Better And Better

If you don't draw yours, I won't draw mine. A police officer, working in the small town that he lives in, focusing on family and shooting and coffee, and occasionally putting some people in jail.

Friday, March 21, 2008

5-HTP

What do you know about 5-Hydroxytryptophan, beyond what I've read on Wikipedia and About.com?

How about dosages for treating chronic headaches in a 70 lb nine-year-old girl?

Feel free to email me, or just put it into comments for everyone to see. But please, cite your sources, and don't just quote the common articles back to me; I've read them.

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6 Comments:

At Saturday, March 22, 2008 1:50:00 AM, Blogger OK Katrina said...

The following quotes are from the book, PRESCRIPTION FOR NUTRITIONAL HEALING, Third Edition by Balch and Balch c.2000. It's the goto book for the holistic/natural healing crowd. It's an excellent resource of information.

"Unless otherwise specified, the dosages recommended here are for adults. For a child between the ages of twelve and seventeen, reduce the dose to three-quarters the recommended amount. For a child between six and twelve use one-half the recommended dose, and for a child under the age of six, use one-quarter the recommended amount."

"5-HTP (Suggested Dosage: As directed on label) Many clinical studies have shown excellent results with both tension headaches and migraines. (Headaches, Page 408)"

I have no personal experience with this supplement. I knew that my book would address your question, so I looked it up. Hope the information is helpful but mostly, I hope your baby is feeling better soon.

Katrina

 
At Saturday, March 22, 2008 4:58:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Epocrates has an article but it is only available by subscription. http://www.epocrates.com/

You can also see the 19 results for searching "5-HTP headache" at PubMed. http://www.pubmed.gov/

Whatever you do please be sure to tell your health care provider about any alternative therapies. If they don't appreciate it find a younger doc.

 
At Saturday, March 22, 2008 9:42:00 AM, Blogger Diamond Mair said...

I've not heard of 5-HTP as an alternative before - but reading the Wiki entry, what concerns me is the impact on the liver - if the doc approves, but doesn't recommend monitoring liver function, I'd ask the doc to do so .......................

Semper Fi'
DM

 
At Saturday, March 22, 2008 4:05:00 PM, Blogger William the Coroner said...

Well, tryptan agonists have been found to do something in acute migrane attacks. Though the people who get them only use them once. Headache. 2006 Sep;46(8):1261-3.

I'd speak to a pediatric neurologist.

 
At Saturday, March 22, 2008 8:07:00 PM, Blogger ERnursey said...

I'm trusting you have thoroughly investigated the headaches as chronic headaches in a child are unusual. Eye strain, brain pathology, chronic allergies and/or sinusitus, chiari malformation are a few that enter my mind. Also rebound headaches from overuse of OTC medications

 
At Sunday, March 23, 2008 11:35:00 AM, Blogger HollyB said...

I'm likin' the combo of William and ERNursey's answers...a Pediatric neurologist to check out the possible causes of chronic headaches. Assuming she's seen an ENT and allergist to r/o those common causes already.

 

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