Any theories on the cause of S's experience are welcome - it is weird and scary. Here is a summary of psychoactive chemicals in chocolate. Personally I am most suspicious of PEA: "Taken in unnaturally high doses, phenylethylamine can produce stereotyped behaviour more prominently even than amphetamine. Phenylethylamine has distinct binding sites but no specific neurons. It helps mediate feelings of attraction, excitement, giddiness, apprehension and euphoria; but confusingly, phenylethylamine has also been described as an endogenous anxiogen. One of its metabolites is unusually high in subjects with paranoid schizophrenia."
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atek3
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&c2coff=1&rls=GGLD%2CGGLD%3A2004-51%2CGGLD%3Aen&q=bipolar+mania+chocolate+trigger
There's a "bipolar lite" called cyclothymia, characterized by bigger-than-normal mood swings but no actual craziness (not suicidal or delusional).... I don't even think most cyclothymics take medication, but I don't know much about it.
I've read that omega 3 supplements can be as effective as drugs for cyclothymics and other moderate bipolars (without he nasty side effects of the drugs). Check out _The Omega-3 Connection_ by Dr. Andrew Stoll.
Even if your wife had taken incredibly high doses of genuine amphetamine it would not cost her two nights sleep in a row -- the half-life is just not that long.
Or, the empirical introspective angle: I personally have never felt even a cup-of-coffee's worth of stimulation from however much chocolate I can consume in one sititng. Let alone what you're describing.
She's probably just sick. :(
Armchair Theorist Alcibiades
Alcibiades
the first thing that came to my mind was theobromine poisoning. we humans are very good at metabolizing theobromine -which is known as *the* happy drug in chocolate. but dogs, cats and other animals are not good at metabolizing it. and they go insane and sometimes die if given chocolate.
a description of theobromine poisoning
i'd wonder if she has a problem with her liver function or if she's taking any meds that might affect her liver. something to check up on. it might be totally off base, but liver function is easily analzyed with a blood draw.
-oh, and my gut instinct is that taking extra tryptophan isn't gonna affect her mood, but i don't have the time to look into it and confirm that for certain. it's just that we get lots of trp in our diets, and the amount varies greatly, so there must be some regulation preventing us from getting too much in our synapses after we've had a big steak or a huge bowl of edamame if we're that kind of protien eater. :P
"Clinical signs of chocolate toxicosis usually occur within 6-12 hr of ingestion. Initial signs may include polydipsia, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal distention, and restlessness. Signs may progress to hyperactivity, polyuria, ataxia, tremors, and seizures. Tachycardia, premature ventricular contractions, tachypnea, cyanosis, hypertension, hyperthermia, bradycardia, hypotension, or coma may occur. Hypokalemia may occur late in the course of the toxicosis, contributing to cardiac dysfunction. Death is generally due to cardiac arrhythmias, hyperthermia, or respiratory failure. The high fat content of chocolate products may trigger pancreatitis in susceptible animals."
It did start with some abdominal discomfort, and include restlessness, hyperactivity, frequent urination, low appetite, tremors, tachycardia, and hyperthermia.
The suggestion of a liver function test is an excellent one, we will do that, thanks.
note that it was 5htp, rather than tryptophan, and 5htp is past the rate-limiting step for conversion to serotonin. However, she did not have very much, and the symptoms started before she took it. Besides, her symptoms are much more stimulant-like than serotonin-like.
excellent, that's the kind of thing i don't have the time to find out.
i also don't know if it's capable of being taken up across the blood brain barrier. -it's certainly possible since the transporter that takes up TRP is pretty promiscuous in that it also takes up PHE and TYR. -but you might want to look that up.
i have hair now :) that was marker to prettify my head and make me feel less ugly :P
A slow release of LSD (I don't know if such a substance might be in there somewhere) might explain the relatively mild drug-like experience and the sleepless nights.
Just an idea.