Topic Title: new user, dosage question
| |  "new user, dosage question"
, Wed 30 Jan 21:17
Hi,
I've decided to start using 5-HTP for depression and bulimia, but even though I have read many of the posts in this forum, I can't determine what dosage to start at and how to increase if I should. the bottle I bought says to take 1 50 mg pill once or twice a day, but from the sounds of everyone's posts, this seems like too little to have any effect. any advice/suggesstions?
thanks
cherry
Posts: 1 | | Registered: Tue 29 Jan 2002 11:42 |
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| |  "Re(1):new user, dosage question"
, Thu 31 Jan 11:27
From my favorite book on 5htp
http://www.smart-publications.com/books/5htp/toc.html
5-HTP Dosing Guidelines
The dose of 5-HTP that has most often been reported in the scientific literature and prescribed by physicians is 300 mg per day. When taking 5-HTP for depression, anxiety, or fibromyalgia, the general practice in scientific studies has been to take 100 mg three times a day. This dosing regimen may leave some people too sleepy during the day, however.
Some physicians have found it best to start their patients out by taking 150 to 200 mg at bedtime. If this is insufficient to provide antidepressant/anti-anxiety relief, they can take additional doses of 33 to 50 mg during the day. The number of these doses should be adjusted to a level that provides adequate relief without causing daytime sedation.
If you are taking 5-HTP to enhance sleep, it is probably best to take the entire 300-mg dose at bedtime. The dose used in the best migraine study was 400 mg (100 mg four times per day). The dose found to effectively suppress appetite was 900 mg per daily (300 mg three times per day).Incidentally, the fact that this very high dose of 5-HTP was used without significant side effects can be taken as an indication of the general safety of this substance.
Different individuals may require higher or lower doses than these, but these are good starting points. As with any drug, it is usually better to start with a low dose and increase it gradually. If you find that a lower dose delivers the therapeutic effect you are looking for, then you can stop there. If the 300-mg dose seems inadequate, you can slowly increase it. In any case, always be alert for adverse side effects. If a given dose makes you feel uncomfortable, either physically or mentally, back off the dose and do not go any higher until you consult with a knowledgeable physician. In most cases, lowering the dose will quickly cause the adverse effects to disappear.
I took 500 mg per day for over 2 years without any adverse reaction, and with great success in releiving my depression. I took 250 mg in the morning w/coffee and 250mg at 3 pm. Sometimes I also took Kava Kava for anxiety. I would have to say that my depression was moderate to sever when I started taking the 5htp. I use Nature's Way brand with b6 & C, you can get it for a decent price at http://www.iherb.com/iherb/store.html
MJ DuPont
http://events.diabetes.org/memberpages/peshka
Posts: 212 | | Registered: Wed 20 Jun 2001 6:19 |
| | | "Re(2):new user, dosage question" , Fri 1 Feb 08:33
Hey Dupont. You just mentioned something that struck my interest. You said to try taking the dose all before bed time. I am wondering if this might be a good solution for me. When I wake up in the morning (after taking a 50mg a night), I feel pretty good and have little anxiety. It is when I start taking the doses in the day that I get this horrible anxiety. I am still hoping this is just me adjusting but it has been 2 weeks 1 day today. I think I will try taking the 100mg at night now. Just sucks cause I have a date with this girl that I had planned two weeks in advance cause I figured the initial anxiety effects of the 5-HTP would have subsided. :(
Posts: 31 | | Registered: Thu 10 Jan 2002 11:38 |
| | | "Re(3):new user, dosage question" , Fri 1 Feb 11:39
Take some Kava Kava before your date!!
MJ DuPont
http://events.diabetes.org/memberpages/peshka
Posts: 213 | | Registered: Wed 20 Jun 2001 6:19 |
| | | "thank you!" , Fri 1 Feb 08:13
your information was extremely helpful, thank you for your time and informative reply,
Cherry
Posts: 2 | | Registered: Tue 29 Jan 2002 11:42 |
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