Topic Title: Hmmmm...
| |  "Hmmmm..."
, Wed 28 Aug 09:05:
OK, I've just done a fairly extensive search on 5htp on the net, and this is what I've discovered...
It's OK to take with SJW (Murray).
DO NOT take it with SJW (Sahelian I think).
Always take it with B6.
NEVER take it with B6 (Harris). In fact, never take it at all, as it causes heart problems (Harris again).
To be effective you need at least 300mg+
There is a 'narrow window' of effectiveness, for most people it's between 25 - 50mg.
So... I guess I'll just have to trust my instincts, and the testimonials of people here. I'm on my second day of combining 5htp with SJW, though I've reduced my SJW to 600mg, with 50mg 5htp at night. So far the mornings have still been difficult - I still wake with a LOT of anxiety, but after that I've been mainly OK through the day, if ever so slightly manic. Not in my behaviour, but I feel as if any moment I could experience a lack of control...actually that doesn't describe it very well but I can't think of how else to put it.
Anyway, I'd love to hear from anyone else combining 5htp and SJW,
if only to reassure me that you don't drop down dead after a few days of doing so.
juju
[this message was edited by juju on Wed 28 Aug 09:42]
Posts: 48 | | Registered: Fri 3 May 2002 3:4 |
| Replies:
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| |  "Re(1):Hmmmm..."
, Thu 29 Aug 01:47:
Hiya,
Just one comment regarding panic and anxiety along with 5-HTP.
I have only ever tried 2 brands of 5-HTP. One is called Higher Nature and contains 5-HTP and co factors (including B6 but not Valerian) and comes in 100mg tablet form (bought off the internet). The other is Holland and Barretts own brand that comes in 50mg capsules and contains B6 and Valerian.
I have found a difference in the two brands and the effects they have. I find the capsule form more effective for me. I sleep better and I am less anxious, but with the tablet form I find that my sleeping isn't quite the same and I do get a little more anxious. I can only put this down to the fact that the tablet form doesn't contain Valerian.
Don't know if this helps or not.
Cheers
Nicky
[this message was edited by Nicky C on Thu 29 Aug 01:49]
Posts: 46 | | Registered: Thu 7 Feb 2002 5:45 |
| | | "Re(2):Hmmmm..." , Sun 1 Sep 02:27:
Thanks for your reply Nicky.
I'm actually taking the Higher Nature brand you mentioned, with B6, only mine are 50mg tablets. For nearly a week now I've been taking 300mg SJW in the morning and late afternoon, and 50mg 5htp at night. It's been a strange week - after the first couple of days I seemed to stabilise quite well, and had a really good day yesterday, but..my sleeping patterns have gone haywire. I very rarely have a problem dropping off to sleep, but I quite often wake really early with a lot of anxiety, and really weird dreams. The 5htp has made this a LOT worse - last night I woke at about 4am and spent the rest of the night slipping in and out of bizarre dreams and waking in a panic. Pretty horrible.
I want to carry on with the 5htp, but I think taking it during the day might be better. What does anyone think? I'd really appreciate any advice.
Thanks,
juju
[this message was edited by juju on Sun 1 Sep 02:28]
Posts: 49 | | Registered: Fri 3 May 2002 3:4 |
| | | "Re(3):Hmmmm..." , Wed 9 Oct 03:09
Help! I'm hopelessly confused now.
I started taking 50 mg of 5-htp every day about a week and a half ago. At first I thought I felt better, but starting this past weekend I suddenly tumbled downhill. I'm somewhat delirius, I have headaches every night, and I am more depressed than I've ever been in my life. I thought it was just a little major depressive episode, but now I'm wondering if the 5-htp has something to do with it.
I had the most terrible nightmare the other night and awoke feeling out of it and feeling that I had been out of it the entire previous day. I am afraid to go to sleep becausae of that nightmare and haven't gotten 8 hrs straight since Saturday night. Today and yesterday I have been seriously contemplating suicide for the first time in my life. I cannot help but think that the 5-htp is somehow responsible, because it is the only thing that has changed this past week, and I've never felt like this before.
So what do you guys think? Do I need to up my dosage? Stick it out? I really want to quit taking it, because I've never felt this horrible in my life.
Please help!
--C
Posts: 0 | | Registered: Wed 9 Oct 2002 3:2 |
| | | "Re(3):Hmmmm..." , Tue 3 Sep 01:43
Hiya Juju,
I have never taken SJW so I really don't what it's effects are. I think your suggestion of taking your 5-HTP during the day is a good idea, try it and see.
If you still wanted to take your 5-HTP during the evening why not either change brands of 5-HTP and try one that contains Valerian or buy some valerian tablets to take along with your 5-HTP before bed time. I understand what you are saying about the dreaming as this is what I found when taking the Higher Nature brand of 5-HTP. Again, I can only put it down to it not containing Valerian.
