5-HTP

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Has anyone tried this? It is supposed to be a mood enhancer and help with sleep and appetite. I have noticed a slight improvement in my depression and I am able to better wake up in the morning. It has something to do with serotonin production. Also, I have noticed that I am more sociable as well...

It's not a drug, but a dietary supplement...

I know of it as I use to work in a healthfood store in the vitamin section. It was a staple, but I never tried it. I did try holy basil once though which everyone at work called happy pills. They worked.

5-HTP is almost identical in chemistry and effects as
L-tryptophan or Melatonin. Sleep hormones for bedtime.
Melatonin gives some people scarey dreams the first few times
but taking less than one reduces that effect.

These raise serotonin levels and can interact seriously with meds
that also increase serotonin (SSRIs?). I think that means too much sleep.
They don't have any addictive drug effects whatsoever. Like "Milk and Turkey" effect.
I am not medically qualified. I am only belching data. Ask a real doctor.

Taking 5-HTP before a meal can interfere with digestion. Tryptophan, another mood enhancer in the exact same chemical cascade, does not have this effect.

Otto

Yes
I didnt' get the effect as you.
It works via the 'serontonergic' neurons and be careful about any contraindications with other meds e.g. anti depressants .... as mentioned.


btw,fyi Lecithin is the magic bullet for my sleep; this works via the cholinergic systems amd it should enhance cognitive functioning in ' normals', but its opposite on my affect.
It actually is the only thing that permits me to sleep 8 hours non-stop.

Wouldn't a low dose of an SSRI be better? Generic medication is most likely a lot cheaper than the stuff you get at health food stores.

I have been prescribed prescription meds, I did not care for the side effects I experienced at all

5-HTP is converted directly to serotonin, which can then be converted to melatonin, hence the similarity of effects. Tryptophan is the precursor to 5-HTP, and may be safer to take, especially long term. 5-HTP is NOT SAFE to take with SSRIs or St Johns Wort, but tryptophan is ok. If serotonin levels start to build up, the body can use it for other things, but 5-HTP converts straight to serotonin. There are some concerns that taking it long term could be bad for your heart, so if you try it and find it works you might want to use tryptophan instead.

Another amino acid you might want to try is tyrosine. You'll find this in the health food shops body building section if it's not in the mental well being section. It's the precursor to dopamine, one of the brains other "feel good" chemicals which is also involved with alertness, motivation and stamina and is the precursor to adrenaline and noradrenaline, hormones which regulate the bodys' response to stress. Depending on your brains' chemistry, you might find this as helpful or more helpful than 5-HTP, especially if you are or have been under a lot of stress. People who don't respond to 5-HTP, or who respond poorly to it, often respond well to tyrosine, and they can work together well when combined.

Taking these supplements also can give you an idea of which herbal or prescription antidepressants might work for you if you find you need something stronger. If 5-HTP doesn't work, then St Johns Wort or SSRIs which act purely on serotonin are unlikely to do you much good. If Tyrosine works then Rhodiola rosea or a prescription antidepressant that boosts dopamine such as sertaline (Zoloft) or bupropion (Wellbutrin) might be worth investigating.

Absolutely. 5-HTP is, to be blunt, crap.

It all depends on your own personal situation, doesn't it?

Prescription meds give me side effects that are severe enough to completely negate any benefits in taking them. 5-HTP is milder but doesn't have any side effects at all, as far as I can tell, so it's better for me in overall terms.

*raises eyebrow*

In assuming you've taken it, was it by itself or in conjunction with other things? I'm curious, because I've had success with it when taken with L-Tyrosine and GABA.

5-HTP is NOT crap! It is proven CLINICALLY! SSRIs are GARBAGE! SSRIs can cause TONS of problems and, if taken in the wrong cases can be DEADLY! 5-HTP and tryptophan are SELF REGULATING! Ironically, the SSR channels prevent such DEADLY problems,

I have taken 5-HTP, and it can 0cause you to have a better memory, and better dreams, etc.... ALSO, SSRI with no 5-HTP or tryptophan, if everything else were PERFECT would end up causing you to go MAD. Taking 5-HTP or Tryptophan, would get your sanity back.

I did fine on SSRI's. They stopped working though.
I have sleeping problems though. If my crap herbal supplements don't work then I'll consider 5-HTP...or getting drunk every night.

I use a low dose of marijuana to get to sleep. It really works for me.