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

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.

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.

Can 5-htp be taken with lexapro and wellbutrin>

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.

So it's still illegal to sell L-Trpytophan in stores, cause years ago, one batch was tainted with something? It's weird how things such as Tyenol can have a problem with having some batches tainted, and it gets put back on the shelf shortly. But something such as L-Trpytophan, which is definitely considered safer, is still not sold in stores. I guess the companies that make prescription sleep pills sure don't mind though, since it helps their revenue.

A little background on L-Trytophon- it was the leading natural remedy for insomnia and also for depression. It was very popular and many companies made it. Then a Japanese company made a tainted batch and it made many people ill and may have even killed someone. That I am not sure of. But this gave the big companies with all their clout and money to pressure the FDA to take all of L-Trytophon off the market., even those made by reputable companies. Within a mont or so Prozac was introduced to the public!
So what do you think???????????

hey, i know you can't buy the stuff anymore but can you get it on prescription then from your doc in the UK?

alex.

I orginally got mine from my Dr. but I found the same brand on-line and even cheaper then she charged me. Here in the states you can order it on-line- that is legal. I use Doctor's Best L-Tryptophan. I take it beofre I go to sleep. I started with 500 mg. ( one capsule )but have increased it to 1000mg. It is not harmful in that amount. I have no side effects from it at all. It is worth a try- better then 5HTP I think.

You may simply be taking too much 5-HTP, especially if you are sensitive to similar things. Maybe try taking just one 50mg tab before bed

i was thinking that maybe you haqven't goe the balance right with the neurotransmitters in your brain. it is unnatural to have an excess of serotonin in one's brain, the result will be drowsiness. when i say a balance i mean with other neurotransmitters esp. noradrenaline. it is linked with feelings of energy, drive, motivation, vitality. since the two neurotransmitters compete to cross the blood brain barrier then an excess of serotonin will result in a abnormally low level of noradrenaline and in turn a kinda lethargic depression. not the type where you cry and hate yourself, but where you lack in energy. try taking L-phennylaline or L-tyrosine (two amino acids which are precursors to noradrenaline) with the 5-HTP to get the balance right with your brain chemistry.

alex.

Personally I think it's best to get tryptophan from proteins like dairy, nuts and meat. A good protein powder will contain all the necessary aminos including tryptophan; tryptophan converts serotonin. 5htp is a processed tryptophan, more drug-like in effect thus the sometimes negative effects.

Personally I think it's best to get tryptophan from proteins like dairy, nuts and meat. A good protein powder will contain all the necessary aminos including tryptophan; tryptophan converts serotonin. 5htp is a processed tryptophan, more drug-like in effect thus the sometimes negative effects.

I like the idea of a protein powder. Can you suggest one?

I like the idea of a protein powder. Can you suggest one?

Oh there are alot of good ones, I myself am in the process of looking around again.

Right now I have Designer Whey Protein which has the full spectrum whey peptides. I've heard it's best to look for the ones with long chain aminos on the label, so I'll be shopping soon again comparing all those.

I also have the Zone's protein powder which my daughter likes because she has issues with too much sugar and also doesn't like the artificial sweetners. It seems the Zone is one of the few which doesn't contain either(and it still tastes good).

Ok, well, I found out whey protein has the branch chain aminos naturally occuring. And guess what else, the brewyers yeast I bought mainly for the B-vitamins also has branch chain amino profiles, at least the Twinlabs one I bought does. So I guess I have it covered with whey and brewyers yeast. :)

Ok, well, I found out whey protein has the branch chain aminos naturally occuring. And guess what else, the brewyers yeast I bought mainly for the B-vitamins also has branch chain amino profiles, at least the Twinlabs one I bought does. So I guess I have it covered with whey and brewyers yeast. :)

Which twinlab protein powder exactly did you get? I'm doing a search for some and can't seem to find it.

Which twinlab protein powder exactly did you get? I'm doing a search for some and can't seem to find it.

Actually I have the whey protein powder by Zone as I posted before, but I also have Twinlabs' Brewyers Yeast which is apparentely, according to the label, full of amino acids as they list the whole amino profile on the bottle.

I had to order it off the internet. It tastes like poo, though. But I mix it with my whey so it's not as bad.

Well, I didn't want to wait to order on line so I went to GNC and got a whey protein powder that seems to have all the amino acids including tryptophan.
How many mg's does the Zone have??
I'm drinking it right now :)
I made a smoothie out of it -- Orange juice, frozen strawberries, 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream, 1 scoop of strawberry ice cream, and a scoop of the vanilla protein powder - yummy.

