Ann (Louisville, KY) on 09/10/2021
Warning
I only researched 5-HTP, because I knew of no other reason why I would be having this type of tremor episode. I am on blood pressure medication and have been for years without having this type of episode before. So I am truly thinking that it has something to do with the 5-HTP. The weird thing is, I was only taking 50mg doses and just recently those were only taken every other day, so I don't think there was that much of an increase of serotonin in my system. Perhaps it's because the Vitamin B6 caused the 5-HTP to be more effective more quickly. I don't really know. I've given my doctor my observations and wait to see what she says. Just wanted to give everyone a heads up on here as I use earthclinic.com any time I am researching for natural supplements.
5 HTP for Sleep, Depression and Meditation Blue Star (Tennessee) on 05/10/2018
I found 5 HTP and am really impressed at how my life has improved. I take 2 50mg capsules about an hour before I go to bed. I finally go into a deep sleep and I awake in the morning loving life again. I feel refreshed. I feel like 5 HTP has restarted my serotonin and melatonin production. I feel that I don't need to take every night because now I naturally start to get sleepy, but I still do anyway. My depression is much improved.
Several things I noticed taking 5 HTP. Less is better. Start at 50 mg's. Too much will cause vivid dreaming. Sometimes I am aware that my short term memory is impacted. I am observing if 5 HTP makes a learning issue worse or better and how it effects my memory.
I am an energy healer and meditate on a regular basis. Serotonin and melatonin are produced by the pineal gland, the gland of enlightenment. I am finding that my inner experiences and process seem to be highly supported by 5 HTP.
Dana (Sheridan, Wyoming) on 12/19/2013
Jillery (North Carolina (nc)) on 11/24/2013
Anonymous (Oz, Middle Earth, ) on 07/11/2013
Neukoln (Edinburgh, Scotland, Uk) on 02/03/2013
I am now taking 200mg. I break open one of the capsules and have 50mg under the tongue 1/2 hour before breakfast, then 100mg under the tongue 1/2 hour before dinner, and finally 50mg under the tongue 1/2 hour before bed. I feel so much better. My depression has completely gone. I feel happy. I am thinking of reducing the 100mg dinner-time dose to 50mg. But maybe when the Winter has passed.
Charlotte (Honolulu, Hi) on 02/02/2013
Warning
Adam (Southern, California) on 09/26/2012
Guata (Provo, Ut) on 07/27/2012
Better But With Side Effects
Gail (Branson, Missouri) on 01/20/2012
I know a friend who had severe depression for years who recently cured it with ACV and some slight diet changes, so go figure. My husband tends toward anxiety and he likes what it does for him, but he does not take it every day, more like every other. We have learned over the years often with anxiety/depression you need magnesium and homeopathic meds are often good for this or epsom salt baths.
Christy (Portland, Or) on 09/17/2010
Kristina (Beverly, Ma) on 03/25/2010
I weaned off it and discovered 5-htp. When I first began taking it, I took low doses (25 mg or 50mg) a couple times a day. It would work fine for a couple days and then I would have side effects like bone aches, sleepiness (no matter how much sleep I got), anxiety, and constant hunger. I tried taking smaller doses and found it to have no effect. Frustrated, I nearly stopped taking it.
I then found a time-release capsule of 5-htp. There is at least one company that makes it in a 100mg. It works incredibly well. I haven't felt this "normal" in a very long time. I'm awake during the day and I sleep at night, I eat normally and stop eating when I'm no longer hungry, and I'm able to handle stressful situations calmly. I honestly don't feel like I have any side effects.
I am 32 years old and female. The other things I take daily are a 'complete' vitamin, rhodiola rosea 400mg lysine 500mg, glucosamine/condroiton, fish oil, and 1000 mg of vitamin D. I've been taking all of those for years before taking 5-htp.
If you're having trouble with the 'normal' doses of 5-htp, I highly recommend trying the time release version before giving up on it entirely.
Jamie (Breese, Il) on 03/13/2010
Susan (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) on 02/13/2010
Patricia (Gainesville, FL) on 06/16/2009
Denisse (Long Beach, CA, USA) on 05/07/2009
Jake (Middletown, New York) on 05/02/2009
Jose (Leominster, Massachusetts) on 02/20/2009
It's better if we avoid to treat "the symptom," and look for a more comprehensive approach.
Just trying to fix the "depression issue" the same way as the allopatic medicine does, but substituting the drug with something "natural" to get rid of the symptoms on the long run will not be very helpful. If you are taking the 5-htp, first know the CAUSE OR CAUSES of your problem. (e.g., does it occur every time you eat some type of food? Are you taking "zero calories food." that normally have Sucralosa -Splenda, a very potent poison? Are you just Dehydrated? Caffeinated beverages like green tee and coffe could cause it, because they are potent diuretics if you are not taking enough water, etc.
Another issue is that your body needs to adjust to the doses. All the SSRI (Selective Serotonin Rehuptake Inhibitor,) the drugs used to treat depression by allopatic medicine, every time it starts with a very low dosis: E.g., Prozac (Fluoxetine) with 10 mg per day. After one week, if necessary, they increased to 20 mg per day, until a maximun dosis of 80 mg per day.
The same with the 5-htp, You can start with a lower doses of 50 mg per day and increase it until a maximun of 300 mg. But, please, when treating the depression you need to take in account all other factors that could be affecting your mood. We were brain-washed by the Big Pharma that for every symptoms we need to pop-in a pill to fix-it.
In the internet you can find the 5-htp about $10 a bottle (a Zoloft prescription for a month, will cost you more than $700 !!!!) so if you really need to take it, do it after you help yourself taking in account all other factors that could be affecting your mood/headaches.
God Bless You
As the last comment, we can find more than 50 causes for depression: Social issues, espiritual issues -e.g.: guilty feelings; genetic, nutricional deficiences, life style, lack of sun, bad breathing habits or lack of pure air, exercise, dehidratation, intoxication buy heavy metals or chemicals and so on (by the way, is very UNCOMMON that a mental health provider will check all possible causes.)
Robin (Rural, VA) on 11/15/2008
I had also read that if you are using 5Htp to help you sleep, you have to take a lot (maybe 5) of capsules. This is not very cost effective, as a bottle of 60 would cost you about $20. I had sleep in mind when I bought the L-Tryptophan, and took one capsule. I slept like a baby. And believe me that is rare for me.
Stefanie (Minden, Louisiana) on 07/17/2008
We have only been on it for a few days now but there is a very noticeable difference. We both have been sleeping through the night and feeling more refreshed when we wake. My anxiety attacks are gone as well as my headaches. We both are much less snappish than what we were before. We haven't noticed any side effects so far.
We are taking them with a meal or a small snack and so far we have stayed at 50mg. Thanks for the very useful information that lead to this discovery!
