What is 5 HTP?
It’s known in the medical community as 5-Hydroxytryptophan, 5 HTP is an amino acid that acts as the bridge between serotonin and tryptophan, and it plays a vital role in keeping serotonin levels steady. With the proper 5 HTP dosage for fibromyalgia pain, which is usually 100 to 300 mg daily, relief from fibromyalgia will be experienced.
Apart from fibromyalgia, the amino acid is also used to treat PMS symptoms, headaches, migraines, narcolepsy, insomnia, bulimia, depression and obesity. 5 HTP for fibromyalgia is still somewhat new in the US supplement market, but it’s actually been used by pharmacies for years and been subject to intensive research.
How 5 HTP Helps Treat Fibromyalgia
The scientific and medical evidence suggesting the efficiency of HTP 5 started with research on the drug fenclonine. Fenclonine is responsible for blocking the enzyme that turns tryptophan into 5 HTP, and during the 1970s it was thought that high serotonin levels led to migraine headaches. Subsequent research showed that the opposite is true however.
5-HTP For Fibromyalgia Pain
Over time, researchers discovered that giving test subjects excess amounts of fenclonine made the headaches they were experiencing even worse. Even so, the findings went a long way towards increasing their knowledge of fibromyalgia. In the process, doctors learned 5 HTP was the most effective method for treating it.
Fibromyalgia and Low Serotonin
Based on 5 HTP fibromyalgia reviews, it’s become obvious that sufferers of fibromyalgia and migraine headaches both had low serotonin levels. Researchers also learned that those with migraines were very sensitive and prone to health problems when serotonin levels dropped.
The conclusion is that a low serotonin level is one of the reasons for fibromyalgia and that 5 HTP can be used to remedy the situation. It is true that painkillers and relievers like naproxen sodium, ibuprofen and acetaminophen may be used, but they are not as effective as 5 HTP.
Fibromyalgia Overview
This condition is marked by intense musculoskeletal pain and also by physical exhaustion, fatigue, mood issues and memory problems. According to research, the disorder is worsened because fibromyalgia affects the way your brain transmits pain signals, making it worse.
Signs and Indicators
Fibromyalgia symptoms include temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, and sometimes the symptoms manifest after infection, surgery or physical trauma. Signs may also become apparent following any event that triggers psychological stress.
Women are more susceptible to fibromyalgia than men, and the symptoms included depression, anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome and tension headaches. In addition:
- There is widespread, dull pain that lasts for several weeks. To be classified as widespread pain, the sensation must be felt above and below the waist as well as the sides of the body.
- As mentioned earlier, fatigue is a very common symptom and those suffering from fibromyalgia feel tired even with very little activity.
- A few individuals report sleeping for long, extended periods, but far more often, sleep is disturbed by pain, leading to insomnia or other sleep disorders.
- Restless legs syndrome is another symptom
- Fibromyalgia sufferers are also impaired by cognitive difficulties, notably fibro fog, which makes it hard to focus and concentrate
These are the most common symptoms of fibromyalgia, but some people report others such as lower abdomen cramping, severe headaches and worrying excessively.
Causes
As indicated above, a low serotonin level is one of the primary reasons for the occurrence of fibromyalgia, but there are also other possible causes.
- Genetics: research shows that fibromyalgia could run in families, and that particular genetic conditions may make one more vulnerable to the condition than others.
- Infection: some illnesses may aggravate fibromyalgia or even trigger it.
- Emotional and / or physical trauma: studies involving groups of men and women suggest that trauma can trigger the disorder.
The reason why fibromyalgia hurts is there is a continuous nerve stimulation and this leads to some changes in the brain. The change varies from person to person, but it typically leads to an increase in brain chemicals that send pain signals. Furthermore, the pain receptors in the brain seem to “recall” the pain that the body felt and become more sensitive to it. In other words, the brain overreacts to the sensation and makes it even more “painful”.
Who is at Risk of Fibromyalgia?
Women are more likely to suffer from fibromyalgia than men, and since genetics plays a role in the occurrence of this condition, you will be more susceptible to it if one or more family members have this condition. You are also likely to develop this disorder if you suffer from rheumatic disease. If the condition is not treated, it could lead to complications and affect your daily routines at home and in the workplace.
The complications are not only physical, because as the pain makes daily routines difficult,anxiety and emotional stress will creep in.
Tests and Diagnosis
If you experience any of these symptoms, you’ll need to see a doctor and undergo tests to determine the cause. In the past doctors would look at 18 points in the body to see how many hurt when pressed, but that’s no longer the case. Today doctors will diagnose the condition as fibromyalgia if there is widespread pain for three months with no discernible cause.
If you are experiencing other symptoms, doctors might perform other tests to rule out other ailments. Depending on the symptoms, the tests may consist of:
- Thyroid function tests
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
- Complete blood count
Conclusion
Preventing fibromyalgia is very difficult, but fortunately the availability of 5 HTP means the condition can now be treated. Unlike other medications and supplements available, there is extensive evidence to support the claim that 5 HTP is effective for fibromyalgia, making it the ideal choice.