Depression Blog.com

thank you for this website, I'm currently getting of paxil what are the side affects and can you mix sam-e and 5-htf

5htp was great for awhile, but after 2 months or so started to get tachycardia..wondered if it was linked to 5htp..stopped taking it, now for 3 weeks, and no tach.

??

5HTP makes me feel tired and grouchy. I've been taking it for about two months. Went to alternative medicine doctor who put me on vitamins including lots of B vitamins and also some hormone creams, all of which give me more energy, but when I add the 5htp to the mix, I feel worse, i.e., the grouchy and tired feelings. I am currently taking 100 mg of 5HTP at bedtime. That doesn't seem to bother me. Hopefully, won't disturb my sleep.

I am taking 80mg of prozac with 300mg effexor and 3mg of klonipin per day for my OCD.Can adding a b-complex and 5Htp be dangerous or cause serotinin syndrone?

[I would be cautious and talk to my doctor before taking 5-HTP or tryptophan with any SSRI (and Prozac is an SSRI). there is a risk of Serotonin Syndrome occuring if you mix the two.]

I have been using 5HTP for a couple of weeks and notice an improvement in my mood, and most noticibly the disppearance of that foggy headed feeling. I can concentrate much better.

Sir,

I was suffering from depression 4 years before. Doctor prescribed me paxil paraxotile and I took last 3 years but due to several side effects I buy 5 HTP from HBC Protocols, USA. but after taking 5 HTP lot of drowsiness, anxiety,panic attack and sleeping at least 15 hours per day. Please advise.

rakesh jaroli

Hello, are there any bad interactions that come about when taking 5HPT with Wellbutrin?

thanks

My son started taking 5HTP for several reasons (some valid, some not). I have noticed severe mood swings, paranoia, high hostility levels and more. I believe that is is from taking several times the daily dosage. I have been trying to find information about side-effects but almost everything seems to be tied into advertising and selling the product. Any suggestions or input?

My wife took 1 pill today as someone suggested. that was at 3pm, and she had a heart rate that was very irregular at 10pm any thoughts? She takes no other medication.

I started taking 5-HTP last week. Thus far i definately notice that it makes me geel groggy, tired,and even though i take it at night, the next morning i do not like the way i feel.I feel more depressed, angry and have a running feeling in my body while still. I am stopping it.

I took 5-HTP 100mg 1 everynight before I went to bed. I had very vivid horrible nightmares the first day on it, and I slept all day even though I only took it before I went to bed the previous day. I felt a little sick to my stomach like i was going to vomit, instead of suppressing my appetite, I gained 5 pounds in the two weeks i ws on it. very discouraging to someone who struggles with their weight and has depression. I have been off it for 4 days now. I had ringing in my ears. I don't recommend this product, not even to an animal.

I have read for many hours about 5 htp. It seems to greatly help some and make symptoms of depression worse for others.
I strongly urge you to try anything for at least 2-4 weeks before making any final conclusions about it.
I have read in many places that feelings of depression may worsen first, before they improve, even on psychotropic drugs perscribed by a Dr.
I personally have been on 5 htp (200-300 mg) per day for over one week in combo with B6 (175 mg per day) and tyrosine (1000mg) per day. The first three days I felt incredible. Better than I have in years. The next two days, I noticed dramatic mood swings. Today I am thinking of suicide. But as I said, I read that feelings of suicide and dpression may worsen as depression lifts. The up feelings I am having on the 5 htp far outweigh my up feelings when I am not on it.
Our bodies need time to adjust to major changes like this. Espeically if you have been depressed for many years, as I have. Trying something for two days and saying it makes youworse, is not giving the supplements adequate time to do their jobs. Brain chemistry is a tricky thing. It is not fair to conclude after one or two days that something "makes you worse" or doens't work.
I feel only if you try it for some time can you make such a conclusion, espeically if you are using it in combo. with other perscription medications. I imagine, if that is the case, then using a natural supplemet IS liable to make you worse and you should consult your Dr.
I am not a Dr., but I have studied health and the body for many years and am an intuitive healer.
Please give 5 htp some time.

I've been taking 5HTP since last January. My doctor prescribed Celexa for anxiety, but I read about the possible side effects (loss of sex drive and weight gain) and decided to try 5HTP instead. It does make me sleepy, so I take 200mg at bedtime. It has reduced my anxiety and increased my ability to concentrate a great deal. I've had no negative side effects at all so far, so I was surprised to read about how it affected other users. I feel it has made my life liveable and my anxiety manageable (I also eat well and exercise every day). The only thing I worry about is long term consequences. I wonder if it will cause liver or kidney damage? Only long-term studies will tell.

I wish everybody who struggles with anxiety, depression and other emotional turmoils well. Our lives are too stressful and fast-paced. Media makes us desire too much perfection. Hey, we're all flawed and I feel somewhat better just accepting my own imperfect humanness. I'm glad I'm not the only one who struggles! :o)

I took 50mg of 5-htp for about 3 months. At first I could tell I was calmer, there were some mood swings, but most drugs I've ever read about take two weeks to really tell. Well, after two weeks I could really really tell that it was doing something, atleast. I felt fuller quicker with food, my dreams were more vivid, and I was much better with stress at work. However my sex drive was dead. I lost total interest in the opposite sex. My relationship ended to say the least, so I stopped for about two months taking 5htp. Libido back, but I started smoking a lot more so I could keep the weight off. I started on a new brand and I switched to 100mg a night and its been a week and I feel way better than I did with the 50mg. My sex drive hasn't gone back down yet but sometimes I feel extremely bloated. I get horrible skull-splitting migraines at work, and since I have got back on 5-htp they have gone. I'll give up sex for that the loss of that pain, atleast for a little while.

Five HTP has generally been good for me. I am concerned of some light sensitivity though. I have been taking it for almost two years now. What has really helped me is the book "the edge effect" It has to deal with amino acids and their effects on the body and brain chemistry. Just a thought and advice

I am delighted to find these comments as I was desperate to find out more about 5 HTP after thinking that it was responsible for the feelings I was experiencing. Like a lot of you, I too had positive feelings and a vast improvement during the first month. I would say even the second month was okay too. But then suddenly after the 2 months my symptoms got worse and was plunged into an abyss. Suicide was never far from my mind and I just cried all the time. I could not do normal functions and just wanted it all to end. Then the blood rushing in my ears started and incredible feelings of hatred and anger. I began to realise (and thank goodness trusted my gut instinct) that there was something else going on that I had no control over. That's when I decided to coem off 5 HTP despite my health care practitioner's advice. She had advised me to go from 100 mg to 300 mg a day and after 2 weeks of this I just wanted to die. So I followed my gut and came off it. That was 2 weeks ago today and I feel great. After 4 or 5 days I could feel the "old me" coming back and now I am back to my full self. I realise after soem research that tryptophan like any drug has side effects and there was I ironically afraid to take the anti depressants my Dr prescribed for fear of bad effects!! I know this is a long piece from me, but I feel I have to tell the full story so that someone else like me will know that they are not going mad and that the 5 HTP can have serious side effects. If you are worried or expereincing anything like I have described please come off it. I wish I had sooner and I am so glad I did before it was too late.

i m suffering depression.dont have any desires.so much obseessed with meditation and introspecrion

Just to put my two peneth in. I have just started today on Vit B6 & 5HTP and I was reading an article about 5HTP and it seems that lots of you guys are taking way too much of the stuff. This article suggests between 25-50 mg's of 5HTP and up to 100 mg but anything over causes problems including nausea: www.lightparty.com/Health/5-HTP.html

Enjoy.

