5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)

[amandalee]

Hi everyone,

Has anyone tried 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) as a sleep aid (or for other purposes)? If so, I'm curious to know what your results were.

I started taking 100mg of this about an hour before bed time back in Sept. or Oct. I had just stopped taking antidepressants, and since 5-HTP is a precursor to serotonin, I thought it might help me avoid any withdrawal side effects.

I recently ran out of the bottle I'd purchased, and didn't think I needed it anymore. I've noticed that since I've stopped taking it, I feel more tense and restless; definitely less calm and more stressed out. I wake up feeling less rested--almost as tired and crappy as I felt before I started CPAP. Also, my AHI seems to be creeping up ever so slightly.

Anyone else experience anything like this? What are your thoughts in general about this supplement?

Here is the wikipedia page on it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5-htp

(Disclaimer: No one should try dietary supplements without consulting a physician first, etc. Don't sue me, LOL)

[CompuTech007]

yes, this does help to relax a person but it's not nearly as effictive as the amino acid l-tryptophan. I had some success with it but not everyone does. Unfotunately l-tryptophan was removed from the shelves by the FDA in the early 1990's. This was an uncalled for manuver from the FDA, related to a tanted batch from off USA shores causing an artificial recall of ALL tryptophan brands. And we probably will never see this on our shelves again.

L-tryptophan was VERY effective for inducing a relaxed state and allowing one to easly fall asleep with NO Side effects to speak of other than a little bit of sluggish awakening in the morning.

DAMN FDA!

[jules]

L-trytophan has been back for sale in the US - not sure when it came back but it is for sale at swansonsvitamins - I have not bought it but get their flyers - product # D1SWU372 called TryptoPure and comes from Japanese not Chinese sources according to the blurb.

It was an Rx item when it wasn't available OTC - compounded pharmacies sold it I know as I bought some about 10 years ago before 5HTP became available.

[jskinner]

yes, this does help to relax a person but it's not nearly as effictive as the amino acid l-tryptophan.

I thought that l-tryptophan gets converted into 5-HTP on its way to Serotonin? Using 5-HTP should mean that its less likely to get converted into other things along the way.

Both l-tryptophan and 5-HTP are available here in Canada. For l-tryptophan you need do need a prescription howerver.

[RosemaryB]

I used it off and on for a few years. I was having trouble sleeping when I reached my late 40's early 50's and thought it was hormone related. Now I think it was an exacerbation of my sleep apnea. In any case, tt did help me sleep. In fact it worked like a charm. As long as I took it I did not wake up in the wee hours and not able to get back to sleep.

For a while I took it every night, then I didn't seem to need it as much and took it sporadically when needed. When I started cpap, I started taking melatonin on the advice of my doctor (3 mg). As long as I take it, I sleep well. I assume that the 5-HTP would work as well to help me sleep, but I like boosting my melatonin rather than just my serotonin. Since melatonin dwindles as we age, I assume replacing it would help overall. But if I had trouble sleeping with the melatonin, I'd probably try the 5-HTP again. I usually took between 50-100 mg, depending on what I had around.

I think you may be right about still needing it if you were on antidepressants. Perhaps your next step is to find ways to naturally boost your serotonin and gradually lessen the 5 HTP. For instance, getting aerobic exercise for 30+ minutes a day is a great way to do this. In the winter you could use a light box. Diet can make a difference, though I don't know the details of that.

[amandalee]

Thanks for the replies.

I started thinking about this last night as I was driving home from my parents' house. As soon as I got in the car, I started feeling really strange and tense. I blamed it on the holiday, and having to drive in crappy weather, etc; but the more I thought about it, the more I realized I'd been feeling more tense and uneasy about everything in general lately, as well as less rested. IIRC, it started about the same time I stopped taking the 5-HTP.

I had no idea the supplement was having any effect on me at all, but it seems that it was. I've ordered some more and maybe I will feel a little better once I start taking it again.

