Tuesday, January 12, 2010 LiSaG asks

Q: For the scientifically-minded: serotonin and tryptophan therapy?

So, I'm a scientist. And, I get a lot of migraines. Naturally, my mind strays here and there about finding causes and possible treatments for migraine. Sometimes I wonder if I should switch research projects! haha.

My question/thinking: Triptans release serotonin, which helps to constrict blood vessels, therefore taking away a migraine. Could this mean that migraineurs don't produce/keep enough serotonin available in the brain (maybe this is the genetic factor in migraines)?

If so, serotonin supplements would do close to nothing for a migraineur, since serotonin doesn't cross the blood/brain barrier well when ingested. However, tryptophan is a precursor molecule to serotonin, which can ultimately cross the blood-brain barrier.

Therefore, could tryptophan supplements help a migraineur? Has anyone tried this?

I'd appreciate any comments on this train of thought. Let me know if there's anywhere in the process that I'm misunderstanding. Thanks!

~LiSaV

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Answers (2)

tiredofpain7111

1/24/10 2:14pm

Your thoughts are very good. I have suffered from migraines my entire life and have been seeing migraine specialists for the last 20 years. I have tried most everything medically possible for me that's out there and have tried out your theory using 5-HTP (tryptophan) in combination with niacin which it is transformed into. (tried to give it an extra boost) I am still taking a niacin and magnesium combination to try to force some of the serotonin neurotransmitters to kick in but i have not had any success in any combination including B-6. It's just my brain, it doesn't work right, the chemical balance is off and they can't seem to fix it. If you have any luck please let me know.

Cat2girl

10/30/11 3:57pm

Hi,

I have chronic daily migraines. I tried L-Tryptophan 500mg 3x daily and found it did give me headache-free days, supporting your serotonin theory. I also tried the new antidepressant, "Viibryd", (SSRI), and after 10 days found my headaches reduced as well! Preventatives have never worked for me, so this is quite something. Am i still taking either of these two remedies? Alas, for me, I suffer quite a lot of side effects...and quite irrational ones, so I take the Viibryd here and there or I switch to the L-tryptophan for awhile and then stop again. Good luck to you!

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Q: For the scientifically-minded: serotonin and tryptophan therapy?

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