Topic Title: 5-HTP
| |  "5-HTP to aid sleep - calling Dupont"
, Tue 5 Feb 09:38:
Hi there Dupont (as you seem to be 5-HTP expert) or anyone else with advice
I have been suffering from terrible insomnia and depression for what seems like an enternity (well at least 3 years). My insomnia has got so bad that I can't even share a bed with my fiancee (as the slightest movement from him wakes me up).
I have tried SJW and I suffered vivid dreams. I have been repeatedly told that I have low serotonin levels and nothing will make them get back to normal unless I take an antidepressant. Bit having seen the side effects of Prozac, seroxat, zoloft etc I have avoided taking them.
I have heard that 5-HTP is very good at helping raise serotonin levels and helping insomnia without too many side effects. When should I take it and in what dose.
Please help because I can't cope with this much longer - my career is a mess (due to lack of sleep I can't work properly) and I am getting married in 6 months and don't want to feel like this forever.
[this message was edited by SleepyMel on Tue 5 Feb 09:41]
Posts: 7 | | Registered: Thu 11 Oct 2001 10:1 |
| Replies:
|
| |  "Re(1):5-HTP to aid sleep - calling Dupont"
, Tue 5 Feb 17:06
Here is a great website for information on 5htp
http://www.smart-publications.com/books/5htp/toc.html
If you have low serotonin levels 5htp is a great way to increase those levels. 5htp will also help with the insomnia and depression. I would suggest taking it at least 5 hours before retiring.
I had moderate to sever depression and started with a dosage of 500 mg per day. 250 in the morning and 250 around 3 pm.
The website I mentioned has a great section on dosing guidelines, which I also posted recently at this forum in response to "new user, dosage question".
MJ DuPont
http://events.diabetes.org/memberpages/peshka
Posts: 223 | | Registered: Wed 20 Jun 2001 6:19 |
| |  "Re(1):5-HTP to aid sleep - calling Dupont"
, Tue 5 Feb 10:09
Dupont is definitely the most knowledgeable on the 5-HTP. But, just thought I would share some experience with you. I had the same problem with SJW giving me crazy, vivid dreams. I started taking it 4-5 hours prior to bed (the last dose). That helped allot. But, when I started taking 5-HTP, I slept great and still do. It also gave me some funky dreams the first couple of nights. But, it works great now. I take SJW twice a day (morn and lunch) and then 5-HTP at night. Seems to be working quite well so far. When I was taking 5-HTP alone, I also slept real well. It just does not work for my anxiety as well as SJW. I think Dupont has had good success with it for depression though. So, it might be a good alternative for the SJW. One thing I might suggest to you while making the decision, don't take SJW within 5 hours of going to bed. I found that to help allot. Good luck.
Posts: 39 | | Registered: Thu 10 Jan 2002 11:38 |
| | | "Re(2):5-HTP to aid sleep - calling Dupont" , Tue 5 Feb 11:02:
thanks for your advice Mike
One question though - when do you take 5-HTP and how much do you take? I have heard that (like SJW) if it is taken too close to bed it may cause vivid dreams/insomnia. I do not need this as my aim is for better sleep.
I am going to try 5-HTP on its own (not with SJW) so when do I take it - morning and lunch? How much did you take when you took it on its own?
Sorry for all the questions but i really want to knock this insomnia on the head. I am sick of having to try so hard for a good nights sleep. I wake frequently and sleep lightly and am sure this is due to low serotonin levels. Infact I find that as soon as I sleep well I am not depressed so this sleep thing really is crucial!
Thanks
Mel
[this message was edited by sleepymel on Tue 5 Feb 11:17]
Posts: 8 | | Registered: Thu 11 Oct 2001 10:1 |
| | | "Re(3):5-HTP to aid sleep - calling Dupont" , Tue 5 Feb 13:02
No sweat, I will answer any questions I can. When I took it on it's own, i took 1 50mg tablet in the morning, one at lunch, and one at dinner (est: 6-7pm). This is probably why I had the vivid dreams at first. Because I took it closer to bedtime. If you have a problem with the dreams & 5-HTP, try taking the last one (or any of the doses) 4-5 hours before bed. This helped with the SJW but I have not tried with the 5-HTP since the dreams seemed to subside after the first couple of days for me. It is entirely possible that you would not need to take three tablets a day if you just desire some sleep. Maybe just the one close to dinner. But, again, I am not the real expert. We can see if Dupont will weigh in.
Ad for the SJW 5-HTP combo, it seems to be working for me. But, I would rather stay with one or the other. It just seems that I need components from both the achieve the desired result. With sleeplessness, I think I would stick with the 5-HTP based on my short experience and what I have read. Good luck and keep us posted.
Posts: 45 | | Registered: Thu 10 Jan 2002 11:38 |
| | | "Re(4):5-HTP to aid sleep - calling Dupont" , Tue 5 Feb 14:27
Hi Mike,
if I understand well, you are now in your second week with 5HTP. So am I, and maybe we can share some experiences. I take 50mg 3 times a day and it works pretty good so far. It relieved my anxiety and cleared my head (for now). And the sedative effect is incredible. It helps because I stressed all the time and that developed anxiety. Now I am calm for the most of the day and stressfull situations are not so bad as they were. So far no side effects except I feel tired in the afternoon (sometimes) which in my case is not so bad actually. You say 5 HTP did not relieve your anxiety? Were you on 50 mg only? Keep me posted about developments!
I also have question for DUPONT!
