5-HTP for Anxiety User Reviews (Page 3)

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 9, 2017

"So far, so good as I am only on it for about 5 days at 300 mg per day. I have combined it with a multivitamin, vitamin B complex, niacin, and vitamin C. I am reducing big pharma medication to almost nil and feel better with 5-HTP. Better sleep, better days as I divide the dosages at breakfast, dinner, and before bed. Big pharma medications only mask the problem, whilst this feels so normal."

• Gez...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 18, 2015

"Don't start off with too high a dosage, it affected my sleep. I went from 150 mg back to 20 mg and slowly increased. After two weeks of stomach upset, it went away. I have noticed I am calmer, however, my body seems to get used to the dosage quickly, and I need to increase it. I am up to 180 mg now and again need to up the dosage. It's really worth giving this product a try before you turn to pharmaceutical medication."

• Mil...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 24, 2021

"I take 150 mg of 5-HTP twice a day for many years. It has helped me with depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Great product. It can be used as an antidepressant without giving me a foggy brain. I take Serotone by Apex Energetics, which includes 5-HTP and other good ingredients for depression, anxiety, and insomnia."

• dol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 18, 2020

"I'm suffering from PTSD after a car accident. Started on 5-HTP, and after the 1st week taken at night -- minimum dosage had terrifying anxiety attacks magnified way beyond the level I began with, also felt aggressive. Have used St. John's Wort for depression in the past with no issues."

• Lyl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2020

"I’m a 51 yo female with a long history of anxiety and depression. With menopause just around the corner, there are days my anxiety is off the charts. About 6 months ago, I started taking 100 mg daily. I was also having moderate to severe panic, heart palpitations, sweating, and severe vomiting. I didn’t make the connection to 5-HTP until I recently started taking it again. This time only 25 mg. Same symptoms but milder. I cannot be 100% sure, but I’m making the connection to this supplement. If you’re thinking of taking this supplement, I highly recommend talking to a holistic health practitioner first. Not to be dramatic, but my episodes landed me in the ED three times last year. It was quite scary."

• Big...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 28, 2020

"I have been suffering from PTSD and severe anxiety issues. The doctor put me on mirtazapine at 15 mg to help, which it did. Saying that I was so determined to get off this nasty antidepressant because of weight gain, even though I run 30 miles a week. So silly me, started taking 200 mg of 5-HTP for 2 days. I have ended up with really bad palpitations and anxiety because of the two 200 mg of 5-HTP and antidepressants giving me serotonin syndrome. Can someone tell me when it is safe for me to go back on my mirtazapine again and how long will it take for 5-HTP to leave my system? Day 2 after taking 5-HTP and very anxious still, shallow breathing, etc. My doctors are useless and don't even know about 5-HTP. Maybe friends from across the pond can guide me better."

• gbg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 13, 2018

"Just started and noticed the difference overnight. No more stomach churning or ulcer-like pain. Was tested for ulcer - negative. Feeling relaxed and a lot smoother. A little dry mouth and I know there's something in my system, but no overwhelming or harsh. Started with 50 mgs."

• Chr...
• December 6, 2017

"I've only been taking 5-HTP for a few days to see if it helps my anxiety at all, and already it definitely does seem to do something! It makes me feel very warm and relaxed, like there's a deep relaxation in my chest and stomach. These effects start within an hour of dosing."

• per...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 2, 2019

"Combined with therapy, I can almost say for sure that 5-HTP helps me. After a really painful breakup, I was having looping suicidal thoughts (the thought of a gun going 'bang' all the time) and was in a really sordid mood overall. A week or so into taking 100 mg 3x daily, I felt I was doing better, although I didn't necessarily think 5-HTP had played a role (I'm kind of a skeptical person). I thought my improving mood was 100% due to therapy with someone who really cares. I finished my 1-month supply bottle and stopped taking it. Within a day or two, my mood mysteriously took a hard hit. Just today, I bought a new bottle. I'm pretty sure it'll help me again. I can't compare to big pharma meds because I never took them. I take this combined with Omega-3. I like the fact that there are 0 side effects for me. I'll continue taking 5-HTP, at least for a while. 5-HTP isn't especially cheap, but it's worth a try if your symptoms are really messing with your life."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 13, 2019

