Depression By: Clarence Graff, MD

  A person presented wanting a renewal of her Paxil.  She told me she had been on Paxil for some years and just wanted it renewed.  I asked if the drug was working.  She replied no, but it was better than not taking the drug.  On further questioning, she stated that she had been depressed for several years.  She did not leave the house except in exceptional times such as drug renewal.  She did not go out to buy groceries and she had not been out socially for years as she became very anxious out in public.

  My opinion was that she had suffered from a reuptake inhibitor depression drug failure for the treatment of her depression and anxiety.  After some discussion, it was decided that she would start a trial of NeuroResearch Clinics balanced 5-HTP, tyrosine, and dopa while continuing her Paxil with the goal of discontinuing the Paxil.  Over the course of two months the Paxil was slowly withdrawn.

  Her depression has improved remarkably.  She attended her daughter's wedding and sang a solo.  This would have been impossible with only the Paxil.  Her depression continues to do extremely well on a maintenance dose of balanced 5-HTP, tyrosine, and dopa.

  DISCUSSION:  Drugs that work with serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules do not work if there are not enough serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules in the CNS. Reuptake inhibitor depression / attention deficit ADD ADHD drugs do not increase the number of serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules in the brain (CNS), they work by moving serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules from one place to another. Use of reuptake inhibitor depression / attention deficit ADD ADHD drugs without providing adequate 5-HTP, tyrosine, and dopa precursors will lead to depletion of serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter levels leading to an environment where prescription depression / attention deficit ADD ADHD drugs are ineffective.

  First, do no harm. The recommendation is, “if the person needs to be on reuptake inhibitor depression / attention deficit ADD ADHD drugs, they should be given in conjunction with properly balanced 5-HTP, tyrosine, and dopa to prevent serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter depletion by the depression / attention deficit ADD ADHD prescription drugs.”

  When a person is taking reuptake inhibitor depression / attention deficit ADD ADHD drugs and they quit working, there is clinical evidence that the reuptake inhibitor depression / attention deficit ADD ADHD drugs have depleted the serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules to the point that the depression / attention deficit ADD ADHD drug no longer works. The problem is the treatment (using only depression / attention deficit ADD ADHD prescription drugs) has just made the cause of the problem worse, low serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter levels.

  On a Thursday, late in the day, a new person showed in my office. And like all good new people do, the more complicated, the later in the day they show up, just before closing time.  Anyhow, my person showed up with severe depression.  She had been in and out of mental institutions locally where she was treated for depression and on all the reuptake inhibitor depression / attention deficit ADD ADHD drugs.  Nothing seemed to help her and she had tried to commit suicide on 4 different occasions due to serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter levels not being high enough.  She had the scars to prove it.  We did a complete history and decided to start the person on level 1 of the NeuroResearch Clinics protocol of 5-HTP or 5 HTP with tyrosine.  I just had a good feeling about the upcoming results.

  Well, on Friday, she called me.  I was kind of waiting, really expecting to hear that she had not felt good and had been hospitalized again for depression.  I actually began to tell her that it would take some time to see results as the serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter levels increased, when  she stopped me and said that her depression felt better within minutes of taking the NeuroResearch Clinics 5-HTP or 5 HTP with tyrosine.  She said that within an hour she was calmed and resting a marked improvement in her depression.

  Here was a girl that was suffering depression and on the verge of suicidal death.  She was on disability due to depression.  A burden to society financially and convinced by her doctors that she would be that way with depression the rest of her life.  I would be suicidal too!

  Within one month she not only was depression gone she almost back to a normal life, she went out and got a job!  She and her entire family were excited.  8 little pills a day...she takes them on a regular basis, although cut back to 4 pills a day now. The serotonin and dopamine approach of NeuroResearch, it works!

A 66 year old female came in complaining of fibromyalgia like symptoms of joint pain, fatigue, daily headaches, depression, lack of motivation, digestive difficulties.  She also has asthma, allergies, weight gain, increased appetite, repeated colds and bronchitis, sugar cravings, and chronic vaginitis.  She was taking 38 nutritional supplements daily just to maintain and doesn’t feel well.  If she discontinues her supplements, she feels worse, especially her energy and digestion.

The person started on Level 1 dosing of the D5 and CysReplete protocol.  At her follow-up in 7 days, she reported increased energy for the past 3 days, 2 ½ pounds weight loss, and filling up faster when eating.  She decreased her vitamin C, and her allergies got no worse and nasal congestion is decreased.

The person increased to Level 2 by adding four D5 extra.  At her 14-day day follow-up, her energy was better to the point that she is no longer exhausted in the evenings.  Her focus has improved, and she has had only one headache versus daily headaches.  She is able to avoid sugar and not crave it.  She reports that her digestion is good.  The person says she is 40% better and feels she needs a higher dose of 5-HTP, tyrosine, and dopa.  She is tracking more clearly.

The person increased to Level 3 by adding another 4 D5 Extra.  The next day, her sinus symptoms and allergies are gone.  At the 21 day follow-up, she has had only 1 headache.  Digestion was good.  She had lost 4 pounds at this point.

Two weeks later, her mood is up and down.  She stopped all her digestive supplements without repercussions, but would like mood and energy to be better. 

The person serotonin and dopamine urinary neurotransmitter testing performed.  Subsequently, her 5-HTP, tyrosine, and dopa dose was increased to Level 4 plus 3 Mucuna 40%.  After 7 days, her weight dropped again, energy was better, depression gone, pain decreased, digestion was normal, and has had no headaches.

Two weeks later, this person was in a motor vehicle accident, injured her knee and was fired from her job.  She started getting late on 5-HTP, tyrosine, and dopa doses and now her energy is lower, especially when the Mucuna dose is missed.  She returned to timely doses and was better in 3 days.  She has lost 10 pounds in 5 months versus losing the gradual weight gain she has had over the past year.