When I first started taking Holland and Barrett 5-HTP or when I up my dose I did have dreams and would keep waking up, but I find it is only for 1 or 2 nights and no more.
The Holland and Barrett brand of capsules definitely suit me better all round. I just didn't feel quite right when taking the Higher Nature. Maybe changing brands might help? It really is all trial and error into what suits each individual.
Stick at it Ju Ju. For me it has been worth it and I hope it works out that way for you.
Cheers
Nicky
Posts: 46 | | Registered: Thu 7 Feb 2002 5:45 |
| | | "Re(4):Hmmmm..." , Tue 3 Sep 16:45
Juju,
From what I have read here at this forum and in my research, 5htp doesn't seem to work well for anxiety, and in some cases can make it worse. My advise...stop taking the 5htp. Since the sjw seems to be working, you could take a third dose of 300 mg in place of the 5htp.
MJ DuPont
http://events.diabetes.org/memberpages/peshka
Posts: 384 | | Registered: Wed 20 Jun 2001 6:19 |
| | | "Re(5):Hmmmm..." , Wed 4 Sep 05:38
Thanks for your replies, Nicky and Dupont.
To be honest Dupont, I think the SJW wasn't particularly successful for me, even after trying different brands. It certainly took the 'edge' off things originally, but this last month I could feel myself slipping way down again. I decided on the 5htp as a last resort really, although I am extremely reluctant to try any more SSRIs - I had a terrible time on the two I tried, which has made me extremely wary.
Actually, apart from the morning anxiety, I guess my main problem is having REALLY negative thoughts that seem to be uncontrollable, and cause me to feel very depressed (though I am prone to the occasional panic attack).
I think I would like to give the 5htp longer, and as I have had no serious S/Es so far, I may increase the dose by taking one in the a.m. as well.
Thanks again for your input
best wishes,
juju
Posts: 53 | | Registered: Fri 3 May 2002 3:4 |
| | | "Re(6):Hmmmm..." , Wed 4 Sep 06:36
The anxiety maybe a side effect of the 5htp that will wear off with time as your body becomes used to the dosage. As for negative thoughts, someone on this website recommended a website about changing thought patterns. It maybe worth a try.
http://www.happyredbox.com/happyredbox/index.htm
MJ DuPont
http://events.diabetes.org/memberpages/peshka
Posts: 385 | | Registered: Wed 20 Jun 2001 6:19 |
| | | "More advice please...!!!" , Thu 5 Sep 14:13
Hi again, and thanks for that Dupont.
I actually had a long awaited appointment with a psychologist today (the good old British NHS), and she diagnosed me as having a mild form of OCD, but without the 'C', and this is probably causing the dpression. I've read that this is believed to be caused by low serotonin levels, and is usually treated by SSRIs, so I think I'm on the right track with the 5htp. It really feels like it's helping, although I still have the odd bad day.
Anyway, my question is actually about whether or not to take food with 5htp. As usual, there seems to be many different opinions about this - on the bottle I have it says to take it with meals, but I have read somewhere that you shouldn't take it within 3 hours of eating any protein...(?)
What does anyone else do? I want to take it to it's full advantage. Could anyone advise?
Thanks,
juju
Posts: 57 | | Registered: Fri 3 May 2002 3:4 |
| | |  "Re(1):More advice please...!!!"
, Thu 5 Sep 14:22
I usually take it with a cup of coffee in the morning. When I was taking 500 mg/day, I would take my morning dose of 250 mg with coffee and another 250 around 3pm with a snack. That seemed to work best for me, both doses without protein.
MJ DuPont
http://events.diabetes.org/memberpages/peshka
Posts: 386 | | Registered: Wed 20 Jun 2001 6:19 |
| | | "Re(2):More advice please...!!!" , Fri 6 Sep 01:10
Juju,
On a 300mg a day, taken in divided doses : I also took it in the morning with coffee, ditto for the midday dose, and followed the '3-hour' rule as far as possible. Was more difficult at nite when I took it before going to sleep but that seldom had a 3-hour protein window. I think the theory is that it is more effective in the absence of protein. BTW, I took it primarily for anxiety, and found 5-htp quite effective. but it did take about 3 weeks plus to kick in. And I did suffer the tummy upsets in the beginning, but that sorted itself out completely.
Matt
Posts: 9 | | Registered: Tue 11 Jun 2002 7:43 |
| | | "Re(3):More advice please...!!!" , Fri 6 Sep 05:25
Thanks for that info and advice. Luckily I never had any tummy problems, just the sleep disturbance which seems to be resolving. I will increase my dose to 75mg tomorrow (I'll break a tablet) and see how I get on.
Thanks again,
best wishes
juju
Posts: 58 | | Registered: Fri 3 May 2002 3:4 |
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