Will these effects get stronger with time if I don't increase the dosage, or do I need to increase to feel even better. Sometimes I think that maybe 300 mg will bring me back to my old myself (completely) but I am reluctant to take it.
Posts: 2 | | Registered: Sat 2 Feb 2002 15:44 |
| | |  "Re(5):5-HTP to aid sleep - calling Dupont"
, Tue 5 Feb 16:51
When I started taking 5htp over 2 years ago, I also felt tired in the afternoon but that side effect has worn off as my body became adjusted to the medication. I started with a dose of 500mg, 250mg 2 times per day. 250 in the morning and 250 around 3 pm. I agree you should not take it close to bed time. If you think that taking more would make you feel better, I would say go for it. 5htp has been shown in studies to be safe up to 900 mg per day. You are only talking about taking 1/3 of that.
Here is a great website for more information
http://www.smart-publications.com/books/5htp/toc.html
MJ DuPont
http://events.diabetes.org/memberpages/peshka
Posts: 222 | | Registered: Wed 20 Jun 2001 6:19 |
| | | "Re(5):5-HTP to aid sleep - calling Dupont" , Tue 5 Feb 14:51
Hey Ramar. Well, you are right. I was at my second week with 5-HTP. However, my anxiety was horrible. I thought this was primarily because I was starting on something new. But, it seems to have been because I abruptly stopped SJW. Now, I am taking two SJW 300mg tablets a day and 1 50mg tablet of 5-HTP at night.
I was, however, taking 150mg of 5-HTP a day. 1 morning, noon, and night. I think it would have worked well if not for the trouble with stopping the SJW so suddenly. I really loved the effectiveness of SJW. SO, I am going to try it (SJW) again at this new, lower dosage level and see how things go. I might phase it out all together and just try the 5-HTP at some point. but, things are working well now so I am not going to change anything yet.
Posts: 46 | | Registered: Thu 10 Jan 2002 11:38 |
| | | "Re(6):5-HTP to aid sleep - calling Dupont" , Wed 6 Feb 09:33
Dupont/Mike
Thanks for all your advice - I am going to start on a low dose of 5-HTP (perhaps 50mg x2 day) and avoid taking it within 5hrs of bed as taking SJW before bed gave me bad dreams. I suppose All 'expert' opinion seems to be on taking in just before bed for sleep but I think I'll just have to learn by trial and error.
Do you know if it is safe to take 5-HTP for a long time and whether it loses its effectiveness after a while. I think I am committed to staying on something for a while (the Doctor told me I'd have to take SSRI's for months and that was enough to put me off)
Thanks
Posts: 8 | | Registered: Thu 11 Oct 2001 10:1 |
| | | "Re(7):5-HTP to aid sleep - calling Dupont" , Wed 6 Feb 13:46
I hope that it is safe!! I've been taking it for over 2.5 years. No adverse reactions, and nothing abonormal at my yearly physical. I'm just starting to cut back on the amount that I take. Good luck!!
MJ DuPont
http://events.diabetes.org/memberpages/peshka
Posts: 224 | | Registered: Wed 20 Jun 2001 6:19 |
| | | "Re(8):5-HTP to aid sleep - calling Dupont" , Wed 6 Feb 14:24
Dupont,
are you cutting back cause you are satisfied with the results? Also, when did you experience the best results from 5HTP, after month, 2? I read that some people feel best results after several weeks/months,although most feel some relief after couple of days. Did it have same effect after 1 and after 6 months of use? Were you feeling better and better with longer use? There is some information that people should make pauses after 2 months of use? What do you think about this?
thanx,
ramar
Posts: 3 | | Registered: Sat 2 Feb 2002 15:44 |
| | |  "Re(9):5-HTP to aid sleep - calling Dupont"
, Wed 6 Feb 17:13
Initially I felt immediate results. Within the hour of my first dose of 250 mg I felt different, better. Over the past 2 years, I have kept my dosage the same 250mg 2x/day. But just because I felt better didn't mean the depression was cured. It has taken a lot of work, therapy, prayers, meditation, behavioral changes, reading, music, exercise. It's a process, and I think medication helps relieve the symptoms so you can do the work.
I am cutting back because I am at a point in my life wear I no longer feel depressed, however I am still a work in progress. So, I'm taking 150mg 2x/day.
I don't think there is a need to take "pauses". Stay on the medication and do the work.
MJ DuPont
http://events.diabetes.org/memberpages/peshka
Posts: 225 | | Registered: Wed 20 Jun 2001 6:19 |
| | | "Re(7):5-HTP to aid sleep - calling Dupont" , Wed 6 Feb 11:19
Here again is something Dupont would really be able to help you with. I have read conflicting reports out on the net. One doctor says he only has patients take it for two months at a time. He also says that he only has them take 50mg a day. And has them stop for a weekend every two weeks or something. This is the only report I have seen with these suggestions. Pretty much everything he had to say was in complete contrast to the other information I had read on the internet. With one exception, the reason he had people stop for a day or two every couple of weeks (to a month) was so they did not build up tolerance to it. This apparently can happen with 5-HTP. However, I would think each person is different so who knows. I think Dupont has taken it long enough to give you an informed opinion on all this. You can find allot about it on the net too. The information I try to stay away from is that which you find on sites that link to the product itself (like herbal online retailers). Of course they are not going to report anything that might harm their chances of selling you their product. I try and find sites that have a .org domain name. Or sites that have a doctors actual findings and have nothing to do with selling 5-HTP nor do they link to sites that do.
Posts: 49 | | Registered: Thu 10 Jan 2002 11:38 |
|
|
Home
email/admin 
SJW home 
forum index
