Depression Blog.com

thank you for this website, I'm currently getting of paxil what are the side affects and can you mix sam-e and 5-htf

5htp was great for awhile, but after 2 months or so started to get tachycardia..wondered if it was linked to 5htp..stopped taking it, now for 3 weeks, and no tach.

??

5HTP makes me feel tired and grouchy. I've been taking it for about two months. Went to alternative medicine doctor who put me on vitamins including lots of B vitamins and also some hormone creams, all of which give me more energy, but when I add the 5htp to the mix, I feel worse, i.e., the grouchy and tired feelings. I am currently taking 100 mg of 5HTP at bedtime. That doesn't seem to bother me. Hopefully, won't disturb my sleep.

I am taking 80mg of prozac with 300mg effexor and 3mg of klonipin per day for my OCD.Can adding a b-complex and 5Htp be dangerous or cause serotinin syndrone?

[I would be cautious and talk to my doctor before taking 5-HTP or tryptophan with any SSRI (and Prozac is an SSRI). there is a risk of Serotonin Syndrome occuring if you mix the two.]

I have been using 5HTP for a couple of weeks and notice an improvement in my mood, and most noticibly the disppearance of that foggy headed feeling. I can concentrate much better.

Sir,

I was suffering from depression 4 years before. Doctor prescribed me paxil paraxotile and I took last 3 years but due to several side effects I buy 5 HTP from HBC Protocols, USA. but after taking 5 HTP lot of drowsiness, anxiety,panic attack and sleeping at least 15 hours per day. Please advise.

rakesh jaroli

Hello, are there any bad interactions that come about when taking 5HPT with Wellbutrin?

thanks

My son started taking 5HTP for several reasons (some valid, some not). I have noticed severe mood swings, paranoia, high hostility levels and more. I believe that is is from taking several times the daily dosage. I have been trying to find information about side-effects but almost everything seems to be tied into advertising and selling the product. Any suggestions or input?

My wife took 1 pill today as someone suggested. that was at 3pm, and she had a heart rate that was very irregular at 10pm any thoughts? She takes no other medication.

I started taking 5-HTP last week. Thus far i definately notice that it makes me geel groggy, tired,and even though i take it at night, the next morning i do not like the way i feel.I feel more depressed, angry and have a running feeling in my body while still. I am stopping it.

I took 5-HTP 100mg 1 everynight before I went to bed. I had very vivid horrible nightmares the first day on it, and I slept all day even though I only took it before I went to bed the previous day. I felt a little sick to my stomach like i was going to vomit, instead of suppressing my appetite, I gained 5 pounds in the two weeks i ws on it. very discouraging to someone who struggles with their weight and has depression. I have been off it for 4 days now. I had ringing in my ears. I don't recommend this product, not even to an animal.

I have read for many hours about 5 htp. It seems to greatly help some and make symptoms of depression worse for others.
I strongly urge you to try anything for at least 2-4 weeks before making any final conclusions about it.
I have read in many places that feelings of depression may worsen first, before they improve, even on psychotropic drugs perscribed by a Dr.
I personally have been on 5 htp (200-300 mg) per day for over one week in combo with B6 (175 mg per day) and tyrosine (1000mg) per day. The first three days I felt incredible. Better than I have in years. The next two days, I noticed dramatic mood swings. Today I am thinking of suicide. But as I said, I read that feelings of suicide and dpression may worsen as depression lifts. The up feelings I am having on the 5 htp far outweigh my up feelings when I am not on it.
Our bodies need time to adjust to major changes like this. Espeically if you have been depressed for many years, as I have. Trying something for two days and saying it makes youworse, is not giving the supplements adequate time to do their jobs. Brain chemistry is a tricky thing. It is not fair to conclude after one or two days that something "makes you worse" or doens't work.
I feel only if you try it for some time can you make such a conclusion, espeically if you are using it in combo. with other perscription medications. I imagine, if that is the case, then using a natural supplemet IS liable to make you worse and you should consult your Dr.
I am not a Dr., but I have studied health and the body for many years and am an intuitive healer.
Please give 5 htp some time.

I've been taking 5HTP since last January. My doctor prescribed Celexa for anxiety, but I read about the possible side effects (loss of sex drive and weight gain) and decided to try 5HTP instead. It does make me sleepy, so I take 200mg at bedtime. It has reduced my anxiety and increased my ability to concentrate a great deal. I've had no negative side effects at all so far, so I was surprised to read about how it affected other users. I feel it has made my life liveable and my anxiety manageable (I also eat well and exercise every day). The only thing I worry about is long term consequences. I wonder if it will cause liver or kidney damage? Only long-term studies will tell.

