Hormonal Health

Dear Dr. Meletis,

 I am 60 years old and have low serotonin. I don’t sleep well. I am also on bioidentical hormones, 2.5 Biest, 100 Prog. 0.5 Test. Although I have a thickening of the uterus and don’t understand why as my blood test estradiol is at 24 (low). I continue to have pelvic tests. My current doctor has me on 5-HTP. Taking 50 mg up to 2X per day causes anxiety. I now have symptoms of tinnitus. Can the 5-HTP cause an allergic reaction? If I take less than 50 mg. I do feel more calm. Thank you. I am a new customer and enjoy all the educational information in the newsletters.

Ms. L.

Dear Ms. L.,

I have never over the almost 17 years of clinical practice and use of 5-HTP seen an allergic reaction or tinnitus. You may wish to see if L-Tryptophan versus 5-HTP may be another worthwhile option. Yet, to fully address your question relative to allergies, anyone can be allergic to anything, so if you feel like you have an allergic reaction you may try other approaches as well. 

L-Theanine is often used to help with calmness and to help lessen anxious feeling, so this may be a consideration as well. The fact that your uterine lining is thickening, you may try to lower the level of Bi-EST slowly, as this level may be too high relative to your unique chemistry. Often my patients when lowering their estrogen levels over the course of a few weeks will add prior to and during HerBalance® II to buffer the need for so much estrogen.

I know you report a 24 for estradiol, yet your conversion to estriol or estrone would not be detected.   I will assume you are taking your BHRT either topically or as a sublingual troche. If not and if you are swallowing a capsule, this increases total estrogen burden to the body and an alternative approach such as topical or troche may allow you greater benefit with lower dosing. Yet, only with the guidance of your personal health care provider. 

You may also want to look at other Dear Doctor letters that address tinnitus, which are available on the website.

The information shared here is educational and is not intended as either diagnosis or treatment. Working closely with your personal health care provider is essential. 

Sincerely,

Chris D. Meletis, ND