Posted by monica (205.213.208.54) on March 14, 2000 at 17:13:27:
along with the clusters, i am also SAD. seasonal affected disorder is directly linked between sunlight and the release of serotonin in the brain. from what i've read about serotonin and other neurotransmitters is that they can have an affect on headaches, by sending the messages that open or close blood vessels in the brain. if i'm not mistaken (and i very well could be) what i've read about imitrex, which many people seem to do well with, is that it imitates the neurotransmitter that opens certain blood vessels in the brain. how about drugs that contain 5-HTP, which is the precursor to serotonin release? how effective are they? i know thats an even bigger deal, because now we're getting down to chemicals in the brain, and i don't know how much i want to mess with that, but if it would help...? i've read up on some herbal supplements that contain small amounts of 5-htp, but i don't know if a small amount would do the trick. is anyone familiar with some sort of serotonin and/or 5-htp treatment that may be effective? or should i just be grinning and bearing this? because i don't feel much like grinning. by golly, i still feel like fighting it!!! i've been fighting it for the past 10 years and i will not give up until i do something about it! and if anyone knows how i can use something above and beyond light therapy, which didn't help, i would be most happy to hear from you!
thank you for your help, all of you.
monica