I've been taking a product that has 5-htp in it and it has helped with my moods. I have lots of bloating and gas with it, so I'm guessing, this is a side effect. From reading the other posts, I'm not sure if I want to continue taking this. I also give this to my son (17 years of age) and have noticed a difference with him. He seems much calmer. I need to ponder on this one........

Yeah, it sounds like alot of people who may be going through the negative side effects described here may just be taking too much or mixing it accidentally. I started on 200 mg a day but am now down to 100 mg every three to four days and I'm great. It doesn't take much; 5-htp is a strong little supplement.

I've also noticed that if the capsule breaks before swallowing and the powder inside gets out, it will be absorbed by the mucous membrane in my mouth and esophagus, resulting in a higher real dosage (because less is destroyed than would otherwise be by the stomach's acids) and the possibility of headaches, palpitations, etc goes up.

If you start low and work your way up to whatever the most effective dosage is for you, instead of starting at something high (and many times the recommended dosage is WAY TOO high!) and working your way down, I believe your experience will be less negative. And since elevated serotonin has been linked to higher aggression, I'd say that the boy described by his mom above probably is taking too much.

Oh yeah, and the dreams. I can deal with nightmares, and I've only had two or three since starting (although the ones I've had have certainly been vivid!), so I wouldn't let that get in the way. I haven't had any at all for over a year now. And my pleasurable dreams have gotten more vivid.

I found about 5-Htp online, when I was trying to find a more natural approach to dealing with mild depression/anxiety/stress levels. I did not like all the side effects of trying different SSRI's from my doctor.
I started the first 3 wks using 50 mg 5-Htp @ night (heard it can make you sleepy/or help with sleep). I did have a great sleep @ night but the dreams did get more vivid I must say. In the morning I took Rhodiola, which is a herb that can also help mood and give energy.
The first week was great. I felt so much better than being on an anti-deppressent-lots of energy and a clear head. Then 1 week later I started on 100 mg since I was noticing a lull in my mood. The mood got a little better for about a week, then I started noticing my skin getting a rough, bumpy appearence and feel to it. Then I started getting severe itching to my scalp, and legs (to the point that I was scratching the skin off my legs-it was sooo bad!). Also the aggression started too. I found the same side effects of the 5-htp by another person on line, and decided to stop the 5-Htp right away, and all of the bad effects stopped. I did get a dizzy feeling,buzzing in my ears, and a very restless sleep for a few days after discontinuing. So even tough you decide to take a herbal approach, thinking it is healthier than medication, it can still have side effects and withdrawl symptoms. Just so people are aware.

I would say even the second month was okay too. But then suddenly after the 2 months my symptoms got worse and was plunged into an abyss. Suicide was never far from my mind and I just cried all the time. I could not do normal functions and just wanted it all to end. Then the blood rushing in my ears started and incredible feelings of hatred and anger. I began to realise (and thank goodness trusted my gut instinct) that there was something else going on that I had no control over. That's when I decided to coem off 5 HTP despite my health care practitioner's advice. She had advised me to go from 100 mg to 300 mg a day and after 2 weeks of this I just wanted to die.

I suppose if you take 3 times the highest recomened dose it the medications fault! Have you been a bafoon long, or did that happen to you recently?

Hi All,
10 yrs ago I had a bout of severe depression... it took several years to find the right medications (5 drugs at once) to achieve a balance emotionally. With those prescriptions came a sence of peace/numbness, and 100lbs. I was so content I didn't really care that I was huge.

After 5 years of being emotionally stable I decided I didn't want to be fat anymore and that I was tired of being numb and weaned myself off of prescriptions and began supplements. I began taking B100 tablets and Primrose Oil About a year before I started weaning off the scrip's... My MD was happy to see me able to try making the changes.

I''ve been on 5HTP for almost 5 yrs 150mg twice a day, and continue with the B vit's and Prim Oil. I haven't had any outbreaks of violence, or any severely negative effects from 5HTP. I do find different brands work better for me than others and that if I up my dose for a few days when times are tough I have some nausea and dizziness.
I have lost 70 of the pounds I'd gained...

No one drug/supplement is a miracle for everyone and when dealing with depression I'm sure we are all aware that it takes more than drugs, it takes changes in all area's of our lives. Exercise, food we eat, sleep we get, how we react/interact with others, do we take time for ourselves... this is not as simple as finding the right "drug".

All the best!

Tried several times to take 5htp but each time I have tried (as long as a month at a time) I get severe palpitations, any ideas why

I have had mild-moderate depression all my life. i wanted to avoid SSRIs again cos of side affects so I tried 5htp.

I took 50 mg of 5htp last night and woke up at 2am really really anxious then had really fast palpitlations. It really freaked me out and I took myself off to the emergency department. I'm fine now (next morning) but it scared me and I had no idea an amino could do this. You can't buy this amino in Australia where I live (i ordered it online). Now I know why!

I'm not sure if I will take it again... the very fast heartbeat and horrible feelings were scarey, especially at 2 am. oh and i had scarey dreams last night too.

Started 5-htp this week. I have suffered with depression/generalized anxiety/panic attacks for several years. Didn't like anti depressants at all and have been looking for alternatives.

Two months ago I started taking a multi B vitamin and 250 mg Magnesium supplement. This has totally relieved me of the anxiety. That was great but I was still experiencing depression. Since starting the 5-htp, my depression has also lifted, I can concentrate much better and my energy levels have risen considerably. Thing is I am taking only 25mg a day and will probably back off even furthur due to some stomach upset and a dificulty falling asleep.

5-htp seems to be very potent in small doses and a lot of you might do better starting with 25mg or less per day. I am sure at some point I am going to experiment with skipping a day or two and see what happens. Sometimes less is more and I think with 5-htp that is the case.

