Anxiety is Worse

[analea21]

Hey All, I appreciate all the info on this forum. I have been using 5-HTP for the last two weeks for depression/anxiety. I tried to start with over 100 mg and it was too much. So, this past week I've been on 50 mg and over-all, my experience with 5-HTP has aggravated my anxiety mostly in the mornings. I know that it can first make it worse, but I was hoping that I would get relief.

Has anyone felt that 5-HTP made their anxiety worse in the long run? Did the anxiety finally go away? Maybe 5-HTP isn't for me, since I have felt little to no anxiety this whole summer until I started to take it.

[cinderella]

I started 5-htp a week ago, started on 50mg ok then went up to one morn and one night, this seemed too much and I had major anxiety throughout the night. I am back on 50mg and seeing how it goes. I read we may need to take it slowly as our brains wont be too receptive at first, I believe it may take a few weeks. Some sites say people feel a difference with minutes, well doesnt it take time to build up? I guess we are lacking in the stuff so will take us a while. I am taking half a lorazapan to counteract any anxiety. Good luck.

[analea21]

Thanks for your reply. My anxiety is not as bad since I went back to 50 mg a day. It's now been over two weeks and I do feel better. I really think it would be amazing to have a natural antidepressant work for me. I guess it takes patience.

[cinderella]

I take it back, I had a hellish night the other night just being on 50mg. I had sweating, palps, buzzing anxiety. I was so sick I had to spend the day in bed. Im too scared to touch it now. I dont know what to do.

[analea21]

I'm so sorry to hear this. Are you taking anything else with it? Also, maybe you could simply go down to 25 mg, until you adjust.

Another thing, I can't sleep when I take it in the evening. Could you take it in th morning, or at noon?

[cinderella]

I was taking half a lorazapan also. I am now back on SJW magnesium and fish oil, plus half lorazapan. My anxiety is caused by my hair loss and I am trying to talk myself into not worrying about it but my brain is obsessed, which I think is a sign of low serotonin. I am also in peri and have some horrid nights anyway but dont usually have to spend all day in bed ill.

[analea21]

Just so others know, I stuck out my transition onto 5-HTP (3 weeks) and I feel much better. The problem was that I had taken too much the first week, and it made me feel severe anxiety. It's just like SSRI's, which make you feel worse at first and then better later.

I am now taking 100mg and I am planning to take a higher dose, since the depression has not completely lifted yet. When I take it, it calms me within minutes and has made me a little sleepy, but this side effect is leaving too.

[maudlin]

My anxiety is caused by my hair loss

Cinderella, have your thyroid checked ASAP. hair loss is a symptom for thyroid disorder. I thought I was perimenopausal as well but now i believe that it is all thyroid. my test results seem normal but that does not mean that i am not hypothyroid. After going on my neurotransmitter cocktail, all symptoms improved, but it has been *much* better since I started taking Iodine as well.

see here: http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/shamesmenopause.htm

See also the post from Reina on tyroid.

[cinderella]

Thanks Maudlin, my hair loss was caused by low iron last year. It hasnt grown back yet and I just had my autumn shed which made it look worse. My iron level is way high now and I think my anxiety is preventing it from coming back. The rest of my hair falls and regrows as usual.

[tlcha]

Seems like my anxiety is worse on it too. It's 2 weeks on it. I am backed down to 200mg. I don't know if I should just keep going with that or lower it and see if the anxiety gets better. I struggle with daily anxiety and depression. I think the anxiety is the worst. I hope it works soon or I will have to try lexapro.

[Nishka27]

analea - how are you making out with ssris? experiment or you back on SJW??? are you getting better?

Just so others know, I stuck out my transition onto 5-HTP (3 weeks) and I feel much better. The problem was that I had taken too much the first week, and it made me feel severe anxiety. It's just like SSRI's, which make you feel worse at first and then better later.

I am now taking 100mg and I am planning to take a higher dose, since the depression has not completely lifted yet. When I take it, it calms me within minutes and has made me a little sleepy, but this side effect is leaving too.

[analea21]

Hi Nishka,
It's like a habit to keep checking this site, but I am on my second week of Effexor, and feel pretty good. I started off at a low dose so I wouldn't feel too many side-effects and this method has worked well for me. I feel relieved to be back on SSRI's. That must sound crazy on this forum, but last year I can say I was relieved to be off. I guess there are certain times for everything. I don't fully regret experimenting with SJW and 5htp since I hope to go back to it once this crazy busy year is over (I'm finishing up grad school). Thanks for asking.

[Nishka27]

Hi Nishka,
It's like a habit to keep checking this site, but I am on my second week of Effexor, and feel pretty good. I started off at a low dose so I wouldn't feel too many side-effects and this method has worked well for me. I feel relieved to be back on SSRI's. That must sound crazy on this forum, but last year I can say I was relieved to be off. I guess there are certain times for everything. I don't fully regret experimenting with SJW and 5htp since I hope to go back to it once this crazy busy year is over (I'm finishing up grad school). Thanks for asking.

I dont think it sounds crazy at all... we all have similar issues so thats good to hear, and I know what you mean...I jsut wish I could find the Old style Effexor to crack the pill in half to start me off again... i found the low dose was alot for my body this time around, so tried the SJW. I heard a few people talk about Lexapro? wonder if that has lower doses... Oh wel, im glad you are doing well, You were very kind to respond to me lots when i first started ON SJW - Im upping my dose to TWO tommorrow and gonna see my Doctor in a few weeks for possible alternatives if needed:)