thinking of taking 5-HTP

masonjarjar · 02-22-2012, 11:54 AM

Has anyone had experience with this suppliment? It's supposed to be a serotonin enhancer, used to treat depression but also for weight loss..

Salamander · 02-24-2012, 11:26 AM

Hi Mason,

I purchased a bottle of 100mg from Costco and started taking one a day this week. It's time released over 12 hours and I've been taking it with lunch. I'm not sure if its really working yet, or the 'placebo effect', but I am falling asleep faster at night but having a harder time getting out of bed in the morning. I'm awake, but just want to lay there and relax!

I'm not using it to lose weight- just to regulate mood and reduce appetite/cravings (which it seems to be working for that too!)

Please post if you decide to try it and how it goes for you.

Sally

Christian · 02-28-2012, 08:38 PM

I take 5HTP fairly regularly, mainly as a mood enhancer. I usually take it during the day at lunch with food. I can't say it's had much effect on my appetite. But luckily it's not very expensive so you can buy it and experiment without a huge investment.

bear84 · 02-29-2012, 12:54 PM

Some folks take it and Phenterine, or Phen-Pro(zac). I know of a few people who have taken it instead of the prozac for depression and have had no real issues.

I've considered picking some up and giving it a shot. I have trouble falling asleep, but I also already have trouble waking up, and if I just want to lay there, that's not gonna be a good thing, haha.

sya_unit · 03-03-2012, 05:46 PM

I happen to have started it last week due to some anxiety etc on the rec of my chiropractor. Before I started them I would wake every hour or two, but now I am sleeping HARD. I seem to not be as anxious and haven't had a tension headache in a week. WOO HOO. I also noted decreased hunger. And I am taking it with dinner. I would say, for me, it is working and I like it.

Kerry · 03-06-2012, 04:55 PM

I love this stuff.. I take it and st johns wort.
I believe it prob saved my marrage.. I can get very depressed and now that I take my mood enhancing cocktail Im sold on it.

I take 100mg with my morning vitimans and 200mg at bedtime

AlphaBeth1017 · 03-07-2012, 01:04 PM

been taking it for a few months.. definitely reduces anxiety, helps me fall asleep at night and seems to help with appetite.. I just feel less inclined to eat quickly even if I'm really hungry.. naturally, this helps me eat less..
I agree, try it and see.. I did have headaches (mild) when I first started it.

quietnite · 01-16-2013, 02:08 PM

Just started taking it yesterday and within 20 minutes, could feel a real difference in neck and upper body tension. Killed a stress/neck headache this afternoon. It appears to most effective when taken 20 minutes before or after eating. Not WITH protein.

coffeelover · 01-18-2013, 12:19 PM

I took this last year and had to stop because it increased my heartrate and made my anxiety worse. Same thing happened to my sister. My doc thinks it's because my issue isn't with serotonin but dopamine, so if I ever have to take anything I'm better off with Wellbutrin. Good luck!

mountaingirl30 · 01-19-2013, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coffeelover

I took this last year and had to stop because it increased my heartrate and made my anxiety worse. Same thing happened to my sister. My doc thinks it's because my issue isn't with serotonin but dopamine, so if I ever have to take anything I'm better off with Wellbutrin. Good luck!

If your issue is with dopamine, you might be helped by the amino acid L-tyrosine. Unless you have panic attacks, in which case I'd tread lightly. I can take a tiny 50mg dose and be ok but 500mg is generally the lowest therapeutic dose you can find and that's too much for my panic disorder. YMMV.

coffeelover · 01-19-2013, 03:27 PM

Thanks Mountaingirl30.

Recently my doc did this new test where they swab the inside of your cheek and send it to a. The results will tell you which antidepressants will work best for you. Mine came back Wellbutrin, Effexor and a couple of others.

Sorry, got a bit off-topic here.

han1cka · 01-25-2013, 07:08 AM

I take 5-HTP for about 2 years now. Mostly for sleeping problems, used to wake up every 2 hours. Sleeping is better, deeper, more dreams :-). But for the last two weeks, I have a strangely fast heartbeat at night, right before I drift to sleep. By googling, I have realized, that it might be a side effect of 5-HTP. Will try to pinpoint other supplements, as I probably take too many :-(

Take care

muncheechee · 02-07-2013, 06:38 PM

Just started taking it this week and I'm so amazed that my sugar cravings are GONE! Feel l like I'm f i n a l l y able to get back on track without struggling with my carb demons.

jeepnbeep · 02-08-2013, 03:44 AM

Hi. I have been thinking about taking it for appetite suppression. Have issues with occasional binging. What dosage is recommended and how many times?

Also thinking about giving it to my husband, and do males generally take more dosage?

I read somewhere that one shouldn't take it for migraines. Does anyone with migraines take it and have any issues with it?

Thanks.

02-22-2012, 11:54 AM	#1
masonjarjar Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 183 Gallery: masonjarjar Stats: 260/219/185 WOE: Paleo / Low-carb Start Date: February 2012	thinking of taking 5-HTP Has anyone had experience with this suppliment? It's supposed to be a serotonin enhancer, used to treat depression but also for weight loss..

03-07-2012, 01:04 PM	#7
AlphaBeth1017 Junior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 51 Gallery: AlphaBeth1017 Stats: 150/144.5/130 WOE: Atkins/vlc Start Date: Febuary 2010	5 htp helps me been taking it for a few months.. definitely reduces anxiety, helps me fall asleep at night and seems to help with appetite.. I just feel less inclined to eat quickly even if I'm really hungry.. naturally, this helps me eat less.. I agree, try it and see.. I did have headaches (mild) when I first started it.

