I was taking 50mg in the morn and eve. It totally helped with my pms too but i think it was almost like i reached a point where i didnt need it anymore so my body just started rejecting it...dunno. It was weird though becuase it did really help at first! Oh well found 5htp and im all good now. As far as side effects a google search will turn up info, a lot of it is conflicting though. The only warning I have ever recieved was from an herbalist and she told me to not consume alchohol while taking 5htp (if you know your going out drinking one night make sure there is at least 6 hours in between your last pill and your first drink). She also said it could cause naseua and make me sleepy. So far no naseau, a lil sleepy but Id rather be sleepy then so anxious I feel like a rat running in a wheel! LOL! Im actually sleeping really well now...finally!

Side effects of 5HTP are pretty uncommon but they can happen--google the side effects and also google side effects of Serotonin Syndrome (when your serotonin is too high) because I've heard from at least one poster on this board who took 5HTP and developed Serotonin Syndrome. Just keep informed

As far as depression goes: I have a friend who is taking SAMe for depression (her antidepressants gave her bad side effects) and has been very successful with it. I would talk to your HCP or psychiatrist before switching but it has been used for years in Europe to treat depression and apparantly has benefits in the liver and joint areas as well.

I'm in my 6th or 7th week of taking 5HTP (200mg/day, split between morning and evening) and I have heard that it can make you sleepy--didn't know about not drinking right around when you take your pill though, so thanks for that info!

Overall it's working REALLY well for me, I'm sleeping well, not anxious anymore, just a lot more calm overall

Rowanthe, I'm really pleased that the 5HTP is working for you.

So just for my reassurance, once the serotonin levels are back up to "normal" (i.e. pre-BC) they will stay there by themselves (of course barring a really traumatic event or terrible diet)?

Cheers girls, much love and big hugs to all of u, you're mint!

Lou

xxx

that was my understanding from the information I've read so far. I think that it requires a few months of continuous levels of 5HTP to get back up there. I'll do some more reading.....

Thinking about it, it would make sense that they stay there, otherwise people would be on antidepressants forever and never recover. Also, I never had any problems maintaining serotonin before, even during very traumatic times in my life, including homelessness, relationship breakdown and bereavement (I didn't feel "depressed" at these times, just accordingly sad, worried or grieveing, whereas now I have everything to be happy about and I feel depressed and anxious!)

Lou
xxx

dug up this article again: http://www.enotalone.com/article/4116.html

Still can't believe that bit about "one method of birth control". I don't believe for one minute that doctors, the FDa, the NHS and other bodies don't acknowledge this. As someone else mentioned on this board, it's not as if condoms, sponges, NFP or other non-hormonal types of BC cause depression. It seems to be a fact that is "out there", so how come most medical "professionals" will not accept what we're telling them?

So how long until you seem it helping??? on average how long did it take for you all to see results. Bad diets drop serotonin levels?? I was on a downward spiral or not eating or eating very little for a long time. Would a drop in these levels make you feel like your personality is dead?? I used to bubbly and jumpy etc.. now I sit and look at things and think and think forever or look around and think about things, like it feels i'm there physically but not mentally 100%, like I'm in a different world etc..

BabyDuck: one of the first signs of lowering serotonin is that apathy you're describing--at least according to what I've read. I noticed a difference after about 3 days--a drastic one

Loopy: I know, right? Just the ONE method of birth control--has to be hormonal, no other method messes with your brain chemistry.....
Yech....

rowanthe, that site above about serotonin was very helpful.

if you take 5HTP, and start to feel better, how do you know when you can stop taking it? what's the best dosage to start with?

I started on about 100 mg a day, then increased it to 200 mg after a couple of weeks. I'm going to increase it to 250 or 300 mg and stay there for a month or so, then taper off. When you DO wean yourself off (after you've been stable mood-wise for a couple of months, I think, is best) make sure you taper off and don't quit "cold-turkey."
Wish I knew more about it!

I've noticed over the last few days that if I have 5-HTP on a morning when I get up (50mg) I feel very anxious and get diarrhoea, whereas when I've taken it on anight I haven't had these side-effects; so I'm gonna stick to taking 50mg ona night. I've only been taking it for five days and already I feel like a big cloud has lifted from me. Also exercising 30 mins a day, which has been proven in numerous studies to be more effective in the long-term at treating depression than anything else (for example, the "runner's high").

xxx

Just been doping some extra reading on 5HTP on the Net, and have found some really interesting information.

