Topic Title: Advice for new 5-HTP user
| |  "Advice for new 5-HTP user"
, Thu 20 Nov 16:10
My eighteen year old son has suffered from depression, anxiety and insomnia in the past. Currently he is having a severe bout with insomnia. He claims that he does not feel depressed, but is anxious, and his mind won't turn off at night. He started on 100 mg at bedtime on Monday; still awake until his normal 3 am. He did not take a dose on Tuesday because he didn't have the pills. Wednesday, he tried 100 mg again around 10 pm; up until day break this time. No drowsiness effect, but he did have vivid dreams. He wants to try increasing his dosage already. I'm thinking it takes time to work. Any advice re: dosage and timing would be appreciated. The later he stays up, the later he sleeps in. He cannot be roused in the morning and is missing work. He is very frustrated at feeling out of control of this problem.
Posts: 0 | | Registered: Thu 20 Nov 2003 15:59 |
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| | "Re(1):Advice for new 5-HTP user" , Fri 13 Feb 12:38
Your son has delayed sleep phase syndrome, which cannot be treated with 5-htp. Have him keep taking the 5-htp for depression, but you must treat the DSPS seperately.
Check out this website for info on DSPS and it's treatment:
http://www.geocities.com/delayed_sleep/
Posts: 12 | | Registered: Sat 22 Nov 2003 22:16 |
| | "Re(1):Advice for new 5-HTP user" , Fri 21 Nov 20:13
I sometimes suffer from insomnia too. I take 5-htp, but I take 100 mg. in the morning and 100 before dinner. Then I take a 900 mg. of sjw before bed. I think the sjw helps me sleep. It might also be a combination of the sjw and the 5-htp taken at dinner. I have looked at other alternatives, and have considered valerian and melatonin (spelling?). Thing about melatonin is, I read that it shouldn't be taken by people prone to depression. Hope things improve for your son.
Posts: 50 | | Registered: Wed 6 Nov 2002 1:4 |
| | "Re(1):Advice for new 5-HTP user" , Fri 21 Nov 08:07
When I first purchased 5-htp from the vitamin shop, the woman who sold me the supplement said that her daughter took 5-htp three times a day as an insomnia cure (not just before bed). I don't seem to get an antidepressant effect from 5-htp, but I do notice that after taking the supplement in 3 divided doses, I feel sleepy when it is bedtime (I usually have difficulty getting to sleep).
I also noticed that when I was COMPLETELY off of caffeine (not even having a little in the morning), my insomnia problem was gone. Daily exercise also helps a lot, too.
Posts: 36 | | Registered: Thu 3 Apr 2003 5:33 |
| | | "Re(2):Advice for new 5-HTP user" , Fri 21 Nov 16:03
Thanks for your reply. All that I had read re: insomnia recommended before bed dosing. He went up to 150 mg last night and was up again until dawn. He thinks he needs to increase his dosage. He doesn't feel like the 5HTP is what is keeping him up, though I know it occasionally leads to increased wakefulness. We are going to stay with it for awhile I guess though it hasn't helped yet. I'm wondering about giving him Benadryl while he's on the 5HTP. That has been about all that has worked in the past. His regular physician recommended it. He has never heard of 5HTP. An additional note, he quit smoking a week ago. Wondering if this may have led to onset of insomnia. Any thoughts?
Posts: 2 | | Registered: Thu 20 Nov 2003 15:59 |
| | |  "Re(3):Advice for new 5-HTP user"
, Mon 24 Nov 02:53
What brand is your son taking? Make sure it is a good brand like Nature's Way or Natrol. I prefer nature's way because it is enteric coated and doesn't upset my stomach. Have him take it earlier in the day, like around 3 pm on an empty stomach. The recommended dose for insomnia is 300 mg.
MJ DuPont
Posts: 595 | | Registered: Wed 20 Jun 2001 6:19 |
| | | "Re(3):Advice for new 5-HTP user" , Fri 21 Nov 19:21
I'm sure that the quitting smoking could have something to do with the insomnia. I've experienced difficulty sleeping when first coming off of caffeine.
I'm glad that you are talking to a doctor about this, since it seems that something serious could be going on if your son is totally unable to sleep the entire night.
Posts: 39 | | Registered: Thu 3 Apr 2003 5:33 |
| | | "Re(4):Advice for new 5-HTP user" , Fri 12 Dec 08:55
Hello
I am not on 5HTP yet but I did quit somking 4 months ago and I could not sleep for the first 2 weeks. Then the insomnia passed.
I do experience insomnia now again...
Good luck
Eva
Posts: 10 | | Registered: Mon 8 Sep 2003 9:4 |
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