I wish everybody who struggles with anxiety, depression and other emotional turmoils well. Our lives are too stressful and fast-paced. Media makes us desire too much perfection. Hey, we're all flawed and I feel somewhat better just accepting my own imperfect humanness. I'm glad I'm not the only one who struggles! :o)

I took 50mg of 5-htp for about 3 months. At first I could tell I was calmer, there were some mood swings, but most drugs I've ever read about take two weeks to really tell. Well, after two weeks I could really really tell that it was doing something, atleast. I felt fuller quicker with food, my dreams were more vivid, and I was much better with stress at work. However my sex drive was dead. I lost total interest in the opposite sex. My relationship ended to say the least, so I stopped for about two months taking 5htp. Libido back, but I started smoking a lot more so I could keep the weight off. I started on a new brand and I switched to 100mg a night and its been a week and I feel way better than I did with the 50mg. My sex drive hasn't gone back down yet but sometimes I feel extremely bloated. I get horrible skull-splitting migraines at work, and since I have got back on 5-htp they have gone. I'll give up sex for that the loss of that pain, atleast for a little while.

Five HTP has generally been good for me. I am concerned of some light sensitivity though. I have been taking it for almost two years now. What has really helped me is the book "the edge effect" It has to deal with amino acids and their effects on the body and brain chemistry. Just a thought and advice

I am delighted to find these comments as I was desperate to find out more about 5 HTP after thinking that it was responsible for the feelings I was experiencing. Like a lot of you, I too had positive feelings and a vast improvement during the first month. I would say even the second month was okay too. But then suddenly after the 2 months my symptoms got worse and was plunged into an abyss. Suicide was never far from my mind and I just cried all the time. I could not do normal functions and just wanted it all to end. Then the blood rushing in my ears started and incredible feelings of hatred and anger. I began to realise (and thank goodness trusted my gut instinct) that there was something else going on that I had no control over. That's when I decided to coem off 5 HTP despite my health care practitioner's advice. She had advised me to go from 100 mg to 300 mg a day and after 2 weeks of this I just wanted to die. So I followed my gut and came off it. That was 2 weeks ago today and I feel great. After 4 or 5 days I could feel the "old me" coming back and now I am back to my full self. I realise after soem research that tryptophan like any drug has side effects and there was I ironically afraid to take the anti depressants my Dr prescribed for fear of bad effects!! I know this is a long piece from me, but I feel I have to tell the full story so that someone else like me will know that they are not going mad and that the 5 HTP can have serious side effects. If you are worried or expereincing anything like I have described please come off it. I wish I had sooner and I am so glad I did before it was too late.

i m suffering depression.dont have any desires.so much obseessed with meditation and introspecrion

Just to put my two peneth in. I have just started today on Vit B6 & 5HTP and I was reading an article about 5HTP and it seems that lots of you guys are taking way too much of the stuff. This article suggests between 25-50 mg's of 5HTP and up to 100 mg but anything over causes problems including nausea: www.lightparty.com/Health/5-HTP.html

Enjoy.

I've been taking a product that has 5-htp in it and it has helped with my moods. I have lots of bloating and gas with it, so I'm guessing, this is a side effect. From reading the other posts, I'm not sure if I want to continue taking this. I also give this to my son (17 years of age) and have noticed a difference with him. He seems much calmer. I need to ponder on this one........

Yeah, it sounds like alot of people who may be going through the negative side effects described here may just be taking too much or mixing it accidentally. I started on 200 mg a day but am now down to 100 mg every three to four days and I'm great. It doesn't take much; 5-htp is a strong little supplement.

I've also noticed that if the capsule breaks before swallowing and the powder inside gets out, it will be absorbed by the mucous membrane in my mouth and esophagus, resulting in a higher real dosage (because less is destroyed than would otherwise be by the stomach's acids) and the possibility of headaches, palpitations, etc goes up.

If you start low and work your way up to whatever the most effective dosage is for you, instead of starting at something high (and many times the recommended dosage is WAY TOO high!) and working your way down, I believe your experience will be less negative. And since elevated serotonin has been linked to higher aggression, I'd say that the boy described by his mom above probably is taking too much.

Oh yeah, and the dreams. I can deal with nightmares, and I've only had two or three since starting (although the ones I've had have certainly been vivid!), so I wouldn't let that get in the way. I haven't had any at all for over a year now. And my pleasurable dreams have gotten more vivid.

