D,L-Phenylalanine

[adukart]

Does anyone take this? In Dr. A's nutrition and supplements book he really talks it up. But does caution that it's like any other diet pill, once you stop taking it you will get your appetite back. I am taking it for all the other advatages I've read about - appetite suppression, sexual drive, depression. I really hope it helps, I started at 500 mg today and will work up to 1000 or 1500. It is supposed to take a while to start working but I will keep everyone updated. You are not supposed to take it when you eat protein, and you are supposed to take it on an empty stomach.

If anyone else has information and articles about this supplement I would love to here them, negative or positive.

[adukart]

Question:

It is recomended to take 1000 mg a day, so I have 500 mg pills and my question is: If I am to take it on an empty stomach I can take one in the morning, but when would I take the other one. Would I take all 1000mg in the morning? Or would I take it in the afternoon, how does one know when their stomach is empty? If I eat dinner at noon and supper at 6:00 pm, is my stomach considered empty at 3:00 pm?

[adukart]

Just wanted to let everyone know that I am still taking it. In a slightly happier mood and I believe the appetite suppressing thing is working but I am not sure yet, haven't been in a really tempting situation yet. I am now taking 2 pills (500mg each) every morning, starting this morning.

[quietone]

I had asked this question on the Fibro/CFS/Sad forum. Got no response. I am also considering taking it. Where did you get yours?

I read some really good articles on this and am hopeful.

Yes, you do take it on an empty stomach because if not, other amino acids can try to get in. I read you should take one morining, one mid afternoon, but I'm not sure it matters. I also read don't take it too close to bedtime. It can jack you up because it affects your dopamine. Watch your blood pressure too. Anything that affects dopamine, can affect blood pressure. This is a pretty good source. I'm not using it for appetite, that would just be a benefit though.

The putative analgesic activity of DL-phenylalanine may be explained by the possible blockage by D-phenylalanine of enkephalin degradation by the enzyme carboxypeptidase A.

The mechanism of DL-phenylalanine's putative antidepressant activity may be accounted for by the precursor role of L-phenylalanine in the synthesis of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine. Elevated brain norepinephrine and dopamine levels are thought to be associated with antidepressant effects.

[adukart]

Glad to see someone else is interested. I am also not looking for the appetite suppressant but wouldn't mind it either. I know I am slightly depressed (might be SAD, never looked into it), and thought this would help without the interactions that St. Johns Wart has. I did take Wellbutrin/Zyban for a while but found I am allergic, this seems to work something like it, with the nuerotransmitters I don't know anything about science so I may be completely off base here.

I got mine from vitamins.com, but I am thinking about gettting some TwinLabs next time. I read good results from the TwinLabs in Google groups.

Glad to see someone else interested though, thought I was the only one.

[adukart]

I have also been reading that for an antidepressant you should take vitamin C and B6 along with the DLPA. Some DLPA products already come with C and B6, I may look for one of those also and see if it makes a difference. I figure I can then cut out my C, that would eliminate an extra pill I have to take everyday.

[quietone]

Welbutrin does affect dopamine, so this should have the same effect. I have done a lot of research on the neurotransmitters because I am sure I am serotonin and dopamine deficient.

We (the SAD folks) have been experimenting with Vitamin D this winter, and it is working tremendously for most of us participating. But this doesn't seem to help me with the problems with dopamine. And I still use the sun light.

Anyway, I just came back from the store and got the Twinlabs kind. I already take a B vitamin supplement and get plenty of C from my foods. So I don't need those.

I found a really good article about what dopamine does and how you feel if you are not making enough of it. And that explained everything to me. Because even though I have felt better this winter, i didn't feel quite right. I still had no motivation, no interest in anything and no energy to speak of. "I don't care" is the perfect line for how I feel, and supposedly that is missing dopamine. Appetite suppressing would be a wonderful benefit of that!

[quietone]

Dopamine functions in: Pleasure; Reward; Good feelings toward others; Maternal/Paternal love

Dopamine Deficiency: Lack of dopamine can result in: Anhedonia - no pleasure; World looks colorless; Inability to "love"; No remorse about personal behavior

Supplements required: L-Phenylalanine Vitamin B6. These can be found in fish, algae and balckstrap molasses


Serotonin functions in: Emotional stability

Serotonin Deficiency: The lack of serotonin can result in: The lack of rational emotion; Feelings of irritability; Sudden unexplained tears; Sleep problems

Supplements required: 5HTP or L-Tryptophan from food, Calcium, and Magnesium. These can be found in turkey, ham, milk and cheese

[adukart]

Did you get the DL or just the L, I can't seem to find the DL from TwinLabs online right now?

[quietone]

Just the "L", I couldn't find the DL...supposedly GNC carries it, but that is just too far away.

Besides, the "D" is most a pain thing...that is why I thought it would help the fibro. Maybe this will perk me up enough to want to travel 20 miles to go to GNC. :)

[adukart]

Just wanted to point out that this morning I woke up refreshed and ready to go, before my alarm. That hasn't happened, well in a long time, if ever. I am usually dragging and I push snooze 10 billion times before I get up.

[quietone]

Hmmmm...I was just the opposite. Felt like I had been drugged. haven't felt that way in a long time though. I think it will actually help my sleep. But I just started it and only took one in the afternoon. Don't even know if that was related or not.

[adukart]

Well after taking this everyday for some time now, I really haven't noticed any difference. How about you?

I am giong to up my dose to 1500, starting today. 2 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon. Mostly doing it to get rid of it, and also to see if an increase helps.

[Ginga]

Hi, I found a link to some great information

http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/1,1525,10158,00.html

[adukart]

This is a good read also:

http://www.1fast400.com/?ingredients_id=44

[quietone]

No, I haven't noticed any difference either.