"I took one 5-HTP 100 mg capsule on 10/12/2019 at 9:45 PM, hoping to relax and get some sleep. Twenty minutes later, I was having difficulty thinking, and then I became severely dizzy, had severe numbness in my hands, arms, and face. I couldn't breathe or focus and had severe chest pain, which made it increasingly hard to focus. I barely made it to the staircase to our bedroom to call for help. I started sweating profusely and blacked out for a minute on the stairs and woke up vomiting the capsule and contents of my stomach, and started to feel better almost instantly. 911 was called, and I was taken to the ER, where I was told that I was having a severe allergic reaction to the supplement. I will never purchase another supplement again or ever try 5-HTP because I could have died. I'm a 53-year-old woman who is going through menopause, and I don't take anything other than a multivitamin daily."

• One...
• January 5, 2016

"Been using timed-release 200 mg for the last month and used to 400 mg daily. Slight stomach and headache issues but gone after the first week. Works very well but need to buy a quality product. I paired this with Niacinamide 1500-2000 mg, this is all medicinal level and it's working nicely with slight mood swings. My sleep is better with a higher dose, and I'm not suffering major panic attacks. I'm off Seroquel for now, and this is working for my seasonal depression, and I am bipolar 1. I would recommend a neuropath when using this, but I'm very well trained and aware of my body."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 7, 2020

"I took 5-HTP for the first time when I was feeling terribly depressed, but it only made me feel even worse. Tried it again, the same thing happened. How different reactions can be when it's applied to different people. :("

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 27, 2014

"It seemed to help a bit at first, but after taking it for almost a year, the positive effects seemed to have disappeared completely. If you suffer from an anxiety disorder, I would seriously recommend a prescription medicine. I've recently been switched to Buspar, and it works wonders and is very cheap."

• Mrs...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 15, 2017

"So good for short-term use. I used it for over a 2-year period, cycling it out every 4 months for 4 weeks. Took it with magnesium at bedtime and found it very helpful for reducing attacks. Also had very restful sleep with it."

• Int...
• February 19, 2017

"It's caused mixed reactions, often awake and cannot return to sleep. Foggy feelings during the day, with an occasional odd sense of impending doom. Anxiety that keeps me indoors... But, when I decide to go out despite odd feelings, I find myself to be strangely aggressive. It seems that I'm less tolerant of other people. For example, there is a cashier who is always rude, a real eye roller, with frequent head shaking and sighs. Well, after she rolled her eyes at me for asking for a pen, she reluctantly smacked it down on the counter. I tossed it at her after using it. Hmmm, this is odd behavior for me, I usually don't react to other people like that. So, I've decided to quit this 5-HTP for now. I could end up doing something that gets me on the news."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 12, 2019

"I've been taking this stuff for over a month. I'm on my second bottle. I am less irritable and less anxious. Every time I take it, about 10 minutes later I feel energetic again. I am hoping it will help me completely in another month or so. Bear in mind, it takes a while to notice improvement. Could take weeks to a month. Be patient."

• Med...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2018

"Only started taking this for a few days. After experiencing mild anxiety and insomnia, I started with 200 mg and noticed immediate improvement with sleep and anxiety. I found a boost in concentration and therefore better memory, which helped with work and socially. 200 mg was a high dose to start off with, in which I had nausea. Some tips for people: start at 50 mg if first dose, and consume with a light carb-heavy meal, avoid caffeine if possible. I feel like that if you cycle use (i.e., 1 month on, 1 month off), it will reduce the likelihood of tolerance and dependence. I decided to not take it for a day and noticed withdrawal anxiety, it may be worth tapering off the dose instead of going cold turkey. To conclude, this is excellent for anxiety and sleep, although not for everyone."

• Don...
• January 31, 2022

"This stuff is seriously dangerous! I do a lot of research before I try new things, as my body is very sensitive to all supplements, drugs, vitamins, etc. I bought the Jamieson brand, which indicates the daily dose is 300 mg a day. I started with 25 mg a day and was only on it for a week until I had to stop taking it. My whole body is now in severe pain (muscles, joints). I get winded just from walking and can’t catch my breath. This is serious, it does cause Eosinophilia Myalgia Syndrome (EMS), and I’m 99% positive that I now have that. Be careful with this! And people with an autoimmune disorder or asthma should definitely stay away from it."

