The Effects of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) Supplementation on Central Nervous System Excitability and Motor Function in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury

Fecha de inicio: 19 de junio de 2019

Inclusion Criteria: * Individuals aged 18-65 years of age. * Patients must have suffered a trauma to the spinal cord at least 1 year ago or longer. * Patients must exhibit some degree of spasticity which can be self-reported (Penn spasm frequency) or if assessed by a physiotherapist, a modified Ashworth spasticity score greater than 1 Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals with damage to the nervous system other than to the spinal cord * Pregnant or breastfeeding women * Alcoholic patients * Patients with a history of seizures or epilepsy * Patients with a history of suicidal thoughts or behaviors * Patients with active or inactive implants including cardiac pacemakers, implantable defibrillators, ocular implants, deep brain stimulators, vagus nerve stimulator, and implanted medication pumps * Patients with conductive, ferromagnetic or other magnetic-sensitive metals implanted in their head * Patients with: * Known or suspected allergy to the medication or the ingredients * Cardiovascular disease including history of heart attack or heart rhythm irregularities * Coronary artery disease * Comatose or depressed states due to CNS depressants * Endocrine dysfunction * Blood dyscrasias * Bone marrow depression * History of seizures * Hypocalcemia * History of stomach ulcers * Wide-angle glaucoma * Phenylketonuria Patients taking: * Monoamine oxidase inhibitor therapy * Serotonergic antidepressants: selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors * Tricyclic antidepressants * Any type of serotonergic agonist * Dopamine D2 receptor antagonists * Amphetamine * CNS depressants * Levodopa * Lithium * Anti-hypertensive drugs (Carbidopa and L-DOPA) * Iron salts * Metoclopramide * Phenothiazine medication