Unlocking Well-being: 5-HTP's Remarkable Health Benefits

5-HTP Side Effects
Posted by Ann (Louisville, KY) on 09/10/2021

WARNING!

I have been taking 5-HTP with Vitamin B6 (50mg) for the past month and have had serious side effects. I would take one dose in the morning with breakfast and one in the evening when I first started, but invariably would miss the second dose as I would forget to take it with my dinner. I then noticed I was having more diarrhea than normal and researched 5-HTP to find that that was a side effect. So I cut back to only taking 50mg every other day. During the early morning hours of Thursday, September 9th, I had a violent tremor outbreak that was happening over my whole body. It lasted between 45 minutes to an hour and only seemed to release when I would cough hard or yell and the reprieve only lasted a minute or so. I took off work on September 9th because I was wasted after this occurrence and slept the whole day. After returning to work today (Friday, September 10th), I again researched 5-HTP to see if there was any link and there was. Quote from draxe.com "There are some potential side effects to be aware of: indigestion and stomach problems; heartburn; nausea; vomiting; fatigue and drowsiness; sexual dysfunction; and muscular spasms and dysfunction." According to other research, these muscular spasms only happen to a select few (I'm one of the lucky ones).

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 Side Effects
Posted by Charlotte (Honolulu, Hi) on 02/02/2013

WARNING!

hey everyone who wants to try 5-HTP you should research it first... It's the cause of Eosinophilia Myalgia Syndrome (EMS). I thought I was going to try it until I read about this. The side effects among other things are extreme muscle pain, tremors, and it's a life-long condition. It has also killed people.


5-HTP Side Effects
Posted by Guata (Provo, Ut) on 07/27/2012

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

I tried 5-HTP, 50 mg. I slept great but woke up with burst blood vessels in my left eye. I tried it a few nights later and the same thing happened: I slept great again but had the burst blood vessels again. I don't dare use it anymore.


5-HTP Side Effects
Posted by Susan (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) on 02/13/2010

After hearing the great things about 5-HTP, I gave it a whirl for my anxiety and sleeplessness. I reacted very paradoxically to this supplement, as within two hours I was alert and energetic to the point of hyperactivity, also my mood became very agitated and I was extremely cranky with those that I love. The only good thing was that I got through a mountain of housework in a half day because I just could not stop. The effects carried on into the night and I only was able to sleep for an hour at most. Wanting to give this a really good trial, I carried on for about a week but the effects were the same, I hated the way I was feeling, and I finally gave the tablets away.


5-HTP Side Effects
Posted by Violet (Atlanta, Georgia) on 03/29/2008

For Jill--yes 50 mg of 5htp did make me feel anxious, flushed, and a little weird. I now take just 25 mg a day and that makes me sleep much better...the calming effect still feels a little odd to me, but I think this supplement has raised my mood, which was extremely depressed. I would suggest lowering your dose. A lot of info. on the web suggests taking very high dosages a day and I think this may be based on clinical trials, which use a lot of a drug to see the effects quickly. This is not necessarily advisable for everyday folks.


5-HTP Side Effects
Posted by jill (Rochester, UK) on 12/14/2007

I would be interested to know if anyone else has had horrible side effects from taking 5-HTP I get stomach cramps terrible palpitations dizzyness and still feel awful the next day. Am I the only one, everyone I read about seems to think it's the best thing since sliced bread. Help!!