I also exercise most days, but didn't yesterday or the day before because of holiday stuff. Getting back on track with that will probably help too.

[CompuTech007]

jskinner/I thought that l-tryptophan gets converted into 5-HTP on its way to Serotonin? Using 5-HTP should mean that its less likely to get converted into other things along the way.

Correct, it does get converted. One would think that 5-HTP would work better but for some reason people have better results with the l-tryptophan.

And it's good to know the availablility of this as I had great results in the past.

As for melatonin, ehh didn't work too well for me for some reason. Initially I slept pretty well, fell asleep fairly easily. After a while the benefit of melatonin suplementation seemed to go away I stopped taking it as it was no longer effect for sleep.

[jskinner]

In my opinion things like l-tryptophan, 5-HTP, and l-tyrosine should be used by doctors rather than re-update inhibitor based antidepressants. And decisions on which ones to uses should be based on testing rather than guesses. In fact research was heading in this direction at one point in psychiatry but the big drug companies realized that they couldn't make money on these substances since they where not patentable. So we all do know happened next... extremely powerful re-update inhibitors that alter normal body process and produce abnormally high levels of neurotransmitters (with the bodys inability to say enough). Worse yet no way to even test if a person needs a particular neurotransmitters boost or if a particular medication is getting it to a normal level.

[RosemaryB]

jskinner/I thought that l-tryptophan gets converted into 5-HTP on its way to Serotonin? Using 5-HTP should mean that its less likely to get converted into other things along the way.

Correct, it does get converted. One would think that 5-HTP would work better but for some reason people have better results with the l-tryptophan.

The theory is that because the molecules of 5-HTP are larger than those of l-tryptophan they have a harder time crossing the brain-blood barrier. At least that's what I was told by someone who did a lot of information gathering on 5-HTP.

[RosemaryB]

In my opinion things like l-tryptophan, 5-HTP, and l-tyrosine should be used by doctors rather than re-update inhibitor based antidepressants. And decisions on which ones to uses should be based on testing rather than guesses. In fact research was heading in this direction at one point in psychiatry but the big drug companies realized that they couldn't make money on these substances since they where not patentable. So we all do know happened next... extremely powerful re-update inhibitors that alter normal body process and produce abnormally high levels of neurotransmitters (with the bodys ability to say enough). Worse yet no way to even test if a person needs a particular neurotransmitters boost or if a particular medication is getting it to a normal level.

That's interesting, about the research in psychiatry getting thwarted. I'm with you on the idea that the supplements (amino acids) are a much better choice. I use SAM-e for osteoarthritis and it works like a charm. As a side effect, it seems to lessen the intensity of my SAD in the winter.

There are a few MD's out there that work with these kinds of things. I'm lucky enough to have found one.

[Snoredog]

um.... think you only need to eat about 3 turkeys before bed to get enough for sleep aid...

but on thanksgiving day everyone is ready for a nap after dinner

[roster]

Bump.

[elliejose]

Rose,
How much SAM-e do you take? I am having a lot of trouble at the present with arthritis! I've thought of trying it, but just haven't done it yet.

[roster]

See also viewtopic.php?p=234198#234198.

[RosemaryB]

Rose,
How much SAM-e do you take? I am having a lot of trouble at the present with arthritis! I've thought of trying it, but just haven't done it yet.

I take 400 mg 2x a day, so a total of 800 mg. I take one right when I get up and another about an hour after lunch. (They work better on an empty stomach, wait at least 1/2 hr before eating). I use Naturemade, which can be gotten on sale 2 for 1, quite frequently. I also like Jarrow. Some SAM-e is not as potent as it should be, so it's best to get a good brand. Also, get it as "fresh" as you can, with the longest expiration date, because it does deteriorate over time and if stored improperly.

Here's a link to info on supplements, including research that's been done. You can look up the SAM-e and find more about it, including when you shouldn't take it. In fact, you can look up these things for many supplements.

http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetConte ... kiid=33802