I found about 5-Htp online, when I was trying to find a more natural approach to dealing with mild depression/anxiety/stress levels. I did not like all the side effects of trying different SSRI's from my doctor.
I started the first 3 wks using 50 mg 5-Htp @ night (heard it can make you sleepy/or help with sleep). I did have a great sleep @ night but the dreams did get more vivid I must say. In the morning I took Rhodiola, which is a herb that can also help mood and give energy.
The first week was great. I felt so much better than being on an anti-deppressent-lots of energy and a clear head. Then 1 week later I started on 100 mg since I was noticing a lull in my mood. The mood got a little better for about a week, then I started noticing my skin getting a rough, bumpy appearence and feel to it. Then I started getting severe itching to my scalp, and legs (to the point that I was scratching the skin off my legs-it was sooo bad!). Also the aggression started too. I found the same side effects of the 5-htp by another person on line, and decided to stop the 5-Htp right away, and all of the bad effects stopped. I did get a dizzy feeling,buzzing in my ears, and a very restless sleep for a few days after discontinuing. So even tough you decide to take a herbal approach, thinking it is healthier than medication, it can still have side effects and withdrawl symptoms. Just so people are aware.

I would say even the second month was okay too. But then suddenly after the 2 months my symptoms got worse and was plunged into an abyss. Suicide was never far from my mind and I just cried all the time. I could not do normal functions and just wanted it all to end. Then the blood rushing in my ears started and incredible feelings of hatred and anger. I began to realise (and thank goodness trusted my gut instinct) that there was something else going on that I had no control over. That's when I decided to coem off 5 HTP despite my health care practitioner's advice. She had advised me to go from 100 mg to 300 mg a day and after 2 weeks of this I just wanted to die.

I suppose if you take 3 times the highest recomened dose it the medications fault! Have you been a bafoon long, or did that happen to you recently?

Hi All,
10 yrs ago I had a bout of severe depression... it took several years to find the right medications (5 drugs at once) to achieve a balance emotionally. With those prescriptions came a sence of peace/numbness, and 100lbs. I was so content I didn't really care that I was huge.

After 5 years of being emotionally stable I decided I didn't want to be fat anymore and that I was tired of being numb and weaned myself off of prescriptions and began supplements. I began taking B100 tablets and Primrose Oil About a year before I started weaning off the scrip's... My MD was happy to see me able to try making the changes.

I''ve been on 5HTP for almost 5 yrs 150mg twice a day, and continue with the B vit's and Prim Oil. I haven't had any outbreaks of violence, or any severely negative effects from 5HTP. I do find different brands work better for me than others and that if I up my dose for a few days when times are tough I have some nausea and dizziness.
I have lost 70 of the pounds I'd gained...

No one drug/supplement is a miracle for everyone and when dealing with depression I'm sure we are all aware that it takes more than drugs, it takes changes in all area's of our lives. Exercise, food we eat, sleep we get, how we react/interact with others, do we take time for ourselves... this is not as simple as finding the right "drug".

All the best!

Tried several times to take 5htp but each time I have tried (as long as a month at a time) I get severe palpitations, any ideas why

I have had mild-moderate depression all my life. i wanted to avoid SSRIs again cos of side affects so I tried 5htp.

I took 50 mg of 5htp last night and woke up at 2am really really anxious then had really fast palpitlations. It really freaked me out and I took myself off to the emergency department. I'm fine now (next morning) but it scared me and I had no idea an amino could do this. You can't buy this amino in Australia where I live (i ordered it online). Now I know why!

I'm not sure if I will take it again... the very fast heartbeat and horrible feelings were scarey, especially at 2 am. oh and i had scarey dreams last night too.

Started 5-htp this week. I have suffered with depression/generalized anxiety/panic attacks for several years. Didn't like anti depressants at all and have been looking for alternatives.

Two months ago I started taking a multi B vitamin and 250 mg Magnesium supplement. This has totally relieved me of the anxiety. That was great but I was still experiencing depression. Since starting the 5-htp, my depression has also lifted, I can concentrate much better and my energy levels have risen considerably. Thing is I am taking only 25mg a day and will probably back off even furthur due to some stomach upset and a dificulty falling asleep.

5-htp seems to be very potent in small doses and a lot of you might do better starting with 25mg or less per day. I am sure at some point I am going to experiment with skipping a day or two and see what happens. Sometimes less is more and I think with 5-htp that is the case.

