do your research before taking anything bc doctors def try to downplay the side effects!

[sst]

Too bad I probably won't be participating in the Pagoclone trials. It sounds like an interesting drug. ;)

[iamsocool]

ive been takin 5-htp 200mg each day and it has actually made my stuttering worse! i talk even slower than usual now. does anyone else have this problem too?

[kobe4three]

...updates??