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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by qbsbrown on January 6, 2005, at 0:01:30
What was that link again please?
And im confused. I've heard both many times, that it is and it isn't legal/illegal in the states. Which is true.
Posted by Larry Hoover on January 6, 2005, at 11:22:46
In reply to Link to Vet Tryptophan????????????????????, posted by qbsbrown on January 6, 2005, at 0:01:30
> What was that link again please?
> And im confused. I've heard both many times, that it is and it isn't legal/illegal in the states. Which is true.http://www.buygpdirect.com/gpefeed.htm
It is perfectly legal to buy and sell tryptophan for human consumption in the United States. It has been legal since 1994. The restoration of legal trade in tryptophan just didn't get any publicity, unlike the banning of the substance in 1991 because of a single contaminated batch.
It is also perfectly legal to sell tryptophan for veterinary use.
This is a quotation from the FDA website:
"Although FDA continues to enunciate its concern about the safety of dietary supplements containing L-tryptophan and related compounds such as L-5-hydroxytryptophan, this does not mean that FDA prohibits the marketing of dietary supplements that contain L-tryptophan. Under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (the Act), as amended by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), the manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that its products are safe. A firm is not required to obtain premarket review or approval from the FDA of its products before marketing them as dietary supplements. Moreover, a firm is not required to submit scientific evidence to FDA of the safety of its products or ingredients. While we are unaware of conclusive scientific data that would establish that a dietary supplement L-tryptophan would be safe, if a firm has information that it believes establishes that a product containing L-tryptophan is safe within the meaning of the Act, it could market such a product as a dietary supplement. The burden and responsibility for assuring that such a product is not adulterated under the Act is with the firm and not FDA."What that means is that tryptophan labelled for use by humans carries an onus of inherent safety, which falls on the supplier, not the FDA.
There's quite a bit more information on that FDA page, so here's the link:
http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ds-tryp1.htmlWhat I believe is that suppliers are using this "onus" to jack up the price, and make obscene profits on human-use tryptophan products. I have thoroughly scanned the chemical supply literature, and the process that was used by that one Japanese chemical supply house will never be used again. Moreover, each batch of tryptophan is tested *at the manufacturing facility* for those identified contaminants, to ensure its purity. In other words, tryptophan is safer now than it has ever been, and that safety extends to veterinary products, because all tryptophan is tested before it is bulk-shipped.
Lar
Posted by ESB on January 6, 2005, at 12:26:11
In reply to Re: Link to Vet Tryptophan???????????????????? » qbsbrown, posted by Larry Hoover on January 6, 2005, at 11:22:46
Just a side note: although it is legal, you are technically supposed to have a perscription for human consumption. But not for veterinary use, of course!
-ESB
Posted by qbsbrown on January 6, 2005, at 20:20:02
In reply to Re: Link to Vet Tryptophan???????????????????? » qbsbrown, posted by Larry Hoover on January 6, 2005, at 11:22:46
Larry, which one do you buy? The regular, or the ultra pure. ANd what dose do u take?
Is this good for both anxiety and depression, or mostly anxiety?
Posted by Larry Hoover on January 6, 2005, at 22:35:31
In reply to Re: Link to Vet Tryptophan????????????????????, posted by qbsbrown on January 6, 2005, at 20:20:02
> Larry, which one do you buy? The regular, or the ultra pure. ANd what dose do u take?
> Is this good for both anxiety and depression, or mostly anxiety?I bought a half-pound of the Ultrapure. It's 90% tryptophan, and 10% dextrose. I don't know why the dextrose is their, other than maybe to cover any bitterness. I'm in Canada, and Customs didn't even bat an eye.
I just grab a spoon out of the drawer and scoop up a heaping spoonful. I don't notice an immediate effect, so I can get away with that.
I suppose it moderates my anxiety levels. I just feel more resilient when I use it.
I use a lot of other stuff, so I can't really give you a "what does tryptophan feel like in my body" kind of answer.
Lar
Posted by MKB on January 9, 2005, at 22:15:45
In reply to Re: Link to Vet Tryptophan????????????????????, posted by ESB on January 6, 2005, at 12:26:11
A prescription is not needed in the U.S. I have heard you can purchase L-Tryptophan at Whole Foods, but I get mine online at www.biorecovery.com.
Posted by ESB on January 13, 2005, at 10:29:05
In reply to Re: Link to Vet Tryptophan???????????????????? » ESB, posted by MKB on January 9, 2005, at 22:15:45
This must be a recent change. When I was using it back in summer 2003, you needed a perscription. I've seen it in products at Vitamin Shoppe, and it explicity says something like "L-Tryptophan (as part of the food source)" or something, implying that you cannot sell it individually. Maybe I'm wrong, but when if you check out iherb.com, the L-Tryptophan says "For Veterinary Use Only." and "This product is for pets only. Should not be consumed by humans." I'm not saying that you can't easily purchase it without a perscription, but consuming it without a perscription may be illegal. Whatever, I'm not a lawyer, so what do I know.
ESB
> A prescription is not needed in the U.S. I have heard you can purchase L-Tryptophan at Whole Foods, but I get mine online at www.biorecovery.com.
Posted by gromit on January 16, 2005, at 1:35:44
In reply to Re: Link to Vet Tryptophan???????????????????? » qbsbrown, posted by Larry Hoover on January 6, 2005, at 11:22:46
> What I believe is that suppliers are using this "onus" to jack up the price, and make obscene profits on human-use tryptophan products.
It seems that way, along with GHB which is now an insanely expensive prescription that at one time was a very cheap supplement. I don't know, I never tried either of these before/after they were banned, there are probably others I don't know about too. I have a different question though, what about other meds that are labeled veterinary use only? When I kept fish I would sometimes buy antibiotics for them, they were dirt cheap even compared to generic from the pharmacy. I don't want to name specific psych medications, although I have one in mind, just a general question as to safety really.
Thanks
Rick
This is the end of the thread.
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