There seems to be some controvesy about whether you should take B6 with the 5HTP (my brand of 5HTP actually contains 250% of the RDA of B6); some sources say that the B6 helps the 5HTP to convert to serotonin in the brain, while others say that taking B6 makes the 5HTP convert to serotonin in the gut before it even reaches the brain, thereby having no effect.

I don't know what to believe, but I am going to ensure that I take my multivit and Bs on a morning after breakfast and don't take my 5HTP until just before bed (starting out on 50mg).

Anyone else heard this or get any more advice on dosage and interactions? Thanks girls.

xxx

Interesting--good idea to keep them from being in your gut at the same time, that should keep that particular interaction from occurring at least. I'll see what I can find out.

http://smart-drugs.net/ias-5htp.htm

http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/depression/treatment/alternative/brain_chemistry_2.asp

http://www.herbal-medicine.biz/brain_food/l5_htp_complex.shtml

These places seem to give doses of roughly 300 mg per day, either three times daily or all at once at bedtime depending on what you're taking it for (depression/fibromyalgia vs. sleep aides). They do say it can be as low as 100/day up to 500 mg/day depending on the person. Only the first article deals with the B6 issue.

Also--if someone can get into this website:

www.raysahelian.com/5htp.html

my browser won't open it for some reason but I keep seeing this guy's name coming up. I'd love to know what he has to say!

Thanks

http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/1,1525,747,00.html
And this one seems to be the best overall information I've gotten so far about dosing, effects, possible side effects, interactions with other herbs etc. I'm on a roll, ladies!

WOW! Apparantly this stuff will make me less fat, too! Who knew? I'm going to go buy a carton

Here's the be-all, end-all of 5HTP information:

http://www.5htp.com/

Funnily enough it's not the 1st website that pops up when you google 5HTP

http://supplementwatch.com/suplib/supplement.asp?DocId=1000

And this one is the ONLY site that actually has references to back up their claims....But I'm only like page 3 of quite a few

http://supplementwatch.com/suplib/supplement.asp?DocId=1237

This one is about SAMe, from the same website

http://www.psyweb.com/alturn/alDrug/5HTP.jsp

This one includes some more heavy warnings but also all the drug interactions and signs of "overdose." Open for interpretation.

So, just wanted to add that I have been on 5-htp for a few weeks now and feeling much better....BUT, I guess I got a little forgetful and wasn't keeping up my full dose, and sure enough, today was a bad day. Back to thinking bad things and feeling sad. I realize it is important to be consistent with this, but does this also mean I will need it forever?

You shouldn't need it forever. They actually recommend that you don't take it for longer than 3 months before giving your body a break. What I understand is that unless you are still doing something that is depleting your serotonin levels (the pill, major stress, for example) that your levels should eventually return to normal and then you can stop taking it.
I also read a lot about tapering off--that you shouldn't quit cold-turkey when you do stop, so keep that in mind as well
Good luck!

Rowanthe, I've been on that website and here's a quote:

Short term 5HTP side effects
5HTP side effects from high doses of (which could be 70 to 100 mg and greater) include nausea and vomiting, stomach cramps, nightmares, and decreased sex drive. Serotonin has an inhibitory effect on sexual behavior. Tiredness and sleepiness can occur after several days or weeks of use which may indicate that a break should be taken from 5HTP use. For those who experience nightmares or other 5HTP side effects such as nausea or decreased libido, you may consider taking a lower dose. Here's a report from one user, "Hi, great website. I am writing because I just yesterday took a 100 mg. 5htp. I feel awful for the most part. I am usually sensitive to any side effects, and I just feel the stomach discomfort and fullness and then feel kind of disoriented and weird."

A message regarding the safe use of 5HTP
5HTP was introduced to the over the counter market in 1994. Our understanding of 5HTP's clinical role and its safety is still fuzzy. We don't know as much as we should about the effects of chronic 5HTP use. Therefore, until we learn more, the idea is to take 5HTP in the minimum effective dosage and to avoid its prolonged use. I tell my patients who use 5HTP to take frequent breaks (the frequency and length of breaks varies since each person is unique). During these breaks, other forms of therapy could be substituted. As of now, and after years of 5HTP sold to the public, I am not aware of any reports in the medical literature of anyone who has encountered life threatening or other serious side effects from the use of 5HTP.