If I tale 10 mg.of lexipro daily .Is it safe to add 50mg.of5-HTP as well for an added boost?
Please advise.I also have high blood pressure and high chloresterol and am on drugs for those.
Thankyou

I've been off of Zoloft 50mg (had cut back from 100mg) for about 3 weeks now. Started taking 100mg 5 HTP every night about the same time. Yesterday I read that for depression, it's recommended to take more than 100mg...and to take throughout the day. So, today I decided to pop another 100mg around noon. At about 2pm I got so sleepy I HAD to take a nap. Has anyone experienced this? I know 5 HTP is also used to help insomnia...thankfully I am off of work today and had the luxury of taking a nap, should I only take the 100mg at night as I had been?
Thanks so much.

Hello everyone! I myself am not depressed, but I came across this blog researching 5-htp and I wanted to mention that I noticed a lot of people taking it at night before bed. I suggest taking it first thing in the morning because serotonin is a chemical that is used by the brain during the day. At night it is converted to melatonin. It just goes against the bodies chemistry by taking it at night(hence the dreams, sleeplessness, heartrate, etc.). It helps with sleep because it raises serotonin levels during the day so when night comes the brain can convert it to melatonin. Just wanted to add that. Blessings. Be well.

I have worked with a nutritionist while taking 5htp, and wanted to share what I learned from that experience and lots of reading. First of all, not all brands are the same. Buy from a reputable company like NOW or Solaray, or such. Also, some 5htp has other things in it, so read the label. Most of all, it's not meant to be taken forever. Although some people may have a genetic deficiency of serotonin, most of us got this way due to stress of some kind, and just need to build up our supply. Once you build it up, the goal is to taper off on your dosage. I took it for a while, for depression anxiety, but now I seem to need it only in the winter months. Hope this helps. P.S. You should never take it with Paxil or the like. A reputable company will have this right on the label.

I just started 5htp, at 100mg a day. I haven't noticed anything yet. Mainly I am leaving this note because for some reason the site keeps kicking me into the "Post a Comment" screen when I try to read the feedback comments.

Cheers to all,
Annie

The 1st 2 days on 5HTP at 50 mg were helpful -
went fairly quickly to high doses, as advised by my doctor (since testing showed very low serotonin). The side effects have been miserable - increased heart rate, inability to breathe deeply, horrible panic & inceased anxiety
24/7. My doctor said to cut dose in half (from 200mg in am to 100 mg). I decided myself to just stop taking altogether.
I think 5HTP is very strong - should be carefully monitored & adjusted accordingly.

I've been taking 5-HTP since January, when I felt my mood started getting out of control. Conditions that are triggered by low serotonin levels run in my family, and I have epilepsy, which some sources say can sometimes be triggered by low serotonin levels.

I was on Tegretol for a few years until I was worried that it was making me gain weight, and I went off of it in search for an alternative method to treat my seizures.

I first took 5-HTP to manage my mood, 100 mg every other day at first, then when I went off Tegretol and took herbal tinctures, I started taking 100 mg daily. Although the bottle says to take 300 mg daily, I'm not sure of what the long term effects are, and I feel I can control my seizures with just the one pill.

Some of the side effects I have noticed from 5-HTP are really strange dreams that are sometimes scary (I try to take the pill in the late afternoon to avoid this), and a decrease in libido. I normally have a very high libido but 5-HTP has sort of ruined that for now :( I'm not sure what I can do about that... but for the record, even though the supplement is supposed to make you drowsy, I don't experience it.

Hi, i'd like to add that a lot of you are saying you have had negative side effects of 5HTP and a lot of you are saying you are taking B6 as well. I have done many hours of research and can cnclude the following from a doctor - B6 is required in order to convert the 5HTP to Serotonin, but the B6 must be taken many hours before the 5HTP otherwise it will convert in the liver rather than the brain, if this happens it can be very dangerous to the body over a long period of time and will not actually produce any serotonin. Also you must take no more than 10mg of B6 at least 7 hours before the 5HTP and any doses over 100mg of 5HTP will cause side effects. Some bottles of 5HTP on the market actually have the B6 and 5HTP mixed together in the pill and apparently this is because there has not been many tests done on 5HTP as it is still a new homeopathic remedy.

Hi, I have been using 5htp for fibromyalgia, depression and sleep distruptions. I started at 100mg 3 times a day and after a week started waking up shakey,yesterday I had anxiety terribly and now I am awake at 4 am and am very shakey and having anxiety. I am lowering my dose to 50 mg in the morning and 50 at night to see if my symptoms go away but does anyone have any advise? When I started it I was sleeping all night, it makes you crazy when you get alittle hope then wonder if it is gone again or should I hang in there? The heart thing concerns me in my situation.

Myself and my teenage daughter have been taking 5HTP for about 2 years I think. It is the best stuff ever. Before both my daughter and myself were angry alot. I fought the depression too. I take 100 mg at night. It helps put me to sleep. I've been going through a tough time, so I went up to 200mg. I feel so much better. But, now I think I will go back to the 100mg and see what happens. I like the stuff, thanks.

I have had positive experience with 200mg of 5HTP.
With me, the family of standard SRIIs only work for a short amount of time and then my body adjusts. Wellibutrin which is different from the usual SRIIs worked somewhat, but I did eventually build up resistence to that as well. From what I can tell, my body makes brain chemicals from the 5HTP and about 40% to 60% of my low energy issues are dealt with. I have not had any negative side effects after 2 months. I also take multi vitamins, fish oil, exercise and work on sleep. The 5HTF seems to work more than standard supplements.

I have been taking 300mg of 5htp 3x per day 20 min before meals and I have lost 21 lbs in 16 weeks, I haven't had the cravings for food and I get full quicker, my mood is brighter and I feel happier. The only side effect I had was a couple of upset stomachs. I think I am going to drop to 100 mg 3x per day next week and see how my appetite is and my mood, just read that you can get Serotonin syndrome, but hopefully I am being careful. I am not on any other medications, and It feels like it is working for me.

I recently got off of Zoloft and began taking 5 htp and have a huge change in my mood. I no longer have suicidal thoughts and have a high sense of well being. It brings tears to my eyes that for the first time I feel good. I am amazed and thank God for the woman that shared with me about Amino acids. I have never felt so good.

I started 5htp 100 mg 2 in the morning and 2 at night plus macuna for dopamine. It's been 6 days. I have incresed anxiety and depression. I think the docotr started me to high of a dose. I am trying to habg in there thinking my body needs to adjust.

I have mild depression and have been taking Homoepathic remedies ...I live in France and 5HTP is not available here but found on line ... I would like to know if it can be taken with Hypericum ( St. Johns wort ) and Ignatia .... maybe I am getting impatient for some change , which hasn't happened yet , I've only been taking it a week , but am sooo fed up with feeling as I do ....

WOW, 5-HTP. What can I say except that this supposed "natural" alternative to antidepressants is stronger than any prescription I've ever taken.

The first night I took 100mg as directed. Could hardly wake up the next day. When I was able to move, I was so dizzy. I decided to take 50mg twice a day to see if that was any different. Not only was I dizzy. I could not even drive my car. Taking the afternoon dose gave me stomach flu symptoms in addition to the dizziness.

