Found cycling RR with this is great!!

[randy]

I tried RR and loved it. The effects seemed to have faded over time so as suggested from others I decided to cycle it. In the mean time I have been taking suntheanine, which doesn't produce quite as much energy though I have more energy now than before, but I would say that it keeps me a little calmer than RR. I think RR is great and I plan to cycle between the 2 maybe every couple of weeks. I have completed one cycle and am back on RR and its effects are restored.
I truly didn't realize how anxious I was until I tried these 2 supplements. I feel that I can take on anything knowing that my fatigue and anxiety will not stop me. I always wondered why the self books did't help much. I know now that it was a chemical imbalance and this now gives me a whole new look at things:dance:

[pinky]

Hi Randy,

I'm new to all this stuff--can you tell me what you mean by "cycling" the RR?

Thanks!

[Zombie]

Hi Pinky,

Sorry to butt in on the answer but I thought I'd give you one anyway just in case.

Cycling, in this case, means taking one supplement for a couple of weeks & then moving onto another. Then after a couple of weeks, going back to the original supplement.

Basically, what Randy is doing is taking Rhodiola Rosea for a couple of weeks, then taking Suntheanine for a couple of weeks, then back to Rhodiola Rosea, then back to Suntheanine & so on.

The reason for this is that some supplements can build up inside you & you become more tolerant to what you're taking. If you "cycle" the supplement with another, it is possible to reduce that tolerance for when you come back to it a couple of weeks or months later.

It can sometimes be difficult to find a supplement that is equally as effective as the one you have been taking. However, sometimes if you don't cycle, your current supplement can become useless unless you do something about the dosage, or add something to it.

Hope this answers your question.

Dave.

[pinky]

Thanks Dave! I've seen a couple sites mention that you should stop taking RR after 6 weeks, and another one said after 4 months (quite a difference!), so I'm confused about when to stop RR. Right now I have the 6-week marked on my calendar, where I was planning to take 5HTP during my time off RR. I'm nervous about switching supplements as I'm starting a new job and am not sure how a new supplement would affect that. Do you cycle your RR, and if so, when?

Thanks a lot.

[Zombie]

Hi Pinky,

I have only just started taking RR & I'm not sure what I'm going to do after 6 weeks just yet. I am also taking the following:-

5-HTP (25mg before bed)
Saffron (boiled in water & honey, twice daily)
Cod Liver Oil (one a day)
Multivitamins (one a day)

Wtih the above in mind, I may just contiue taking what I'm taking & just cut out items when I feel necessary. Besides, at this early stage, I don't think I'm benefitting from RR just yet.

For what it's worth, my advice would be to carry on until you feel you need to change & then cycle. The only advice I can't give is what to cycle it with, unfortunately. I suppose, if it were me starting a new job, I would carry on the way you are because I always feel good starting something new anyway. But that's just me!

I'll keep you updated on my own progression & see if anything can help you from that.

Good look in your new job by the way! Hope it all works out for you.

Take care
Dave.

[pinky]

Thanks again for your feedback, Dave. I think I'm going to try 5-HTP also. I don't know how long it takes for RR to "go into effect," but I was feeling better the first few days I was on it. But today it didn't seem to bring up my mood as much.

I have 300mg capsules, and I've been taking one every morning, but sometimes feel like I need another one in the afternoons; however, I don't know if I should take 2 capsules yet as it might be too big of an increase. I wish I had bought caplets so that I could easily split them, or smaller doses of RR capsules!

How long did it take before you noticed the effects of 5-HTP? I plan on buying some tomorrow because today was tough, despite taking the RR.

Thanks!
Pink

[Zombie]

Hello Pinky,

I don't seem to have noticed any effects from the 5HTP just yet, or anything else for that matter! I have only been taking it for about a week though & it can take a few weeks before it kicks in.

I have to say, I did feel very calm in work on Friday but that could have been because I worked at another site & there was hardly anybody else there.

I actually upped my dose of 5HTP last night to 50mg before bed & I'm gonna see how it goes. Feeling a bit rubbish today but I think this is due to the large amount of alcohol consumed on the town last night!!

BTW - 300mg of RR a day is quite a small dose. I am taking 500mg at present(1x250mg in the morning & one in the afternoon). Again, I've really only just started taking this so hardly any effects at present.

Also, what brand RR are you taking? It's always wise to make sure that you pick up something reputable. I'm taking Nature's Way RR & 5-HTP. Apparently, according to the forum, you can't fault them. I had to get them shipped from the US so they cost me a fortune(shipping, VAT plus other charges I never even new existed!), but if they work, it's well worth it.

If you do go for another brand of RR, make sure you're getting your standardised dosages per capsule. IE: 3% Rosavins 1% Salidroside.

And that's it for now! Let me know if you have any more questions.

Cheers.