If I tale 10 mg.of lexipro daily .Is it safe to add 50mg.of5-HTP as well for an added boost?
Please advise.I also have high blood pressure and high chloresterol and am on drugs for those.
Thankyou

I've been off of Zoloft 50mg (had cut back from 100mg) for about 3 weeks now. Started taking 100mg 5 HTP every night about the same time. Yesterday I read that for depression, it's recommended to take more than 100mg...and to take throughout the day. So, today I decided to pop another 100mg around noon. At about 2pm I got so sleepy I HAD to take a nap. Has anyone experienced this? I know 5 HTP is also used to help insomnia...thankfully I am off of work today and had the luxury of taking a nap, should I only take the 100mg at night as I had been?
Thanks so much.

Hello everyone! I myself am not depressed, but I came across this blog researching 5-htp and I wanted to mention that I noticed a lot of people taking it at night before bed. I suggest taking it first thing in the morning because serotonin is a chemical that is used by the brain during the day. At night it is converted to melatonin. It just goes against the bodies chemistry by taking it at night(hence the dreams, sleeplessness, heartrate, etc.). It helps with sleep because it raises serotonin levels during the day so when night comes the brain can convert it to melatonin. Just wanted to add that. Blessings. Be well.

I have worked with a nutritionist while taking 5htp, and wanted to share what I learned from that experience and lots of reading. First of all, not all brands are the same. Buy from a reputable company like NOW or Solaray, or such. Also, some 5htp has other things in it, so read the label. Most of all, it's not meant to be taken forever. Although some people may have a genetic deficiency of serotonin, most of us got this way due to stress of some kind, and just need to build up our supply. Once you build it up, the goal is to taper off on your dosage. I took it for a while, for depression anxiety, but now I seem to need it only in the winter months. Hope this helps. P.S. You should never take it with Paxil or the like. A reputable company will have this right on the label.

I just started 5htp, at 100mg a day. I haven't noticed anything yet. Mainly I am leaving this note because for some reason the site keeps kicking me into the "Post a Comment" screen when I try to read the feedback comments.

Cheers to all,
Annie

The 1st 2 days on 5HTP at 50 mg were helpful -
went fairly quickly to high doses, as advised by my doctor (since testing showed very low serotonin). The side effects have been miserable - increased heart rate, inability to breathe deeply, horrible panic & inceased anxiety
24/7. My doctor said to cut dose in half (from 200mg in am to 100 mg). I decided myself to just stop taking altogether.
I think 5HTP is very strong - should be carefully monitored & adjusted accordingly.

I've been taking 5-HTP since January, when I felt my mood started getting out of control. Conditions that are triggered by low serotonin levels run in my family, and I have epilepsy, which some sources say can sometimes be triggered by low serotonin levels.

I was on Tegretol for a few years until I was worried that it was making me gain weight, and I went off of it in search for an alternative method to treat my seizures.

I first took 5-HTP to manage my mood, 100 mg every other day at first, then when I went off Tegretol and took herbal tinctures, I started taking 100 mg daily. Although the bottle says to take 300 mg daily, I'm not sure of what the long term effects are, and I feel I can control my seizures with just the one pill.

Some of the side effects I have noticed from 5-HTP are really strange dreams that are sometimes scary (I try to take the pill in the late afternoon to avoid this), and a decrease in libido. I normally have a very high libido but 5-HTP has sort of ruined that for now :( I'm not sure what I can do about that... but for the record, even though the supplement is supposed to make you drowsy, I don't experience it.

Hi, i'd like to add that a lot of you are saying you have had negative side effects of 5HTP and a lot of you are saying you are taking B6 as well. I have done many hours of research and can cnclude the following from a doctor - B6 is required in order to convert the 5HTP to Serotonin, but the B6 must be taken many hours before the 5HTP otherwise it will convert in the liver rather than the brain, if this happens it can be very dangerous to the body over a long period of time and will not actually produce any serotonin. Also you must take no more than 10mg of B6 at least 7 hours before the 5HTP and any doses over 100mg of 5HTP will cause side effects. Some bottles of 5HTP on the market actually have the B6 and 5HTP mixed together in the pill and apparently this is because there has not been many tests done on 5HTP as it is still a new homeopathic remedy.

Hi, I have been using 5htp for fibromyalgia, depression and sleep distruptions. I started at 100mg 3 times a day and after a week started waking up shakey,yesterday I had anxiety terribly and now I am awake at 4 am and am very shakey and having anxiety. I am lowering my dose to 50 mg in the morning and 50 at night to see if my symptoms go away but does anyone have any advise? When I started it I was sleeping all night, it makes you crazy when you get alittle hope then wonder if it is gone again or should I hang in there? The heart thing concerns me in my situation.