I just don't get how an amino acid can do this to a person. I'm throwing this bottle away as soon as I finish typing this message. DON'T TAKE 5-HTP! Unless you don't mind acting like you're drunk all day.

I think everyone taking 5HTP and having negative effects need to step back and research how you are supposed to be taking this. 200mg per day seems excessive to me. You are supposed to start with a low dosage like 50mg and increase the dosage weekly in SMALL increments. If you start feeling lousy, go back to the dosage when you felt the best. As I said, 200 mg seems excessive. Also do the research on side effects such as vivid dreams. It's normal. But mood swings seem like an overdosage problem to me. And while you're at it, look at the side effects for the SSRI's like Prozac and Paxil. Especially how it takes 5-6 weeks to kick in and the rates of suicidal tendancies during that time.

5htp is saving me! I've been in a mild to moderate situational depression all year. When winter came, it got much worse. Anyting that went wrong in a day would cause me to go from feeling despair to having thoughts of suicide. I was pretty much non-functional.

I tried capsules, but they made me really nauseaus, but that stopped when I switched to enteric-coated caps. I've been taking 50mg 1x in the morning and 1x before bed.

Within days I noticed sleeping better and dreaming again. I have vivid, rich, dreams (not nightmares.) I feel rested! In a week, I stopped crying all the time. In 2 weeks, I started feeling normal again. No mood swings. I still feel my feelings, but they don't overwhelm me. I'm a little more motivated at work. This is the best thing I've ever tried for depression (better than zoloft.)

I'm on the blob because while I'm feeling calm now, I'm also a little bit sleepy and lethargic. Understand that one of my symptoms of depression is lethargy. I'm not one who gets anxious/insomniac. So I'm trying to decide if I should up my dosage a little bit more in the day time, or perhaps if I should stop taking it at night. Since I don't see my answer posted here, I think I'll try taking 1 more 50mg during the day (150mg/day total) and see if that perks me up or slows me down.

Good luck to everyone.

forgot to add that i also woke up feeling shakey the next morning.

The main side effect of taking 5-HTP is the risk of developing serotonin syndrome. The symptoms include nausea, stomach upset, heartburn etc. If you are experiencing these symptoms then your serotonin levels are too high. Visit a naturopath and discuss what other neurotransmitters could be deficient. If you are taking 5-HTP then for most people ideally take it for no more than 3 months. If you need still need something then look at L-tryptophan as opposed to 5-HTP, or tyrosine. O, and alcohol and 5-HTP are very strongly contraindicated.

I have OCD and sometimes when I get home from work the evening is full of anxiety, depression and insomnia. I've always just lived with this because I didn't think it was worth getting hooked on SSRIs like my mother and sister who have the same condition.

I started taking the odd 50mg 5htp dose in the evening when I felt anxiety. I've taken it 2-3 times a week in 50mg doses for a few months now. It works wonderfully for relieving stress and allowing me to focus on my work.

I've had bad experiences taking it before bed though, so I stick to dosing in the late afternoon.

I began taking 5-HTP (100mg at bed time) 3 days ago to manage fibromyalgia related symtoms. I have been feeling tired, very irritable and have been experiencing increased muscle aches, headaches and stomach problems. Is this normal? Should I decrease my dosage or just give it a few weeks for my body and brain to adjust?

Any thoughts?

I have found that different doses have different effects. 50mg a day causes me anger and frustration, just after a couple of days of taking it at this dose. But 100mg doesn't cause anger, it just gives me a great sleep, and a calmer outlook on life. I have only tried 100mg for a week or so, because I was running out (I have to order them on the net). When I have more I will try 100mg again. I hope 100mg will continue to work well! I will have to wait and see.

Hi,
My name is Carol and I have been on antidepresant for 15 yrs. due to depression, anxiety and insomia. I still have troulbe sleepin gand I just got off the meds a month ago and I am feeling depressed again and irritable.My question is how long does this take to work? I am taking 50mg in the morning and 50mg at night.

I currently have post viral syndrome and depression. Am taking 5HT which has helped, but have now discovered I have a Candida overgrowth, and am on a strict diet to eliminate it. I am wondering whether I can still take 5HTP whilst on this diet?

I was on Celexa for a year and a half. Although it did make me feel a lot better, it caused me to gain weight, which made me very upset. I weaned myself off of it, then started taking 5 HTP after a month. I took it several years ago and it worked like a charm. I have only been on it for about two weeks (I ordered it from a highly reputable company, by the way), but I feel like crap! I feel depressed, anxious, lethargic and totally blah. I started at 300 miligrams a day, as a book by Dr. Murray said. But that was way too much. I cut down to 50 mgs. a day for the past week. But I do not feel so hot. My appetite has not decreased, either, and I have really bad insomnia since I have begun this regimen. I am not so sure about this stuff. I am thinking about taking nothing for a while, because I am sick of meds of any kind.

I didn't take 5-htp for depression, but for my insomnia, which I have treated over the years with prescriptions meds and over-the-counter sleep aids in my attempt to be able to sleep. Thought after a little research that 5-htp was the answer. Took three 50-mg doses throughout the day with food ... less than the recommended dosage ... and subsequently had the worst two nights/days of insomnia I have ever had. I was so frustrated I was crying (very unlike me). I may give only one pill a try in a few weeks, but it has been four days and I just now am getting back to my routine. Three places I checked (including the bottle and a homeopathic website) advised 200-300mg ... I cannot imagine what that would have done. I would simply say be very aware that herbal remedies can have serious side effects and start small!

Be careful with this stuff. I tried taking it after a therapist recommended a book to me. Well, it did nothing at first, so i upped it to the recommended dosage for depression (300mg). I had horrible nightmares, stomach cramps and was extremely tired.
I talked to my doctor about it, and he this, and i agree. Either it doesn't actually work, or, it does. This i can agree on, yes. Now, if it does work, you are messing with your neurochemistry with cheap, unregulated supplements from who knows where. Is that safe than a regulated pharmaceutical? Probably not.

Also, 50mg of 5-HTP is about the equivalent of a turkey sandwich for tryptophan/seratonin. So, if you can cure depression by eating 2 pounds of turkey a day, well, good luck!

I took 5-HTP to come off anti-depressants. It worked really well for m although during the first three weeks I was "on a high" and then suffered from bad, bad diahorrhea for a month and also vomited three times. it completely cut my appetite although the benefits were that I slept really well, came off the anti-depressants, lost weight (which I needed to), did not have the drowsyness and laziness that the anti-depressants caused and despite the side-efects I suffered, it worked for me.

