 |
||
 |
||
|
||
|
||
| |
||
|
||
|
|
|
|
Contents Page 1 |
5-HTP Supplements And The 5-HIAA TestThe FDA's scientifically indefensible ban of the essential amino acid, L-tryptophan, has led to supplement companies selling 5-HTP in its place. There is some concern that 5-HTP could be converted to serotonin in the blood instead of the brain, possibly causing heart problems. This is not a problem with L-tryptophan, but thanks to the FDA, it is hard to obtain this safe amino acid anymore. Thus, some people take 5-HTP supplements and get periodic tests of the serotonin metabolite, 5-HIAA, to make sure they aren't experiencing a conversion problem. Anyone who is getting tested for 5-HIAA levels should be aware of the interference problems posed by the ECA stack itself and Big Brothers contribution to the stack, guaifenesin. This alleged 5-HTP conversion problem is a hotly debated issue. I am looking into the research on this, however, at this point, I will stick with my initial reaction: Why don't we fight the FDA on the L-tryptophan ban? No one in their right mind doubts the safety of the essential amino acid L-tryptophan. Why should the American public passively accept ANY risk from 5-HTP when the FDA's ban of L-tryptophan is scientifically indefensible? You can go to my Address Links page and e-mail Congress about this. What good is the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) if we don't use it? |
|
|
Have you read my Thermogenic FAQ? How ECA Works: A series of illustrations that show how caffeine and aspirin work to prolong and enhance the thermogenic effect of ephedrine. The "A" in ECA: Did you ever wonder why aspirin is part of the ECA stack? This post explains the purpose of aspirin and caffeine. |
Ephedrine BioavailabilityThe available evidence suggests that the addition of guaifenesin to ephedrine tablets does not reduce the bioavailability of ephedrine. Pade, et al. compared sustained-release pseudoephedrine with and without guaifenesin and found that guaifenesin "did not influence pseudoephedrine bioavailability" (5). Guaifenesin does not seem to interfere with the absorption of theophylline (6), which is similar to caffeine. A study involving sustained-release dextromethorphan also determined that the presence of guaifenesin did not effect bioavailability (7). Guaifenesin has been found to slightly reduce the bioavailability of dyphylline (8), however, the reduction was small and the dyphylline-guaifenesin combination was considered bioequivalent. It is unfortunate that the Pade, et al. study used sustained-release pseudoephedrine. I know of no study that has tested the bioavailability of immediate-release ephedrine tablets that contain guaifenesin. In addition, some states have passed laws requiring the addition of 400 mg (rather than 200 mg) of guaifenesin to 25 mg ephedrine tablets. More states will probably pass similar laws, and since manufacturers want to be able to sell their products in ALL the states, the 400/25 combination will probably become the standard formulation. I hope someone tests the bioavailability of this new combination. However, the current evidence suggests that Big Brothers contribution to the ECA stack does not reduce the bioavailability of ephedrine or caffeine. |
|
|
More guaifenesin info! Check out Mark London's page on guaifenesin and fibromyalgia.
Written |
ConclusionAdults and adolescents who take guaifenesin as an expectorant are directed to take between 200 and 400 mg every four hours with a maximum dose of 2400 mg per day (1-BK). Many people with fibromyalgia take large doses of guaifenesin. Although it seems to be a relatively safe drug, I don't like the idea of taking ANY drug that I don't need. Obese people derive no benefit from guaifenesin; why should we be forced to take it? Have we been drafted into the war against drugs? The least they could do is send me a draft card so I would have the pleasure of burning it. Obese people who take the 400/25 tablets three times a day will be getting 1200 mg of guaifenesin every day -- in many cases, for the rest of their lives. How safe is guaifenesin at this dose and duration? Looking at the available anecdotal evidence, I'd say that guaifenesin seems to be a pretty safe drug. But remember, guaifenesin has never been tested in animals for "carcinogenicity, tumorigenicity, or mutagenicity" (1-BK). Is it not curious that Big Brother and the medical industry (am I being redundant?) frequently cite "lack of adequate testing" as a reason why they should be allowed to take control of the supplement industry?
|
|
|
|||
|
Home |
1-BK.) Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine (CD version with the complete USP-DI.) 2.) Pickens, CL, Milliron, AR, Fussner, AL, Dversdall, BC, Langenstroer, P, Ferguson, S, Fu, X, Schmitz, FJ, and Poole, EC "Abuse of guaifenesin-containing medications generates an excess of a carboxylate salt of beta-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-lactic acid, a guaifenesin metabolite, and results in urolithiasis." Urology 1999 Jul, Vol 54 (1), Pg 23-7, PMID: 10414721. 3-NA.) Pedersen, AT, Batsakis, JG, Vanselow, NA, and McLean, JA "False-positive tests for urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. Error in laboratory determinations caused by glyceryl guaiacolate." JAMA 1970 Feb 16, Vol 211 (7), Pg 1184-6, PMID: 5466975. 4-BK.) Fischbach, F "A Manual of Laboratory Diagnostic Tests." J. B. Lippincott Company. 5.) Pade, V, Aluri, J, Manning, L, and Stavchansky, S "Bioavailability of pseudoephedrine from controlled release formulations in the presence of guaifenesin in human volunteers." Biopharm Drug Dispos 1995 Jul, Vol 16 (5), Pg 381-91, PMID: 8527687 6.) Harrison, LI, Chang, SF, Welscher, TM, and Ober, RE "Comparative absorption of theophylline from theophylline-guaifenesin tablets and liquid and from a reference theophylline liquid." Clin Ther 1981, Vol 4 (1), Pg 18-23, PMID: 7273065. 7.) Demirbas, S, Reyderman, L, and Stavchansky, S "Bioavailability of dextromethorphan (as dextrorphan) from sustained release formulations in the presence of guaifenesin in human volunteers." Biopharm Drug Dispos 1998 Nov, Vol 19 (8), Pg 541-5, PMID: 9840216. 8.) Straughn, AB, Wood, GC, Raghow, G, and Meyer, MC "Bioavailability of dyphylline and dyphylline-guaifenesin tablets in humans." J Pharm Sci 1985 Mar, Vol 74 (3), Pg 335-7, PMID: 4009445. 9-BK.) Stedman's Electronic Medical Dictionary (CD Version). |
|
|
|
|||