Myself and my teenage daughter have been taking 5HTP for about 2 years I think. It is the best stuff ever. Before both my daughter and myself were angry alot. I fought the depression too. I take 100 mg at night. It helps put me to sleep. I've been going through a tough time, so I went up to 200mg. I feel so much better. But, now I think I will go back to the 100mg and see what happens. I like the stuff, thanks.

I have had positive experience with 200mg of 5HTP.
With me, the family of standard SRIIs only work for a short amount of time and then my body adjusts. Wellibutrin which is different from the usual SRIIs worked somewhat, but I did eventually build up resistence to that as well. From what I can tell, my body makes brain chemicals from the 5HTP and about 40% to 60% of my low energy issues are dealt with. I have not had any negative side effects after 2 months. I also take multi vitamins, fish oil, exercise and work on sleep. The 5HTF seems to work more than standard supplements.

I have been taking 300mg of 5htp 3x per day 20 min before meals and I have lost 21 lbs in 16 weeks, I haven't had the cravings for food and I get full quicker, my mood is brighter and I feel happier. The only side effect I had was a couple of upset stomachs. I think I am going to drop to 100 mg 3x per day next week and see how my appetite is and my mood, just read that you can get Serotonin syndrome, but hopefully I am being careful. I am not on any other medications, and It feels like it is working for me.

I recently got off of Zoloft and began taking 5 htp and have a huge change in my mood. I no longer have suicidal thoughts and have a high sense of well being. It brings tears to my eyes that for the first time I feel good. I am amazed and thank God for the woman that shared with me about Amino acids. I have never felt so good.

I started 5htp 100 mg 2 in the morning and 2 at night plus macuna for dopamine. It's been 6 days. I have incresed anxiety and depression. I think the docotr started me to high of a dose. I am trying to habg in there thinking my body needs to adjust.

I have mild depression and have been taking Homoepathic remedies ...I live in France and 5HTP is not available here but found on line ... I would like to know if it can be taken with Hypericum ( St. Johns wort ) and Ignatia .... maybe I am getting impatient for some change , which hasn't happened yet , I've only been taking it a week , but am sooo fed up with feeling as I do ....

WOW, 5-HTP. What can I say except that this supposed "natural" alternative to antidepressants is stronger than any prescription I've ever taken.

The first night I took 100mg as directed. Could hardly wake up the next day. When I was able to move, I was so dizzy. I decided to take 50mg twice a day to see if that was any different. Not only was I dizzy. I could not even drive my car. Taking the afternoon dose gave me stomach flu symptoms in addition to the dizziness.

I just don't get how an amino acid can do this to a person. I'm throwing this bottle away as soon as I finish typing this message. DON'T TAKE 5-HTP! Unless you don't mind acting like you're drunk all day.

I think everyone taking 5HTP and having negative effects need to step back and research how you are supposed to be taking this. 200mg per day seems excessive to me. You are supposed to start with a low dosage like 50mg and increase the dosage weekly in SMALL increments. If you start feeling lousy, go back to the dosage when you felt the best. As I said, 200 mg seems excessive. Also do the research on side effects such as vivid dreams. It's normal. But mood swings seem like an overdosage problem to me. And while you're at it, look at the side effects for the SSRI's like Prozac and Paxil. Especially how it takes 5-6 weeks to kick in and the rates of suicidal tendancies during that time.

5htp is saving me! I've been in a mild to moderate situational depression all year. When winter came, it got much worse. Anyting that went wrong in a day would cause me to go from feeling despair to having thoughts of suicide. I was pretty much non-functional.

I tried capsules, but they made me really nauseaus, but that stopped when I switched to enteric-coated caps. I've been taking 50mg 1x in the morning and 1x before bed.

Within days I noticed sleeping better and dreaming again. I have vivid, rich, dreams (not nightmares.) I feel rested! In a week, I stopped crying all the time. In 2 weeks, I started feeling normal again. No mood swings. I still feel my feelings, but they don't overwhelm me. I'm a little more motivated at work. This is the best thing I've ever tried for depression (better than zoloft.)

I'm on the blob because while I'm feeling calm now, I'm also a little bit sleepy and lethargic. Understand that one of my symptoms of depression is lethargy. I'm not one who gets anxious/insomniac. So I'm trying to decide if I should up my dosage a little bit more in the day time, or perhaps if I should stop taking it at night. Since I don't see my answer posted here, I think I'll try taking 1 more 50mg during the day (150mg/day total) and see if that perks me up or slows me down.