• NoN...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2017

"I have been taking 5-HTP for about a month now for depression and mood swings. Works on depression and moods, but over the last few days, I have been experiencing severe stomach cramps. I have not changed my diet and am still doing and taking everything as normal. The only difference is that I had added 5-HTP to my daily diet. After experiencing these stomach cramps, I decided to research these effects it was having on me. Apparently, stomach cramps are a well-known side effect of 5-HTP, so I have decided to stop taking them and try something different."

• San...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 13, 2020

"I have been taking 100 mg 5-HTP at night, and it works really well for me (I have PTSD/anxiety). I've tried prescription SSRIs like Prozac, and that didn't work. This herb works for me way better. I'm calming throughout the day, and I feel way less nervous, and I no longer have a dark cloud over me. I'm so happy I decided to give this a try. Some side effects I do get, especially in the beginning, are kind of weird dreams, and sometimes it seems to raise my anxiety by the third hour, but then it goes away. I have barely any anxiety the morning I wake up, lasting all day till nighttime when I take my medication. This seems to be a lifesaver for me. I will continue to use it and see how I do!"

• Lul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2020

"I have been taking 200 mg of a 5-HTP blend that also has B6 for two months. I take it with dinner every night, and I also take a probiotic every afternoon with lunch. It has definitely made my mood swings, depression, and sleep problems go away! Although I do still have anxiety in public places, I have always had this, and it isn't as bad. I feel like everyone has anxiety in public, it's encoded in our DNA as a safety mechanism. I will say, though, that after going off 5-HTP because I ran out for about a week, my mood swings and depression came back quickly and seemed worse than they were before. The change felt drastic, and that kind of scared me a bit. Otherwise, I'd give it a 10."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 24, 2021

"I read online that this could be a good alternative to an SSRI (I have moderate OCD and GAD), so I thought, why not try it? BAD MOVE. Took it before I went to bed on a full stomach … felt like I was hungover the next day, and my limbs became numb and tingly. I am 36 hours past taking one pill of slow-release 200 mg, and I’m still feeling the effects. DON’T take it. Not worth it. Just gonna eat well, sleep well, and put into practice better my therapy. Side effects not worth it. Hoping this reaction will clear up shortly."

• Mic...
• November 3, 2017

"I was very optimistic about this supplement. Unfortunately for me personally, I had major sharp pains in the right side of my abdomen (possibly my liver). It even woke me up at night. I couldn't take it anymore, as it seemed unsafe to continue. The brand I used was 'Now' brand. Maybe it was the brand. However, I would caution others to be careful if they also get sharp stabbing pains. Happy it helped others. Didn't agree with me."

• Sad...
• April 12, 2019

"Took 5-HTP 100 mg at night with magnesium, to calm my mild anxiety and sadness, help with sleep. I was post-concussion and being treated for autoimmune disease. At around 6 months, I increasingly noticed I was waking at night, I started getting more anxious, suicidal thoughts. During this time, I also did a small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) treatment of antibiotics, which probably helped my gut work better, and then started low-dose naltrexone for my autoimmune disease. I started to have heart palpitations, sweating at night, depressed thoughts, panic attacks which I never had before, where you get arrhythmia, continuous bad thoughts, tingling in your fingers, and feel dizzy. When withdrawing from 5-HTP, I had a horrible time. I had to withdraw slowly, as I had a lot of the symptoms of SSRI withdrawal. My brain and thoughts were so disturbing. I would be very cautious using this drug long-term and continuously. Study needs to be done on low-dose naltrexone and 5-HTP. Or post-concussion and 5-HTP."

• Dan...
• February 8, 2019

"I found this treatment in Boots under the product name Sharp Mind, it's combined with other natural ingredients. It started to work very quickly, and my anxiety and depression have been much better, but I have found that it is giving me strange dreams, both good and bad, sometimes very vivid. I still think that overall I have improved in my mood, and I'll continue to take it for now. I'm only a week in, but I quite like feeling happier and don't want to go back to my old feelings. I think it's important to take care of the dosage, as we all have different tolerances. Some people are taking 50 mg plus, and I think that much would be way too much for me, so basically I'm saying it's good to start with a low dose."