Side effects of tyrosine

What is tyrosine?

Tyrosine is an amino acid that the cells use in order to build the proteins and, since it is a nonessential amino acid, it means that it can be produced in the human body. However, it can be found in many food products that are rich in protein or it can be taken in through supplements. Products made of soy, chicken, fish, yogurt, cheese, milk, almonds, pumpkin and sesame seeds are only some of the sources of tyrosine, and they are particularly useful for the people whose body cannot produce it on its own.

This amino acid proved to be very helpful in the treatment of depression, schizophrenia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but it can be useful in cases of people who are going through particularly stressful situations, as well as in cases of phenylketonuria, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and alcohol and cocaine withdrawal.

Is tyrosine safe to use?

People tend to believe that all the natural products are safe to use, and that side effects are not possible when taking them, but that is not true. Tyrosine may cause side effects just like any other medication, which is why it should not be taken as a supplement without previous consultations with the doctor. A reason more for the consultation with a professional is the fact that certain people are a part of the risk group, which makes them more prone to experiencing side effects. This risk group refers to those who suffer from hyperthyroidism, allergies, and phenylketonuria, Graves’ disease and some cases of pregnant and breastfeeding women. Just the same, due to the possible interactions and complications, tyrosine should not be combined with medications used for the treatment of thyroid gland, or those containing levodopa.

Side effects of tyrosine

Generally, side effects of tyrosine are not serious, and they rarely require medical attention. The most common are headaches, nausea, heartburn and pain in the joints, but if any of them does not disappear by itself after a while, the person who uses tyrosine should report it to the doctor, just to check out whether or not they should continue with the same medication or not. Symptoms that should not be ignored and in case of which a person cannot afford to wait in order to see whether they will go away by themselves include signs indicating allergic reaction, as well as those which indicate the worsening of Graves’ disease or hyperthyroidism.