5htp by it self is fine,i took 2 during the day a while back, and took elavil that night, thought i was gonna die, heart palps, anxiety, be sure to check with your doctor before mixing meds, herbs or not. goes the same with st johns wart. most antidepressant med side affect sheets with drug interactions states do not use st johns wart.just be on the safe side,just because one person doesnt have a reaction, doesnt mean you wont.

hyper: Yes, in fact on the sheet of the 5HTP (that I got from my holistic Dr.) it gives a list of other stuff (drugs) that you shouldn't mix with the 5HTP. Looks like mostly anti-depressants, cold meds, sleeping aids.
I've taken one now for 3 nights in a row and I feel pretty darn good. I wake up a little drowsy but by the time I get up and moving, it goes away.
I also take during the day, Adrenal pep (a homepathic liquid). Most people have low adrenal function due to stress etc.
I seem to feel a little bit calmer throughout the day so far. Maybe the 5HTP is helping with that.

Thats super, im glad its helping alot,a little drowsy is not bad at all. i wish we had some holistic doctors in my area, i think theres some kinda SC law that prohibits the practice in the state although not sure.the closest thing we have is chiropracters that dibble dabble in herbs.good luck and best wishes "hyper"

Well, I didn't want to wait to order on line so I went to GNC and got a whey protein powder that seems to have all the amino acids including tryptophan.
How many mg's does the Zone have??
I'm drinking it right now :)
I made a smoothie out of it -- Orange juice, frozen strawberries, 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream, 1 scoop of strawberry ice cream, and a scoop of the vanilla protein powder - yummy.

Wow that sounds good, I'll try that recipe! Actually, I had to order the Brewyers Yeast on the net; the Zone powder was at the drugstore. Both have lower gms. of protein (around 8 grams only each) than most powders, so that's why I'm looking around for other powders for possibly higher grams of protein.

My daughter's tummy has issues with certain concentrated sugars and artifical sweetners (fructose intolerance) so I need to keep the Zone on hand because it doesn't have either.

Is yours a GNC brand whey or another brand? I just got a gold card and seems they do have some good products there......

Wow that sounds good, I'll try that recipe! Actually, I had to order the Brewyers Yeast on the net; the Zone powder was at the drugstore. Both have lower gms. of protein (around 8 grams only each) than most powders, so that's why I'm looking around for other powders for possibly higher grams of protein.
Is yours a GNC brand whey or another brand? I just got a gold card and seems they do have some good products there......

My protein powder has 24 grams of protein. And it's a whey brand.
I don't have the container in front of me but it might have some sugars.
Might bother your daughter.

My protein powder has 24 grams of protein. And it's a whey brand.
I don't have the container in front of me but it might have some sugars.
Might bother your daughter.

Great, I am looking for a higher protein one for me. GNC here I come!(1st week of the month that is ;) )

THanks!

Well, I'm still taking the 5HTP and I'm not even drowsy in the evening when I take it.
I wonder why?? I know someone else who is taking it and she says that she SLEEPS and doesn't wake up til morning. She's fine in the morning but she is knocked out during the night.
My first go around with it, it knocked me out and I felt like I took some sort of heavy duty drug and I was drowsy throughout the first half of the next day.
It's from the same company -- I didn't switch anything. Strange....

I had been taking 300mcg of Melatonin at bedtime for sleep (worked GOOD!).
In one of my e-health newsletters they stated that- Melatonin was a powerful hormone (unknown long-term history?) & recommended prescription L-tryptophan or non-prescription 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) instead.
As suggested- I started taking 100mg of 5-HTP 30min before bedtime & stopped Melatonin.
I slept soundly, BUT!- The next few mornings I was VERY groggy DUH! (for hours!), and couldn't remember names... :yawn:
I kept taking it for 10 days, thinking I "may" build a tolerance... & get over this known side-effect? :confused:
All of a sudden, I couldn't get to sleep for hours (same 5_HTP dose), for two nights in a row (wound up, kinda like I'd been drinking too much coffee- Which I hadn't at all!). I stopped taking it!!!
I went back to Melatonin, but had to up the dose to 3mg, to get to sleep. A week later I'm back down to 300mcg & sleeping well. :)
I can only think that It's addicitive, or tainted, or...? :confused:

That is really strange about your 5-HTP. Where did you get it from? I get mine from my wellness Dr. and he gets his stuff from Nutri-West.
I'm still taking it. It has: 50mg. hydroxy tryptophan, 3mg pyridoxal phosphate, 1mg. melatonin, 12mg. DL-phenylalanine, 5mg. pregnenolone

5-HTP works nicely as an anti-depressant without the unpleasant side effects that St. John's Wort has for some people.