[QUOTE] "Also, 50mg of 5-HTP is about the equivalent of a turkey sandwich for tryptophan/seratonin. So, if you can cure depression by eating 2 pounds of turkey a day, well, good luck!" [end QUOTE]

Yes it is true that eating a turkey sandwhich will give you a similar amount of tryptophan, except there are also other amino acids within the turkey besides tryptophan. Because of this, the other amino acids compete for absorption, which results in diluting the effect you would otherwise experience if just took tryptophan by itself. So no, eating a bunch of turkey will not cure depression, but taking a supplement of 5-HTP or of Tryptophan in isolation can definitely have a profound effect on a person suffering from depression.

I haven't read all of the entries so someone else may have already mentioned this, but I advise those having strong reactions to 5 HTP to take tiny doses every few days. I mean only 50 mg, 20, or even 10. You'll have to break open the cap to do this, obviously. I had terrible nightmares and fatigue after taking even 20 mg a few days in a row, so now I take only 10 mg every 5 days or so. I am a petite woman, which is why the dose is so low, but I think more of you out there would benefit from lowering the dose and giving a few days between the doses.

I am reading "The Mood Cure". I highly recommend it. Great book all about brain chemistry and how to feel better. Basically with all amino acid therapy, you need to take it for awhile to replenish your stores. If you are feeling adverse effects, then your stores are probably full. There 22 different amino acids. Try different ones. I think the next two on the list to try would be tyrosine and gaba. This is what I'm doing. Take a ton of omega 3s, more than a gram of dha. Get quality vitamins. Eat a healthy diet with lots of protein and veggies. Exercise. 5htp does make me drowsy in the day. But I love the dreams. Also 100 is a high dose. Start with 50 mg.

my name is jessica and ive suffer from depression and social anxiety today i bought the 5-HTP capsules i am to take these pills before i go to bed tonight , lets see if it works. .

After being on Prozac (fluoxitine) for a long time I decided to try 5 HTP. I started out with 200mg and after a week lowered the dosage to 100g which I took first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. I felt great!I suggest taking it first thing in the morning because serotonin is a chemical that is used by the brain during the day. At night it is converted to melatonin. It just goes against the bodies chemistry by taking it at night(hence the dreams, sleeplessness, heartrate, etc.). It helps with sleep because it raises serotonin levels during the day so when night comes the brain can convert it to melatonin.
After a few months I decided to go off 5 HTP just as an experiment to see if I would relapse. (sucker for punishment, hey)But I just had to prove to myself that the benefits were indeed from 5 HTP. lets call it a personal scientific experiment. I was fine for the first month and a half. Then the depression symptoms started again. I have started taking 5 HTP again, starting with an initial 200mg dose which I would lower to 100mg within a week. I am sure the positive results I had before will return.I will keep you posted on my progress. I wish you all God-speed and I pray for your well-being. CIAO

5 htp is a life saver ! i could talk for hours but i'll make it short !the dam doctors almost killed my wife! They loaded her up on effexor , ablify , prozac and two other antidepressent drugs! Oh , lets not forget all of the muscle relaxants , and pain killers too! All of this to help with P M S ONCE A MONTH! Within a year she gained close to 80 lbs ,became numb to life as well as her family , myself , and kids! Absolutely no feeling or love for anyone anymore ! didnt want to live ! tried to overdose 3 times , ended up in hospital 3 times ! doctors diagnosed her with some bipolar disorder sh.t ! My wife actually believed the doctors and her therapist and refused help from me or her family !I finally had to threaten to leave her because of concern over my kids being hurt emotionally and or physically ! only then she accepted help ! Against the wishes of her stupid uneducated doctors who laughed at me when I metioned trying natural supplements , I slowly weaned her off all meds !!long story short , we incorporated 5-htp between 300 and 400 mg a day ,L-tyrosine , B6 ,Kelp ,B-complex ,Fish and Flaxseed oils ,D3 and a multivitamin into her diet daily! Almost immediately within a couple days, everyone including herself noticed major changes in her attitude toward life and family ! She actually started crying again ! It was wonderful! Its been a month now and I am happy to say she is literally a new woman ! Laughing ,showing emotion , feeling happy again , feeling period !absolutely amazing !everyone is amazed in the transformation she has made in such a short period time! Oh yeah , would you believe that her therapist / doctor actually acted irritated when he realized that the natural way actually works ! needless to say we kicked him to the curb ! 5-htp does work !It is important to educate yourself
about 5-htp as well as other supplements before using them ! knowing how much and how to use them and with what makes a huge difference ! I did major research on this and other products before we started using them ! I will never again listen to what a doctor has to say before researching it on my own first ! THUMBS UP TO 5-HTP !

I cannot say enough about how 5 HTP has changed my life. After my third child I had horrible insominia that was wrecking havoc on my life. I can now sleep again and my mood is very stable. I take 50 mg in the morning and at night. This seems to be great for me it took 10 days to kick in I am hugely medication sensitive cannot use Rx drugs and I experienced very slight GI issues the first week otherwise I highly recommend 5 HTP

I've been taking 5HTP for about 6 months, I switched to 100mg from 50mg about 2 months ago. About a month ago I noticed that I wasn't getting horny as often as I used to, I also noticed that I couldn't get full erection anymore. When I tried to have sex with my new gf I couldn't get it up, which was fucking humiliating and I wanted to die in that moment. Can someone please tell me if 5HTP could cause ED or reduced libido? If so, how long will it take for my functionality to return to normal after I stop taking it? (I stopped taking that shit a week ago).

Have been taking 5 htp for about two weeks, at first it helped me to sleep soundly, I was taking two at bedtime fifty mgs.
Now I just took one to try to fall asleep, and I am feeling very jittery and paranoid like...I do not like this at all, this was prescribed by my dr. who is an MD who specializes in alternative medicine. I am using estrogen and progesterone as prescribed and have noticed more energy in my exercise classes..I think this is ok for me, but not the other.
thank you,
SS

Anyone have any comments on 5HTP linked to suicide?
Rick

I have tried 5HTP and the first week I felt really great,then it stopped working and eventually it was causing me a lot of stress and feelings of aggression.Even after discontinuing it for months and simply trying a single capsule made me really stressed out.

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I was on and off different antidepressents for years. I stopped because I hated the foggy bzzzz feeling in my head and feeling a bit nauseas. Also that they didn't seem to make much difference to my depression anyway. Each time the doctor would give me another drug to try but nothing seemed to help.
Recently I started taking Vitamin B3 and Tryptophan 500 mg of each before bed. I slept better than I had in ages. After a week or 2 the depression began to fade. 6 weeks later I was feeling great.
When my last bottle finished I didnt get any more. In a few days I was having trouble sleeping again, I couldnt get any tryptophan so I tried 100 mg of 5htp and 500mg B3. Straight away I was sleeping better. I haven't noticed if my libido was dropped (my wife would prefer if it did reduce a bit.) I hope the 100mg 5htp is as good as the 500mg Tryptophan on the depression. Im still feeling good for now at least.

