User Reviews for 5-htp

I believe 5HTP should be tried BEFORE antidepressants. I have been on anti-depressants since I was 14. I've attempted suicide 3 times. Last time I was maxed on 2 different kinds. For a year now I have been taking 5HTP and find it to be far more EFFECTIVE. If I forget for a few days I might get down again but I reach out to family and I talk myself down. I could not/would not on anti-depressants. The only side effect I have had is if I take it on an empty stomach. Absolutely feel like this has saved my life!! Read More Read Less

Within 10-15 mins of taking I started getting stomach cramps and very bad nausea. I vomited and had to lie down. Missing out on work time and wish I had read possible side effects first. Never again.

Great hangover cure for psychs

My son became angry and moody after losing his dad (he is 39), so he started taking 5-HTP and he calmed down after 3 days of taking this and encouraged me to try it due to the depression which caused anxiety after losing the love of my life of 45 yrs! Although I grieve and assume I will always (its only been 3 months since he passed) this 5htp had help a lot with the depression, I'm noticing more energy.

So I went through years and years of Zoloft, Citalopram, Effexor, Doxepine, and Mirtazapine since I was 16 (I'm nearly 25) All of them had some horrid anxiety side effects, except for the Mirtazapine,but I still didn't feel myself even when taking the Mirt. Anyways, I started looking into natural supplements, and came across the 5 htp. I took the first dose and IMMEDIATELY felt relief I didn't feel with any of the meds.wow. wow. Wow. I instantly felt motivated. Happy. Wanted to talk !! My heart still palpitated a bit and some stomach discomfort but that's better than feeling hopelessly depressed right? However, I accidentally took 200 mg in the afternoon because I thought each capsule was 50 mg not 100 mg. In the afternoon I felt like throwing up, rapid breathing, muscle pain, shivers , (serotonin syndrome ?? Maybe?? ) Thankfully I had a secret benzo Stash and could placate the symptoms with a Klonopin. But I still won't give up on it. I just think I could have avoided the crisis by reading the instructions and taking a smaller dose to start. I want to feel the relief again when I took the 100mg. Hopefully I can get my hands on a 50 mg. Anyways, I'll keep you all updated! Read More Read Less

Took for anxiety and depression as an alternative to taking prescription medications...it's only been one week. I stopped taking and then the night after I stopped taking kept having lucid dreaming all night, also kept waking up. And wierd lucid dreaming, not totally unpleasant, thankfully, but I could remember every dream I dreamt and I literally woke up and felt like I had not slept because I could remember everything and that was particularly disconcerting. I will be speaking with my dr tmrw. Oh, on a side note, it was the day after I stopped that I had a few glasses of wine so not sure if it was interactions. Also, I would get super drowsy on them when I took during the day, so would only take one at night. I still would like to try just exercise, scheduled sleep and no drinking for awhile to see if that will help with anxiety and depression more than taking supplements. Side effects included headaches all week, as well as nausea if I didn't eat with food. There should be more studies on, I am now too nervous to take more at the moment. Read More Read Less

52 yo ... take 100mg at night and my sleep is MUCH deeper. I haven’t slept this good in a long time. Sleep does the body and mind good! Yay!

I have only been taking 5-HTP from two shops in UK (Healthspan and Holland & Barrett) for a few weeks, not sure yet whether it helps with sleep problems, my main reason for trying it. I wonder if the people complaining of side effects such as diarrhoea are reacting to the other supplements added into the tablets/capsules, I note that both these UK brands have added magnesium and B vitamins?

When I first started taking 5-HTP 100mg at hs for mild depression I had nausea and stomach pains (great for weight loss) but always a happy mood. The side effects subsided after a few months of taking it. Now I take 50mg a day and am so pleased by my positive mood.

Keeping in mind, when rating my experience its to create awareness of what could happen when you take this with anti-depressants, as I have. My body reacted very harshly and with in an hour of taking the 5-Htp I was violently Ill throwing up, After throwing up and being unable to physically function for a few hours, I was naturally lethargic and left with a hostile headache. Please do not use this while on other medication producing serotonin, its no walk in the park, and just stupid. I learned the hard way. Read More Read Less

I first tried 5-htp when I found myself feeling down and unable to make myself get up and do my ADL’s my first born had just left for the military and I was having separation anxiety. It was my next oldest son who pointed out to me that I was being snappy and irritated and all that I dis lately was sit and sleep. This took me by surprise and made me analyze my behavior and do some research ?? I came across the 5-htp, so I purchased some over the counter since it was my first time using it and I work in the medical field and we use a progressive introduction to any new drugs or supplements, I took less than the suggested dosage and it worked great, instantly my mood was better, I had more energy though and I read that it is supposed to do the opposite so I am glad that I took a lessor dosage. I only take 1 100mg tab and during the day instead of night as it gives me energy instead of making me sleepy ?? also I am not currently taking any other depression or anxiety medications! I also don’t use it everyday but only once I start to notice a significant drop in my mood that might be triggered by something elseRead More Read Less

I have been using 5HTP for over a year now and it has helped me so much! I use it to treat my overal mood and anxiety. It took about 2 weeks to feel the difference but I feel so much better since. I feel overal less moody and generally happier about small things in life. My interest in socialising has returned and also my creativity. I take 100mg a day(before bed), for over 12 months now and have never experienced any side effects.

Made me vomit and awful nausea I am a person who rarely vomits.

I have been dealing with depression for most of my life, been on nearly every anti-depressant there is. I had given up. I was severely depressed, angry, rageful, and mean. Decided to give 5 HTP a try, but I was quite skeptical. Within a week I was feeling better than I had felt in years! The darkness had lifted, I wasn't MEAN anymore or driven by anger. I felt like getting out and doing things. I could talk to people without biting their heads off! This stuff really worked for me. Saved my life; I was very much on the brink.Read More Read Less

It has worked for me.

Took for about 2 weeks and it did help with anxiety and ability to sleep. Then started to experience some fatigue, muscle spasms in legs and palpitations and irregular heart beat.

I have been taking antidepressants for years to calm my anxiety. I just started taking 5 HTP and it has had a similar positive effect as an antidepressant but much more mild, without the unpleasant side-effects that usually come with an antidepressant. I have felt more calm and clear-headed. I have been having trouble sleeping, not sure if it's related.

More effective than citalopram for boosting mood. Didn't do much for me for inducing sleep

I felt safe with this supplements

I will highly recommend this.