02-08-2013, 03:44 AM	#14
jeepnbeep Junior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 2 Gallery: jeepnbeep	Dosage Hi. I have been thinking about taking it for appetite suppression. Have issues with occasional binging. What dosage is recommended and how many times? Also thinking about giving it to my husband, and do males generally take more dosage? I read somewhere that one shouldn't take it for migraines. Does anyone with migraines take it and have any issues with it? Thanks.

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02-24-2012, 11:26 AM	#2
Salamander Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Western WA Posts: 689 Gallery: Salamander Stats: 102 lbs- 5'0"- 41 WOE: Atkins Maintenance Start Date: Feb 08	Hi Mason, I purchased a bottle of 100mg from Costco and started taking one a day this week. It's time released over 12 hours and I've been taking it with lunch. I'm not sure if its really working yet, or the 'placebo effect', but I am falling asleep faster at night but having a harder time getting out of bed in the morning. I'm awake, but just want to lay there and relax! I'm not using it to lose weight- just to regulate mood and reduce appetite/cravings (which it seems to be working for that too!) Please post if you decide to try it and how it goes for you. Sally

02-28-2012, 08:38 PM	#3
Christian Junior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: san francisco, CA Posts: 26 Gallery: Christian Stats: 217/217/180 WOE: atkins/myown Start Date: 10/01/2008	I take 5HTP fairly regularly, mainly as a mood enhancer. I usually take it during the day at lunch with food. I can't say it's had much effect on my appetite. But luckily it's not very expensive so you can buy it and experiment without a huge investment.

02-29-2012, 12:54 PM	#4
bear84 Junior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 4 Gallery: bear84 Stats: 464/374/240 WOE: Carb Cycles Start Date: March 2012	Some folks take it and Phenterine, or Phen-Pro(zac). I know of a few people who have taken it instead of the prozac for depression and have had no real issues. I've considered picking some up and giving it a shot. I have trouble falling asleep, but I also already have trouble waking up, and if I just want to lay there, that's not gonna be a good thing, haha.

03-03-2012, 05:46 PM	#5
sya_unit Senior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Valley of the Sun Posts: 754 Gallery: sya_unit Stats: 254/184/140 WOE: Atkinsish Start Date: Jan 3, 2012	I happen to have started it last week due to some anxiety etc on the rec of my chiropractor. Before I started them I would wake every hour or two, but now I am sleeping HARD. I seem to not be as anxious and haven't had a tension headache in a week. WOO HOO. I also noted decreased hunger. And I am taking it with dinner. I would say, for me, it is working and I like it.

03-06-2012, 04:55 PM	#6
Kerry I'm not fat, I'm fluffy Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Brooklyn Ny Posts: 6,608 Gallery: Kerry Stats: Post Preg:195/151/140 (pre prego 230/135/130) WOE: PALEO/PRIMAL just call me cave lady! Start Date: Low carb living a few yrs now.. Restart Nov 2010	I love this stuff.. I take it and st johns wort. I believe it prob saved my marrage.. I can get very depressed and now that I take my mood enhancing cocktail Im sold on it. I take 100mg with my morning vitimans and 200mg at bedtime

01-16-2013, 02:08 PM	#8
quietnite Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 198 Gallery: quietnite	Just started taking it yesterday and within 20 minutes, could feel a real difference in neck and upper body tension. Killed a stress/neck headache this afternoon. It appears to most effective when taken 20 minutes before or after eating. Not WITH protein.

01-18-2013, 12:19 PM	#9
coffeelover Senior LCF Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 544 Gallery: coffeelover Stats: 5'4" 235/198/120 WOE: LC/Atkins Start Date: 01/15/13	I took this last year and had to stop because it increased my heartrate and made my anxiety worse. Same thing happened to my sister. My doc thinks it's because my issue isn't with serotonin but dopamine, so if I ever have to take anything I'm better off with Wellbutrin. Good luck!

01-19-2013, 03:27 PM	#11
coffeelover Senior LCF Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 544 Gallery: coffeelover Stats: 5'4" 235/198/120 WOE: LC/Atkins Start Date: 01/15/13	Thanks Mountaingirl30. Recently my doc did this new test where they swab the inside of your cheek and send it to a. The results will tell you which antidepressants will work best for you. Mine came back Wellbutrin, Effexor and a couple of others. Sorry, got a bit off-topic here.

01-25-2013, 07:08 AM	#12
han1cka Junior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 28 Gallery: han1cka Stats: 207.5/156.5/135 WOE: LC, NK Start Date: March 09	I take 5-HTP for about 2 years now. Mostly for sleeping problems, used to wake up every 2 hours. Sleeping is better, deeper, more dreams :-). But for the last two weeks, I have a strangely fast heartbeat at night, right before I drift to sleep. By googling, I have realized, that it might be a side effect of 5-HTP. Will try to pinpoint other supplements, as I probably take too many :-( Take care

02-07-2013, 06:38 PM	#13
muncheechee Senior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: NC Posts: 378 Gallery: muncheechee Stats: Pregnancy goals 240/244/260 WOE: LC pregnancy	Just started taking it this week and I'm so amazed that my sugar cravings are GONE! Feel l like I'm f i n a l l y able to get back on track without struggling with my carb demons.