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[ellethecat]

Hi. I ran a couple of searches but mostly ran into info on gaba school. Im looking for a couple of herbal type supplements, most specifically 5-htp and GABA. I asked a pharmacist who said hed herd of 5-HT and that it was prescription only, but... his description of it was not the same, so I think it was something differnet. Perhaps its called something different here. Or perhaps its not legal. Has anyone actually seen them for sale, knows where to get them, etc?
I dont want to ship supplements from out of country in case they are deemed questionable (and SOME supplements Are banned...).

[worlddiva]

Hi ellethecat,

I don't know if the supplements are legal or not, but I'm thinking that the 5-htp, because it affects serotonin levels, might be controlled but who knows...This is purely a guess. I am not surprised that the pharmacist here hadn't heard of it as a few years back when I tried to get it in Canada it was also hard to find.

The link below is for the Ministry of Health and Welfare. They are in charge of importing legal supplements or RX meds.


http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/topics/import/

I would check with them by calling one of their contact numbers or navigating their site a little further. I think there is a guy at the Tokyo number that speaks English. You might want to have a Japanese friend call for you.

(I hope that there is a specific and well researched reason why you are taking or want to take 5-htp as I know some people that took it and in the end their brain became lazy at producing serotonin...which could lead to a certain dependency.Just a side note.)

Good luck.

[ellethecat]

I was hoping someone in the know had seen it somewhere.
I have a good understanding of neurophysiology and have used it before.
IT seems odd that it should have that effect, as it is only the precursor to sertonin, closer to the protein used to make it than itself. It should be just like eating the building blocks. It seems more likely that his number of receptors shut down because of overabundance of seretonin.
Unfortunately, I have taken effexor for many years, and THAT has caused considerable long term brain problems. Reuitake inhibition causes that same described problem. Im thinking of alternating the two.
Thanks for the info. Ill still hold out hope that someone online here knows.

[Davidpepp]

GABA... apparently GLICO makes it

http://www.ezaki-glico.com/release/20050315/