Thank god i found this site, I started taking 5HTP thinking it would be great to improve my mood.
after a couple of weeks of taking it I had never felt so depressed and anxious in my whole life as soon as i stopped taking it i started feeling normal again!
I just thought it was so strange that something that was ment to improve my mood ended up doing the exact opposite!

I've been taking 5-htp for around 3 weeks, mainly to kick my brain out of the morning melatonin cycle.

Stopping it today as for the last week I have had the most horrendous itching all over my body, especially legs and arms.

Just hope these effects diappear quickly as they're driving me insane!!

For ppl looking to increase neurotransmitters, I would suggest to give SAM-e, B-12 / Folate, B6 (P5P) a chance - this protocol is very basic in kind and can help if you are an undermethylater. If SAM-e is too expensive, you can try the TMG and L-Methionine as well, will take longer to experience benefits.

if you are still struggling with Serotonin deficiency - then try the 5-HTP route. But 400mg SAM-e / day on empty stomach 1st thing in the morning should be a decent protocol supported by B-12, Folate, and B6. You have to make sure you take the *active* form of these B vitamins:

B-12 --> sublingual B-12 (methylCobalamin)
Folate --> L-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (5-MTHF)
B6 --> Pyridoxal 5-phosphate

5htp definitely works. While i was depressed i felt a genuine empty feeling within my brain ,like something was missing and i knew it must be serotonin. After taking 5htp morning and night my sleep problems eradicated and my moods became a lot calmer and steady. I think there are some negative effects like drowsiness and sometimes a crash effect from gaining the initial boost from taking it but overall its worth it...
I think its very important to understand your mind and 5htp before taking it. Too many people expect a miracle cure and rely too much on 5 htp to fix their problems. Knowing that 5htp works within 10 minutes and lasts only a few hours will make you worry less when your not feeling the effects so much. I simply take 100 mg before bed , 100 mg when i wake up and 100 mg when i feel like my brain is low on serotonin. Listen to your head......

Hello everyone.

I have been taking 5-HTP from the last two weeks. I have never felt anxious, depressed or had any panic attacks or anything like that. I started feeling like my heart wasnt working properly, either beating too fast or too slow so I went to see the dr and she said I was having Anxiety attacks! which is something totally new for me. From the moment she said that I staretd having really really bad anxiety attacks about 4 or 5 times a day every day. It got really bad so I took the Ativan .5mg she suggested but did nothing, after realising that was doing nothing for me I started taking 5-HTP 50mg in the morning. I've been feeling a LOT better, my anxiety went from 100% to 5%. I have been taking it on and off for about two weeks now and I feel great. I dont like taking pills at all but my anxiety got really bad I thought I was going crazy. Horrible feeling. Anyway don't take a higher dose unless directed by your dr. Im thinking on lowering to 25mg in the morning. I feel happier, with a lot more energy but one thing I have found that is kind of annoying is that I find myself yawning all day. I dont feel tired at all but i keep yawning. Oh feel less hungry too.
Good luck to everyone.

Guys you are suppose to take 5HTP with food.
And only start at 50mg a day with your three meals.
Breakfast Lunch and Dinner.
Don't take it before you go to bed.
Your body converts Seritonin into Melatonin wich is what helps you sleep.
Always take it with food!
Not before not after but with :)
50mg again is all you need to start with three times a day.
The only side effect i have had is that i fart alot lol :)

People! 5-HTP REALLY HELPS for mood and depression if you take 25-50 mg a day around 3-4 p.m. And also take a break sometimes for a few days. Those doctors who recommend take 100-200-300 mg a day - TOTALLY WRONG. 5-HTP works good in small dosages. Period.

I dont know why everyone seems to be complaining about 5htp. I have had chronic depression for most of my adult life I am 35 now. I have been taking 5htp for about 8months now and I feel like a new person. No drowsiness or side effects. I take it in the morning on an empty stomach as the instructions say. I do however get quite grouchy when my supply runs out for a day or two. But I'm sure this is because you need to come off them gradually, stopping too suddenly can probably have side effects. Its better than chemical prescription drugs which are extremely dangerous and have horrific side effects including death and suicide. I was prescribed an antidepressant and took it for 2 days and had the worst side effects so I decided never again I would rather be depressed forever. So 5htp was a Godsend. Also its worth realizing that you also need to make changes to your lifestyle and thinking in order to really conquer depression. You cant rely on a tablet. I find that taking 5htp takes away that depressed demotivated feeling,but there are still many thinking patterns that I have that can still cause me feel miserable. But if I adjust that thinking I feel better. Easier said than done that's why I need my 5htp to assist me in my process of change. Go read up about the corruption and greed behind prescription antidepressants at www.cchr.org its a real eye opener. They will send you a free DVD as well which they sent me and it is very eye opening stuff. Goto www.cchr.org

In my opinion using anything but 5HTP is crazy.

SSRIs raise serotonin levels by blocking serotonin from being received by cells that would otherwise be using it. Why would they otherwise be using it? Because you need them to use it. Even with more serotonin some parts of the brain are getting less of it, leaving room for you to have moments where you are feeling more depressed.

5HTP turns into the real deal, just serotonin. Doesn't block anything. It just gives the brain an extra boost of the deficient chemical.

If 5HTP was a prescription drug they could make a huge ton of money on and the SSRIs were alternative medicine the FDA would've banned SSRIs are sham therapies and 5HTP commercials would be everywhere.

It might not work for everyone. The brain is complex. If the problem isn't low serotonin maybe it's low dopamine, or overactive NMDA.

5HTP was BAD for me! After being on it for 1-2 wks (can't remember how long), I started doing really scary things, especially when driving: I ran a stop sign; I started driving in the middle of the road thinking it was a lane (!); I drove the wrong way on a one-way road. Since this was the only new thing I was taking, I knew it was the 5htp.

I've been on several antidepressants and while they did not alleviate my depression (caused by low progesterone and thyroid turns out), they didn't create such havoc either, so not sure if one can compare the two.

I read about it and it sounded fine to take I took 1 100mg 5-htp before bed it had some B vitas and other natural stuff for 2 days after i took that one pill still feel real weird tired and achy mabe Im hyper-sensitive or somethin but i feel as i did when i first got off of paxil 5 yrs ago all from 1 pill i take no other meds at all wont take one of those again..............

5-HTP- Rating -- NOT SO GOOD

I took two at once. 200 miligrams, no other medication, my left arm/shoulder has been hurting like none other for the past few hours, and I feel very out of it. :/

I had my daughter on 5 HTP and she was doing well.
Synapatol did nothing for three months.
I ran out of 5 HTP and now I am ordering 5 bottles of 200 mg slow releasing.
I will keep everyone updated on them when we get them in the mail and try them out. It seems to work well for her. She is 14 years old and with ADHD. Good luck to all and watch the diet. It has plenty to do with your moods. Watch the movie FOOD MATTERS AND SEE FOR YOURSELF.

