Insomnia Hi All, Has anyone tried 5-HTP from Ho... - Thyroid UK
Insomnia Hi All, Has anyone tried 5-HTP from Holland & Barrett to help them sleep and if so have you had any luck with it? MC
Yes Ive been taking this 3 times a day for over a year. I heard it would help with mood.
It doesnt really help me sleep, but boots boots sleepeaze over the counter does.
I take Higher Nature 5HTP. It helps a little with depression and lately I've been sleeping better but my sleep is on and off so not sure if it is due to 5HTP. I have been taking this for about 2 months now.
Hello, MC,
Taking 5 HTP can be risky. You should go to a doctor who knows about the conversion process of 5 HTP to the brain, also things like your niacin level beforehand. If your doctor doesn't know or doesn't want you to take it, ask if L Tryptophan could be a better choice. (It would be my first choice).
Actually as many foods contain L Tryptophan, you could check online and increase these in your diet to see if that helps, which would probably take a few weeks. As our bodies dont' make L Tryptophan, but use it from foods (or pills) to process and help us make our own serotonin, which is what you'd be short of if you're depressed due to chronic stress.
Neither 5 HTP nor L Tryptophan should be used if any other antidepressants or anti anxiety drugs (or even supplements) are being used. If I were you I'd do a good websearch on this topic. It's worth it because L Tryptophan can be a major help without causing any problems - if you understand it better. Things like Prozac (and 5 HTP in tablets) jumpstart the brain by providing 5 HTP instantly, but it's much better and more natural to encourage the body to utilize it to make its own - which L Tryptophan will do. (In tablets or from foods).
I've used L Tryptophan when I know I'm worn out by too much stress. It definitely helps. But do read up online and see what might apply to you personally. It may be that 5 HTP comes with more cautions. But read up on both as it's something you should personally understand. Then, I'd say, everything being okay, L Tryptophan is the better choice. That's what a doctor in California advised me. It's more in line with how you naturally keep your serotonin at the necessary level to stabilise your mood and brain function.
Ransom
I took Healthspark 5 HTP100mg twice a day over quite a long period. It helped my sleep straight away and, I think, was a bit useful for mood level, too. Eventually I was sleeping less well and decided to take a break from it. I soon noticed that the chest tightness and breathing difficulty I'd been having improved quite a bit. Thinking this was coincidence, after a while I went back to the 5HTP, this time taking 200mg at bedtime only. Once again my sleep improved but, and It could still be coincidence, a few weeks after restarting my tight chest etc returned. I've stopped the 5 HTP for now. My B12 was barely in the reference range and I think that this may be contributing to my breathing issues, so I'm taking high doses of methycolbalamin to hopefully address this. I would consider trying the 5HTP again if I feel I need it. The B12 might make me sleep better and help with mood too, though, so perhaps it won't be necessary.
Oh by the way I take 5HTP(as I mentioned above) and my bloods came back high-magnesium - hypermagnesemia...I wouldnt take too many.
