Can tryptophan cure depression?

Depression in terms of Clinical Depression is not something that is curable. If you have been diagnosed with Clinical Depression that means you have a chemical imbalance in your brain. Try looking at it like a puzzle. The puzzle pieces represent the chemical in the brain that make up your brain chemistry. Some people are born with out some chemicals. Others are born with too much or not enough of a chemical. So the question now would be how do you fill in the missing puzzle pieces. For many people medication can provide the propler chemicals to fill in the missing pieces. It is not a "cure" because the medications have to be taken on a daily basis to keep the chemicals in balance.

I am speaking from experience. I am 25 and suffer from Clinical Depression, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I have been on medication since I was around 9 yrs old. As I aged my medications had to be adjusted. Now that I am older I have pretty much stayed with the same combinations of medications. It may take a few tries to get to the right combination you may need. I wish I didn't have to take medications but I look at it as filling in the pieces that I wasn't giving when I was born. I know that with out the medication I am not the person I know I can be. If there is something that can make you a better person then its defiantly something to consider. I know that many people think that having to depend on a medication to make them "normal" make them a weaker person, and I can completely relate/understand where they are coming from. It is something that I have struggled with as well. I stopped taking my medication for 6 months and I was a completely different person. A person that I didn't like. As much as I tried to be happy and up beat I just wasn't. I would recommend medication or at least talking to a Psychiatrist about your options.

I hope you are able to manage your Depression, and be content with life.

Here is a web site that may help you understand what medications can do for you.

I would defiantly recommend talking with a Psychiatrist.

Good Luck =D

http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/medication-o...

Hello there,

It can do sometimes, but is not very reliable. It is a precursor of a neurotransmitter, the idea being that, if you take it, the level of the neurotransmitter will be increased. It is more effective as a booster to other antidepressants. If, for example, someone is getting some response to an antidepressant, but not a full response, adding tryptophan can do the trick.

I believe that although medication helps you must confront the cause of the depression for it to truly have a long term effect. Usually this is best done with the help of a therapist so I hope you can seek help. Take care

I have used it and it definitely improved my sleep, although I'm not positive about it's mood effects, I thought it had an effect but may just have been placebo.

I honestly think you should look for the root cause of your depression though. I did CBT and schema therapy which were both extremely useful.

Useful books:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Feeling-Good-New-Mood-Ther...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reinventing-Your-Life-Nega...

Good luck.

Keep in mind that no medicine "cures" depression. If you take medicine, you should also see a psychologist for individual/group therapy.

No medicine can CURE depression only alleviate it.It's a matter of trial and error to see which drugs suit you.

yes