I have been diagnosed with severe depressional disorder borderline bi-polar and was put on 20 mg of prozac. I have lost my insurance and was wondering if 1000mg l-tyrosine and 2 st. johns wort would have the same effect of the prozac?

I've been taking 5-HTP for 2 years now (on for 4 months then off for 1) and I swear by it. My mood is by far better than when I was taking prescribed anti-depressants (which was for about 5 months before I found out about 5-HTP). I've been battling depression for . . . I don't know how long now, however, at first I noticed I was a little anxious, but I am completely convinced that it was only due to me being conscious about actually taking something for my depression. From the people which I have talked to who take it, there are hardly any side-effects.

Anyone who gets anxious and has panic attacks is thinking too much about the act of taking it as medication or has some serious underlying medical condition. There are hardly any side effects from what I can tell from personal and interpersonal experience. Like anything, it takes time for your body to adjust. I cannot understand how someone would feel safer taking an anti-depressant, which is full of who knows what, as pharmaceutical will never tell you what you are really taking. Most of the medications out there are still in trial stages and are made with some of the worst and worst sounding chemicals known.

I take Natures Bounty brand 5-HTP. Maybe theres just something about that brand that doesn't cause me to freak out. However, I will admit that I do feel a little groggy at times. However, one should also consider that, if you are taking it for depression, chances are you are groggy and sickly feeling due to being depressed. Being depressed is not always about feeling sad and lonely. Alot of the time it's your body which is depressed. Your brain being a part of your body.

I don't recommend that just everyone go out and just start buying 5-HTP, but don't slander it just because it didn't produce instant results within a week of trying it. Give it time and don't think about it. Think of taking it as a vitamin, because that's all it really is, essentially. Just try less of a dose or one in the morning and one later in the evening, instead of the "recommended" dose.

I started taking 5-HTP 3 days ago. I'm not taking it for depression but for pre-loading with ecstasy.

While i havent taken any MDMA yet i can report that after 3 days of taking these (purely as a test) my stomach feels queazy, as though if i went for a run i would end up vomiting. I also have extremely vivid dreams and today it feels like i'm riding an emotional rollercoaster. I've been angry, happy, stressed, sad, and joyous.

If your emotional state is perfectly normal I would not recommend taking these.

I am a clinical psychopharmacologist and we have a problem with a severely treatment-refractory depressed patient. We have tried all the usual measures and are now considering giving her 5-htp+Lexapro. We are aware of the danger of the serotonin syndrome from such a combination.

If we were to try 5-htp+Lexapro, what would you recommend as the safe starting dose, how slowly should we increment it, etc.

Thank you for your kind consideration of this communication

RW

I have been on 5 htp for 3 months. I have not been feeling well so I decided to see if it was the 5 htp causing it. My dosage is 100 milligrams a night. I cut it back to 50 milligrams to begin my titration. The withdrawal side effects have been awful. Terrible mood swings, suicidal thoughts, fatigue and depression. This is a very powerful supplement. I wish I would have done my homework before I begin it. Has anyone else had withdrawal side effects?

5htp and GABA both caused terrible side effects for me.

Tips:

Cut way back on sex/orgasms or stop all together. Stay the hell away from pornography and sexual stimulation, drugs, alcohol, and the like.

Keep your children's noses out of electronic screens (most of the time) and the propaganada box...aka TeeVee.

Get out in nature and reconnect with what is natural.

Don't believe the lies and propaganda coming out of the conrolled media and public education (indoctrination)system...they only have our WORST at heart.

If it were not so everyone wouldn't be in such a pathetic state of physical/mental/emotional health.

God Bless!

I am just curious I just started taking 5HTP, does it or can it perhaps make depression worse in the beginning?
Email me: tiffanyw540@Gmail.com

Tried 5htp 100mg previously and stopped as I experienced dizziness and mood swings. Feeling low, I started again on 100-200mg a day plus B complex. The first few days I felt good, definitely lifted my mood. Now I am experiencing mood swings and frequently feel angry. I will persevere for a little while longer and hope for an improvement.

I have been using this product for a week now and had nothing but bad side affects, can't sleep, nightmares when I do and very bad anger and aggretion, It made me a monster to live with, I have stopped using it, its dangerous and a waste of money. Not happy

hi,

i have just read a post that says you should not mix vit b6 and 5 htp together as it then does not work on the brain but the liver then does not produce serotonin except i bought my 5 htp from holland and barratt and it does contain b6 in it.
i take 50mg at night then another 50 in the morning i have only been taking them for 5 days for depression and anxiety so not noticed too much difference yet except i think im quite drowsy perhaps still a bit groggy and moody i realize i need to give these pills time but am i wasting my time and potentially doing myself damage if the b6 is already in this 5 htp i have bought? any advise would be much appreciated. thank you.

There are many things we can do to help alleviate depression and its symptoms. I take 5htp and it works better than ssri s for me. Like SSRIs it needs to build up before you get the best effects. I also take piracetam which in my opinion is better than 5htp. Together they have a great effect upon my mood and cognition. That said, I sometimes feel that we are looking for a miracle pill and neglecting many beneficial practiced that could also improve our conditions. I am often guilty of this. Chemistry is cool but its not everything. Doing simple things like drinking plenty of water, or doing an enema once every two werks are often more effective than any pill. Also exfoliating and scrubbing your body well once a week at least can lift depression quite well. Look into diet.

My stomach goes crazy from 5-htp. I take it in the morning

At long last! I've seen others comments about 5-htp which I already suspected was the case, there's all positive news about this very potent substance, most of which I believe is untrue. It's based on studies done on obese people who it's claimed lost weight on 5-htp, this may be true as they may comfort eat due to low seretonin levels. For many of us however the opposite is true. At last I know know why for the last 14 months despite my very strict regime of exercise and food etc i have been unable to lose much weight and have few areas where fat won't shift whereas in the past I always did lose a lot. I am considered underweight but not by my personal standards. This medication claims to be natural therefore safe. Yet i believe its more potent and dangerous than prescribed anti depressants. i ve suffered severe bloating of the stomach constantly, severe premenstrual symptoms, suicidal thoughts and anger issues. The only benefits I found were good sleep and less craving for nicotine. I've stopped taking them since a week, withdrawal is worse than anti depressants, I'm very tired, achy body, mood swings etc but can feel weight loss already! So people with weak livers or certain metabolisms, hormone imbalance should be very careful before taking 5htp.

I think I am getting very angry on 5htp. I think I do much better sticking to things that have l-theanine, relora (great!!!!), gaba, and bvitamins. I decided to try it again this past time, but I am just feeling anxious, irritable, and thinking way too much!! I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels this way!!

