5-htp?? - Alternative Medicine Message Board

Darby01 · 10-01-2005, 09:34 PM

Has anyone taken 5-HTP? Is it considered a mood enhancer?
My holistic dr. has me taking it. 1 pill twice a day. I have felt drowsy, weird, kind of dizzy during the day. And when I take it at night I'm SOO drowsy and fall asleep on the couch.
And I wake up kind of drowsy. Is this normal when taking 5-HTP?
I didn't take a pill this am and I"m not taking one tonight to see if that's the effect it is having on me.
My holistic dr. prescribed it to me because of my anxiety. And since I've been taking it I haven't had any anxiety. I just don't know if I like the drowsiness. I'm a real lightweight with anything that has a "drowsy" effect.
Darby

bumblebee · 10-02-2005, 07:05 PM

I take 5htp when I really need a good night's sleep- it zonks me. I had hoped it would work as a mood enhancer (it does for some people) but find it actually depresses me if used regularly.

Darby01 · 10-02-2005, 11:51 PM

Yes - that's what is doing to me also -- it depresses me. My holistic dr. gave it to me for anxiety. I get bad anxiety attacks. I haven't had one anxiety episode BUT, I don't like how I feel on the HTP. I took the 5-HTP around 10:00pm and I was "hung over" til around 2:00pm the next day.
I was dizzy, sedated like. We had an event to go to tonight and I was excited about it and I'm sure I would have been quite anxious over it but on the way over, I was very sedate and calm. By then I wasn't dizzy and overly sedated and it felt great to NOT feel so anxious but, I don't want to be sedated everyday.
I'm wondering if I could just use them as needed for anxiety?
I'm really surprised that they have such a sedation effect. I'm also a real lightweight when it comes to anything that is sedating.

rj6445 · 10-15-2005, 07:46 PM

Can 5-htp be taken with lexapro and wellbutrin>

armadillo pie · 10-16-2005, 07:21 AM

Instead of taking 5HTP I take L-Trpytophan- it converts into 5 HTP in your brain and there is no hang over the next mornng. I have tried 5 HTP and know what you mean by the dowsy feeling the next day. My holistic Dr. suggested the trpyrophan for lack of sleep and depression. She feels it is the best. You can order iton-line or ask your Dr. to get it.
I started with 100mg. nightly but that was not enought for me, now I take 300 mg. before bed. It has no residue effect and can not harm you in the that dose. My sleep is much better now and I wake up fine in the morning.