Hi,
I know this thread is very old now, but just in case it helps someone...
I had understood we should not mix SSRI's and tryptophan for fear of getting excess serotonin syndrome.
BUT
I did know there was one particular organisation using both, however, they were monitoring urine levels of serotonin very carefully. The sources were very hard to track as it was an excerpt from a HUGE medical tract and kept moving.
Anyway...
I recently was looking for advice to update my book How to Fix Depression, and stumbled upon this information (dang - can't post links yet but website is moodcure by Julia Ross - find the excerpt
I actually got the book some time ago, so I checked it out further, and apparently in the UK a study combined SSRI's and tryptophan and found it very helpful. Again the book quotes the Canadian study suggesting 20 milligrams of prozac with 2 - 4 grams of tryptophan.
(That seemed like a lot of tryptophan to me, but I am currently trying to find a medical reference that can back this up.)
Further on 5HTP and Tryptophan, from memory, I understand 5HTP may benefit many of us, (me included) but others may benefit from taking just tryptophan instead if 5HTP is not effective.
I watched a video on youtube about depression, very helpful and very technical with regard to dosages of supplements, can't find the link right now, but may post later if I can.
It suggested if you take L-tryptophan dose is 3000 - 6000 mg daily
alternatively if you take 5HTP dosage is 600-1200 mg daily.
Works best when insomnia accompanies depression.
Use with vitamin B6.
Aha!!! found the link to the youtube video can't post a link so look for The Nutritional Approach to Anxiety and Depression (by Dr Krier)
Anyway, hope this might help someone out there. Be well, be happy and don't beat yourself up too much.