I just wanted to add a little bit about my experience with 5htp so far. I definitely think that less can be more with this supplement. The maximum i take per day is 50mg. I've been taking it for 6 months. I average around 25 mg. per day. If i take too much i start to feel "off", and have adverse side effects. I highly recommend starting at no more than 25 mg. I think anyone who advises you to take much more than 50mg starting off or at all is ill advised and probably hasn't had much experience taking it themselves. It is a very powerful supplement and if you take too much expect negative side effects, as with any drug or supplement. From experience i do not recommend taking one in combination with a high level of B6 which some manufacturers recommend. I tried it and taking a high level of B6 caused symptoms of nerve damage for me and as soon as i stopped the symptoms went away (This is B6 Toxicity).
Taking 5htp in 25mg-50mg doses has helped me with depression, i have not had any severe bouts of depression like i used to. It also greatly helped me with my worry and anxiety; i used to have unrealistic worries and anxiety. It also took away most of my symptoms of OCD. OCD is thought to be a symptom of low levels of serotonin.
I truly believe that this can be a very very helpful supplement but i think it can cause adverse affects if you take too much. I know this from experience and i have read in several places that this supplement is best in lower doses. Take it from someone with experience - Start very small and after a couple of months assess how you are feeling. I have also read that it is good to take breaks sometimes for at least a few days to keep the supplement effective.. Also if you are going to take it long term you should most definitely take a lower dose because on most bottles you will read that you should only take it a few months, i think this is because it builds up in your system, so at a low dose it should be fine long term..? Just some words that will hopefully help someone!

had a very odd dream last night being the first time I have taken 5-htp late evening.

I am hypothyroid and I take Armour Thyroid, which has been wonderful. I also take Vitamin D supplements due to a diagnosed deficiency. Last year on the advice of my doctor, I tried 5-HTP for several months. I stopped taking it in November, a little over 2 months ago. I did not realize how awful it was making me feel until I stopped taking it. My advice on the 5-HTP is to proceed with caution. I felt more tired, grumpier, and found it harder to focus on the 5-HTP. The difference in my physical and mental well-being now versus when I was taking it is night-and-day. I will not be taking it again.

I'm injecting 100 (1cc) vary 5 to days still not enough sex drive my clitoris has enlarged greatly which I like can I tale a little or rub some on

I took 200 mg for 2 days and it made me really anxious. I couldn't fall asleep. I felt cold all the time. I also got pain in my ankles and head.

I began to take 5-HTP nearly a month ago to assist with depression. It has only caused a worsening of my symptoms. I became increasingly unmotivated. All I wanted to do was sleep. I was irritable and apathetic with those around me. I completely lost my sex drive and had no desire to socialize or be around other people.

At first I thought these symptoms were do to other factors; some personal issues I was dealing with. But once I stopped taking it I immidiately started feeling more motivated.

I would not recommend this supplement for anyone.

April 24th 2015 the side effects of 5 htp aren't listed on the bottle. I took this serotonin precursor two weeks ago, immediately I started feeling really overly alert, then the 2nd time I felt less anxious, happy, my concentration improved, I was able to process information faster, and I was happier, I slept soundly through the night. But, I got suicidal thinking on day 2 of my period. I couldn't stop crying, I was very sensitive and emotional, and I skipped my ovulation that cycle, didn't even have a full week 1 of my cycle, and jumped straight to week week of my cycle. I got online and read others blogs, woman saying they completely stopped menstruating when taking this supplement. I have since decided to stop taking this, as the side effects were suicidal thinking, mood swings during my period, and stopping my menstruation altogether. Also, read the side effects, if not documented on the bottle and always do your research as a precaution. Anything that messes with a women's hormones the way 5 htp unnaturally does, should not be taken. I've heard it helps with menopausal women's hotflashes, however watch your aggression levels if you're taking 5-htp

I saw it on site that 5-HTP 100mg can help stop my premature ejaculation. Can I take it and if I should how should I take it.am 30 years old

As I am withdrawing of my last 10mg dose of clomipramine I decided to take 100mg HTP to help me sleep. I have increased it to 150mg but I feel very groggy , should I go back to 100mg? I am afraid I am not going to sleep well on only 100mg. What should I do?

I began with a low dose of 25mg of 5-htp. I took 25mg a day for 2 days and then on third say went to 25mg in morning and 25mg 4:30 in afternoon. That night my heart started pounding and could not sleep all night with terrible anxiety. Terrible anxiety the next day too. Could not sleep last night either with very strong anxiety almost panic. this is the second day without 5-htp and I still have bad anxiety and feel bad. If you began having anxiety or bad feelings please stop this drug. It is harming you and not helping you. I understand that you should know within a few hours if it is gong to help you.

I just started taking 5hip from Nature's Bounty, so far I feel less anxious and surprisingly content. I used to feel like grumpy cat but now I feel really good and is only my third day taking it.

I took 1/2 a teaspoon of 5 5htp I pure powder form. Hours later I woke up vomiting and not being able to move. I then lost conscious and woke up several hours later still lathargic.

I have the answer for all of you, I suffered with bi polar, depression for 30 years, try Jesus Christ, he never fails I take no meds, The LORD super naturally healed me, I know a lot of you won't believe it but I don't care, If you don't accept Jesus Christ as lord and savior
you will be on medication for the rest of your life. Try JESUS, what do you have To loose.
Sharon

My doctor takes 1 mg of melatonin and it knocks her out. I take 10 mg and it helps me sleep....everyone responds differently to foods vitamins,herbs,hormones,amino acids,etc etc...life.
Any product you buy has a variance of quality,strengths and buffers.
It is best to discuss with an ND. Or hormone specialist before taking substances that effect your hormones,blood pressure,blood glucose etc as they can produce a dominoe effect on all hormones and beyond your hormones..I recommend everyone to study neurons and neurotransmitters and how they work and what they influence.
What you eat,if and how you exercise,what blood type you have,what level of function your organs and brain are at ,what stage of life you are at all play a role in how what you take effects your body,mind and spirit,emotions,and blood. If you have been on " any prescriptions" It would be best to be off the drugs for 6 months to do a true test on a product...with 5htp all studies show for normal use anything over 100 mg showed no benefit. new studies may prove something different. Be careful of taking advice from people who are struggling. Learn from them but don't act based on a strangers words. do your own research at reputable sources that can be trusted. I'm so happy to hear so many of you who are working to avoid man made chemicals that shorten the life of your organs and wreak havoc on your body's functions. For those who choose to take them I support your right to choose to do so...

Hi I've been taking 5htp for over a year now. I was advised to take it as i was having opticalmigraines every 2/3 days i was also suffering from mild depression. The migraines have now disappeared and i feel great. I did decrease the dose towards the end of last year and my depression and anxiety where worse than ever. In now worried as i take between 299/400mg every night.

I TOOK 5HTP 100MG FOR 3DAYS BEEN OFF IT 3 DAYS AND
FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO DIE. PLEASE PLEASE ADVICE I
CAN HARDLY WRITE.