Good luck to everyone.

forgot to add that i also woke up feeling shakey the next morning.

The main side effect of taking 5-HTP is the risk of developing serotonin syndrome. The symptoms include nausea, stomach upset, heartburn etc. If you are experiencing these symptoms then your serotonin levels are too high. Visit a naturopath and discuss what other neurotransmitters could be deficient. If you are taking 5-HTP then for most people ideally take it for no more than 3 months. If you need still need something then look at L-tryptophan as opposed to 5-HTP, or tyrosine. O, and alcohol and 5-HTP are very strongly contraindicated.

I have OCD and sometimes when I get home from work the evening is full of anxiety, depression and insomnia. I've always just lived with this because I didn't think it was worth getting hooked on SSRIs like my mother and sister who have the same condition.

I started taking the odd 50mg 5htp dose in the evening when I felt anxiety. I've taken it 2-3 times a week in 50mg doses for a few months now. It works wonderfully for relieving stress and allowing me to focus on my work.

I've had bad experiences taking it before bed though, so I stick to dosing in the late afternoon.

I began taking 5-HTP (100mg at bed time) 3 days ago to manage fibromyalgia related symtoms. I have been feeling tired, very irritable and have been experiencing increased muscle aches, headaches and stomach problems. Is this normal? Should I decrease my dosage or just give it a few weeks for my body and brain to adjust?

Any thoughts?

I have found that different doses have different effects. 50mg a day causes me anger and frustration, just after a couple of days of taking it at this dose. But 100mg doesn't cause anger, it just gives me a great sleep, and a calmer outlook on life. I have only tried 100mg for a week or so, because I was running out (I have to order them on the net). When I have more I will try 100mg again. I hope 100mg will continue to work well! I will have to wait and see.

Hi,
My name is Carol and I have been on antidepresant for 15 yrs. due to depression, anxiety and insomia. I still have troulbe sleepin gand I just got off the meds a month ago and I am feeling depressed again and irritable.My question is how long does this take to work? I am taking 50mg in the morning and 50mg at night.

I currently have post viral syndrome and depression. Am taking 5HT which has helped, but have now discovered I have a Candida overgrowth, and am on a strict diet to eliminate it. I am wondering whether I can still take 5HTP whilst on this diet?

I was on Celexa for a year and a half. Although it did make me feel a lot better, it caused me to gain weight, which made me very upset. I weaned myself off of it, then started taking 5 HTP after a month. I took it several years ago and it worked like a charm. I have only been on it for about two weeks (I ordered it from a highly reputable company, by the way), but I feel like crap! I feel depressed, anxious, lethargic and totally blah. I started at 300 miligrams a day, as a book by Dr. Murray said. But that was way too much. I cut down to 50 mgs. a day for the past week. But I do not feel so hot. My appetite has not decreased, either, and I have really bad insomnia since I have begun this regimen. I am not so sure about this stuff. I am thinking about taking nothing for a while, because I am sick of meds of any kind.

I didn't take 5-htp for depression, but for my insomnia, which I have treated over the years with prescriptions meds and over-the-counter sleep aids in my attempt to be able to sleep. Thought after a little research that 5-htp was the answer. Took three 50-mg doses throughout the day with food ... less than the recommended dosage ... and subsequently had the worst two nights/days of insomnia I have ever had. I was so frustrated I was crying (very unlike me). I may give only one pill a try in a few weeks, but it has been four days and I just now am getting back to my routine. Three places I checked (including the bottle and a homeopathic website) advised 200-300mg ... I cannot imagine what that would have done. I would simply say be very aware that herbal remedies can have serious side effects and start small!

Be careful with this stuff. I tried taking it after a therapist recommended a book to me. Well, it did nothing at first, so i upped it to the recommended dosage for depression (300mg). I had horrible nightmares, stomach cramps and was extremely tired.
I talked to my doctor about it, and he this, and i agree. Either it doesn't actually work, or, it does. This i can agree on, yes. Now, if it does work, you are messing with your neurochemistry with cheap, unregulated supplements from who knows where. Is that safe than a regulated pharmaceutical? Probably not.

Also, 50mg of 5-HTP is about the equivalent of a turkey sandwich for tryptophan/seratonin. So, if you can cure depression by eating 2 pounds of turkey a day, well, good luck!