5HTP Dosage
Some studies have used dosages of 300 mg a day for depression, but I consider any 5HTP dose above 50 mg a high dose. Most 5HTP products on the market are sold in 50 and 100 mg capsules. Some people do well with 20 to 50 mg, while others may temporarily require 100 mg or more. I'm not aware of 5HTP products on the market that are less than 50 mg. Those who do well with small doses can open a capsule and take a portion mixed with water. 5HTP is best absorbed on an empty stomach. Medical supervision is recommended if high doses of 5HTP are required to treat a particular condition. I don't recommend the routine use of daily intake doses greater than 100 mg since there's the possibility of nausea or nightmares. Also, we still don't know if there are any long term side effects if people take high doses for many years. 5HTP enhances dreams and makes them more vivid.

Long term side effects of 5HTP
Long term 5HTP side effects are not fully known. When hundreds of thousands of people start taking a supplement that has not had adequate long-term testing, there may be some individuals who have a biochemical abnormality in metabolizing that nutrient that was previously not known. We don't known the consequences on the immune system, skin, and other tissues of long-term 5HTP therapy. Regular long term use is not recommended at this time.
At this point of our knowledge with 5HTP, it would be best not to use it while trying to become pregnant or during pregnancy. The safety of 5HTP during lactation and breast feeding is not known.

5HTP Source and manufacture
5HTP is made in the body from the amino acid tryptophan. Most of the 5HTP produced in the body comes from its manufacture in the intestines from tryptophan. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid; that is, the body does not have the capacity to synthesize it. All the supply of tryptophan must be gotten through foods that contain protein.
5HTP sold over the counter is extracted from the Griffonia seed. The seeds come from an African tree grown mostly in Ghana and the Ivory Coast. 5HTP can also be made synthetically in the laboratory. The final product is the same as the one made by the body. Only a small (3 to 7) percent of the griffonia seed is made of 5HTP, therefore, consuming griffonia seeds is not an efficient way of getting 5HTP. 5HTP is not made from fermentation of bacteria.

5HTP Interactions
The use of 5HTP in combination with SSRIs such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, and others has not been formally evaluated. Anecdotal reports indicate that many people tolerate small amount of 5HTP, 50 mg or less, with small amounts of SSRIs when used under the guidance of a medical professional. The effects of taking 5HTP along with a pharmaceutical antidepressant are sometimes difficult to predict. Since the SSRIs, like Prozac, block serotonin reuptake, and 5HTP converts into serotonin, it is possible that dangerously high levels of serotonin could occur, a condition called serotonin syndrome.
It is difficult to predict the interaction of 5HTP with lithium, MAO inhibitors, anti-anxiety agents, beta blockers, birth conrtrol pills, and other pharmaceutical medicines.
Some physicians are using a combination of two or more natural antidepressants such as 5HTP, St. John's wort, SAM-e, and others. However the interactions are not fully known and caution is advised. Any such combination should be done under medical supervision.

Timing and Dosage of 5HTP
It's difficult to say what the best time to take 5HTP since it varies among individuals. It depends whether 5HTP is being used for sleep, in that case it is taken in the evening; for anxiety or low mood, 5HTP can be taken any time of day; or weight loss, in which case it is taken on an empty stomach an hour or two before a meal.
If you do take 5HTP during the day, it's best to take no more than 25 mg since it could cause sleepiness. 5HTP is absorbed better taken on an empty stomach.
There is has not been enough research done with 5HTP to know the ideal dosages and timing. Also, there is significant individual variability to the response to 5HTP. Hence, each person may need to find out for themselves the lowest dose that works well, and the ideal timing, whether early in the day, midday or evening.
A small amount of alcohol usually does not interfere with 5HTP, but larger amounts may.

5HTP or Prozac for depression?
The choice of whether to take natural supplements for depression or pharmaceutical medicines is a personal one along with consultation with a health care professional. There are quite a number of factors, too many to list, that have to be considered. Those with mild depression may wish to try natural antidepressants first whereas those with moderate to severe depression would likely need a strong pharmaceutical medicine. Some other nutrients to consider include SAM-e and St. John's wort.
Prozac and other SSRIs have been tested more thoroughly than natural antidepressants. 5HTP is trickier to use, tolerance may develop, long-term safety not known as well, but works well for some people in improving mood, reducing appetite, and improving sleep. It's very difficult, if not nearly impossible, to predict how each person will react or respond to a medicine or nutrient. Sometimes the best method is trial and error.

xxx