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An open-label pilot study of combined augmentation with creatine monohydrate and 5-hydroxytryptophan for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor- or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor-resistant depression in adult women
Abstract
Purpose: Many women with major depressive disorder (MDD) respond inadequately to standard treatments. Augmentation of conventional antidepressants with creatine monohydrate and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) could correct deficits in serotonin production and brain bioenergetics associated with depression in women, yielding synergistic benefit. We describe an open-label study of 5-HTP and creatine augmentation in women with MDD who had failed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) monotherapy. Methods: Fifteen women who were adequately adherent to an SSRI or SNRI and currently experiencing MDD, with a 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) score of 16 or higher, were treated with 5 g of creatine monohydrate daily and 100 mg of 5-HTP twice daily for 8 weeks, with 4 weeks of posttreatment follow-up. The primary outcome was change in mean HAM-D scores. Results: Mean HAM-D scores declined from 18.9 (SD, 2.5) at pretreatment visits to 7.5 (SD, 4.4) (P < 0.00001), a decrease of 60%. Participants did not experience any serious treatment-related adverse events. Conclusions: Combination treatment with creatine and 5-HTP may represent an effective augmentation strategy for women with SSRI- or SNRI-resistant depression. Given the limitations of this small, open-label trial, future study in randomized, placebo-controlled trials is warranted.
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“An open-label pilot study demonstrated that the combination of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and CrM (5 grams/day) twice daily for 8 weeks provided potential benefits for adult women with serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)-resistant depression [261].”
From Creatine monohydrate supplementation for older adults and clinical populations (2025) · cites this paper as [261]
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“Copyright © 2017 Wolters Kluwer H depression.(8) Accordingly, studies addressing the treatment of depression in women and the development of treatmentresistance are urgently needed.”
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Cited by
Maffei, M. E. (2020) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms22010181 · Cited by 236
Dietary creatine intake and depression risk among U.S. adults
Bakian, A. V., Huber, R. S., Scholl, L., Renshaw, P. F., & Kondo, D. (2020) · Translational Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/s41398-020-0741-x · Cited by 90
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Creatine for the Treatment of Depression
Kious, B. M., Kondo, D. G., & Renshaw, P. F. (2019) · Biomolecules · doi:10.3390/biom9090406 · Cited by 74
Self-citationCreatine monohydrate supplementation for older adults and clinical populations
Candow, D. G., Ostojic, S. M., Chilibeck, P. D., Longobardi, I., Gualano, B., Tarnopolsky, M. A., Wallimann, T., Moriarty, T., Kreider, R. B., Forbes, S. C., et al. (2025) · Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · doi:10.1080/15502783.2025.2534130 · Cited by 43
Metadata
- Authors
- Kious, B. M., Sabic, H., Sung, Y.-H., Kondo, D. G., & Renshaw, P.
- Affiliations
- From the *Department of Psychiatry and †Brain Institute, University of Utah; and ‡Veterans Integrated Service Network 19 Mental Illness Research Education Clinical, Centers of Excellence, Salt Lake City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT.
- Venue
- Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
- Published
- 2017-10
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 578-583
- ISSN
- 1533-712X
- 0271-0749
- Cited by
- 27
- References
- 8
- Language
- en
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