[pinky]

Dave,

I'm taking the Natrol brand, which I believe I saw mentioned in one of the other threads as being one of the good ones. As far as doseages, I saw one website where it said the usual dose was 100-600mg. I'm not sure when to take the second capsule--I have noticed that the effects of the RR seem go away after about 8 hrs, because that's when I start feeling kind of sad again, but I'm afraid that if I take it too late in the day it will keep me up at night. The only info I have seen about it says to take 1 in the morning and another in the afternoon, but it'd be helpful to know how many hours apart one should take RR.

I plan to get some 5-HTP on Saturday.

Thanks so much again for all your feedback, it's very helpful!

[Zombie]

Hey Pinky,

I've seen in many places that one should be taken in the morning & one early afternoon. I don't think that you have to wait the full 8 hours before you take it again.

At present, I am taking one in the morning & another 4 - 5 hours later. Hey, if you're feeling unhappy 8 hours after you have taken your RR then maybe you should really think about upping your dosage. Why should your happiness suffer?

Anyway, I have a question for you! How long did it take before you started to feel the effects of the RR? I really don't think that I am feeling anything from it at present, maybe a little twinge here & there, but nothing to write home about.

Suppose I've only been taking it for 5 days so far but I'm sooooo impatient!! Spent months prior to this experimenting with stuff that turned out to be rubbish, so you can understand.

Your feedback would be very much appreciated.

[pinky]

Hi,

I think I felt the effects pretty quickly, like the same day. Not that I was suddenly very happy or anything, but I stopped having crying spells after I took it and while I still felt a little sad, it was nowhere near the level of sadness and emptiness I was feeling before starting RR. It helped me get through the day and not dwell on the sadness.

After about a week on RR, I was actually able to laugh again and enjoy the little things again. I have noticed that the positive benefits have increased more as the days go on, so maybe it'll just be a more gradual process for you.

The only thing that bugs me about the RR--and the reason for not wanting to increase my doseage yet--is that my heart is beating faster. I also had a few palpitations in the first week. My doctor said my heart rate wasn't high enough to concern him though. Last night was pretty good... I spent the evening with a friend and we had some good laughs, so I wasn't yearning for RR, so maybe I can get by on one capsule, but time will tell. If I do increase my dose, I'm going to do it very gradually.

Cheers,
Pink

[Zombie]

Thanks Pinky, think I'll give it another few weeks before I change anything with my dosage, then.

Good to hear that you're able to be happy & have a laugh with your friends. I haven't been out with my circle of friends for ages but might be going out tomorrow night. If I'm able to laugh & be happy like you, then I'll litterally be a very happy man!

Y'all take care now.

[pinky]

Hi again Dave,

I was actually thinking about you earlier today... Regarding your 5-HTP, I usually see the recommended dose as 50mg before bed. Maybe you should increase that and see if it makes any difference. Or did you already try 50mg and have unpleasant effects?

I hope you're feeling up to going out tomorrow night!

Wishing you well...

[Zombie]

Yo Pinky,

Thanks for your reply. LOL - nice to know you're thinking about me!

I haven't really thought about increasing my dose, I thought this might just make things worse but I suppose I could give it a try.

I have tried decreasing it to 25mg before bed which didn't make any difference. Maybe I'll try taking 100mg this evening & see what happens.

As for going out, that didn't happen. I really didn't feel like it so I turned my phone off, got a chinese & watched a film with a few beers. Off on a stag weekend next week anyway so I thought I'd save myself!

Cheers & take it easy.

[Zombie]

Well, I tried the 100mg last night & still felt rubbish this morning.

I am going to stop the 5-HTP altogether as of tonight & see what happens.

[analea21]

I was on 5htp (200mg) for 2 months and the effects have worn off. So, I am starting RR. I do feel a little more anxious on it, or over-stimulated. I am hoping this wears off. I am trying to wean off 5htp.

5htp worked great for my anxiety. However, the depression wasn't completely gone with it. I didn't mind that much, though. I hate how SSRI's take away every feeling.

I plan on trying RR for 4-6 weeks and then I will go back on 5htp. Gosh, 5htp worked so great for me. I recommend it to others who are cycling. It took about 2 weeks for it to finally start working. You can't start on more than 50mg the first week. It's just like an antidepressant. You'll feel worse if you try to get up on it too fast.

Is RR the same way?

[Zombie]

Hi A,

The RR didn't do anything for me, but then, I only took it for a couple of weeks & probably didn't give it enough of a chance. Truth is, I've been off the meds since March this year & have been spiralling down ever since & I've spent a long time taking natural remedies which have just had no effect after months of trial.

Therefore, I'm becoming very desperate to find something that is going to work for me. Usually, if something works, it works within 2 weeks for me anyhow.

Probably not the answer you wanted but, just because it didn't work for me, certainly doesn't mean that it won't work for you. There is pleny of evidence on this forum that states so.

Wishing you well

Dave.
PS: I was taking Nature's Way RR but have now been taking Kira SJW for almost a week. No positive effects as yet.