Comment · Tue, March 22, 2016 · Ceretropic & Nootropics Depot
Bacopa seems controversial here...
Original post in this thread
A7_AUDUBON · 7 points
Having taken Bacopa for a while, I am interested to see that many people experience drowsiness and loss of motivation...although it is recommended in the FAQ how likely is it that it is impacting my motivation?
I have been taking the Swanson stuff as recommended in the FAQ: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017OAI8C/ref=s9_hps_bw_g121_i4
Thanks
What they were answering
Noobsessed · 1 points
I'm interested in what could be the reason for me to feel extremely (and I'm not using the world lightly) unmotivated, depressed and suicidal, secuentially, after a few weeks of use. After discontinuation I progress to a better state in a matter of 10 days, more or less. Is the serotonin increase high enough to induce this effects? My experience sounds totally like 5-HT2Ar agonism, I suffer from loss of libido as well, which makes me think that's the case. Could it be that some bacteria or fungi has contaminated my bottle (powdercity capsules I've had for 5 months)? I've given 4 shots to bacopa over 6 months and this happens every time.
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb · Ceretropic & Nootropics Depot
Bacopa up-regulates your trytophan hydroxylase enzyme. That converts trytophan to 5-HTP. Both 5-HTP and L-DOPA go on to share the same rate-limiting enzyme called aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase(AAAD). 5-HTP becomes serotonin and L-DOPA becomes dopamine. The issue with up-regulating TPH too much, or simply supplementing 5-HTP, is that saturating AAAD with one precursor prevents the other from converting. So over-expressing TPH is going to lower dopamine over time. Studies have shown that bacopa not only increases serotonin, ACh, GABA, and glutamate, but lowers dopamine. Studies have shown that bacopa also increases expression of the SERT, which should balance the serotonin out. However, there is going to be variability in the population that might affect how efficient that is, and the lower dopamine will affect different people more strongly. Also, your hunch about the 5-HT2A receptor playing a role is correct. Bacopa up-regulates both 5-HT2A and 5-HT3A receptors.
This is a really good paper on it: [Molecular and Functional Characterization of
Bacopa monniera : A Retrospective Review](http://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/aa/945217.pdf)
Here is the table of receptor interactions.
Here is a diagram of the possible mechanism of the serotonin-mediated signaling pathway of bacopa.
Could it be that some bacteria or fungi has contaminated my bottle (powdercity capsules I've had for 5 months)?
I highly doubt that.