5-HTP for Anxiety User Reviews (Page 4)

• 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."

• Tin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 24, 2019

"I recently lost my job and am going through stress. For about three weeks now, I've been taking Ativan for sleep because the anxiety was keeping me up at night. I do not want to get addicted to the benzo. Tried magnesium threonate, but the side effect was tension headache. Tried valerian, that just made me more anxious. I take B complex and D3, along with what is prescribed by my doc. I tried 5-HTP. It relaxes me but doesn’t make me feel sleepy. Do I have to up the doses to make it more effective? How many days before it started working? Any ideas? Thanks."

• Luc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 23, 2024

"I came off escitalopram a couple of years ago and my anxiety had gotten really bad recently (triggered by a lot of pressure at work and home). I was waking up every night with a pounding heart and having panic attacks and crying most days. I had tried a variety of different supplements but none seemed to have any effect. Then as a last resort before going back to the doctor, I started taking a couple of 5-HTP capsules before bedtime each night. Within a matter of days, my anxiety had subsided massively. I am now able to cope with everything going on at work, I no longer wake up in the night with a racing heart, and feel so much better. I am so glad I found this supplement as I was at my wit’s end."

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 26, 2020

"I decided to give meds a break, and though it was hard getting off them, I felt somewhat okay for a while. I physically felt better, yet I still had worse social anxiety. My nerves have felt somewhat on end for the past two years. I don’t like meds or side effects, I’ve tried a million remedies. I can say 5-HTP is probably the best natural supplement I’ve tried in regard to my mental health, though I had a few bad experiences. (Taking on an empty stomach) (taking early) (taking right before bed, which kept me awake). Though I’ve repeatedly decided to not take anything or tried other supplements, taken with food in the afternoon or at night, every day, or even every other day has been beneficial."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2020

"I've been struggling with anxiety and panic disorder for 3 years now and finally built the courage to try a supplement. This is my 3rd day on Natrol's Daily Stress Relief. It has 5-HTP, magnesium, B6, and 12, and some other vitamins. 100 mg after breakfast. Every day it's been different. My first day was amazing. I felt the physical symptoms I was anxious, but I didn't fear the sensation. I hope that even makes sense. I was in tears because I haven't felt not being scared in 3 years. My 2nd day was horrible... terrible anxiety symptoms, constant palpitations, panic attack, and a meltdown. Today is my 3rd day, I felt so off today... anxious, irritable, like nothing satisfied me (I'm usually a happy, upbeat person despite the anxiety). I was thinking about not taking it anymore because it feels like I'm getting more negatives than positives, but I read a few comments about taking a lower dose. So tomorrow I'm going to try splitting the pill in half and take 50 mg. I hope it makes me feel better."

• Jil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2023

"Life changer! My naturopath suggested I start taking 100mg a day for my depression. It's day 2 & I already feel a massive difference in my thought patterns. The past few weeks have been very dark for me & full of racing thoughts. I finally feel normal again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2021

"I’ve been dealing with some intense anxiety and sadness. Pretty sure all my symptoms point to anxiety. I started a supplement with 5-HTP in it. Took it for 2 days and had a massive dizzy spell, so I stopped taking it, thinking it was the supplement. Started a week later, and it’s been four days, and I honestly feel my symptoms are much worse than before. It’s 50 mg of 5-HTP, I’ve researched the other ingredients in the supplement, and no other ones seem to make my symptoms worse. I will take a break and see what happens."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 15, 2024

"I've been using 5-HTP for almost two months now. The first day I have used the supplement (100mg), it gave me palpitations and made me a little more anxious. But it actually didn't bother me because I have tried one time a man-made medication for my anxiety and depression, and man... that was something I don't want to experience anymore xD. I have lowered the dose to 70mg per day, and it really works. It gives me more energy (mostly mentally) and makes me more calm. It has no horrible side effects as synthetic medication has, and you can quit whenever you like. It is only recommended not to drink alcohol combined with 5-HTP and to keep the dosage max 200 mg per day. This plant medicine is amazing for people who are sensitive to man-made medication or if they want to switch to a natural solution for their depression and/or anxiety."

• Not...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 26, 2023

"I had been on an SSRI for months after finding out my dog had cancer in combo with empty nest. I was just not in a good place. After gaining back all the weight I worked so hard to lose, and feeling pretty numbed out from the drugs, I decided to wean off them. I read a lot about 5-HTP, had taken it in the past with decent results. I actually feel really good with 100 mg a couple of times a day, BUT I do combine it with L-tyrosine to stabilize my dopamine. I have read this is important and it must be because I actually feel much better than I did on the SSRI meds. I will say nausea does happen (taking it with a protein helps with this), and do not combine it with L-tyrosine before bed. I am still currently taking both and feel pretty good! If you're on the fence, try looking up 5-HTP & L-tyrosine articles to help explain how they work in tandem together."

• Dop...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2022

"I found that both the 100 mg and 200 mg made my depression much, much worse. I cried more, thought of suicide more often, and felt completely hopeless. I started with 200, then reduced it to 100 and still had the same thing happen. Although the thought of suicide is never really out of sight as an option, being on 5-HTP made it worse. I actually started formulating a plan, making a will, etc. I stopped taking it, and about a week later, I was back to my usual depressed self - minus the urgent need to commit suicide. Be careful. Prozac did me the same way."

• Dia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2022

"I have tried 5-HTP on a couple of occasions. The first time, it made me really tired. Almost scary tired because I couldn't get out of bed. I wasn't wild about the effects, so I stopped taking it. Then, a couple of months later, I tried it again because I was suffering from anxiety, and I had few other options. I had a really bad experience. Again, it made me really tired. I didn't like that it also made my depression worse. It altered my thinking so that I was having more negative thoughts. I had one experience where I was sleeping, and I woke up feeling like I was suffocating. It also gave me nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. I think it actually also made my anxiety worse. I had one incident where I started feeling extremely anxious for no reason. I have had panic attacks before, and the feeling was similar. Overall, I have not had a positive experience with this drug."

• Ahm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 6, 2019

"I suffered from high-level social phobia for more than 25 years. My face became red, and I could not speak. For many years, I resisted this without medication. Since the last 5 years, I usually take Inderal 40 mg in social situations, but today I bought 5-HTP, 60 pieces, 100 mg. I opened the capsule and made it half (50 mg). I think 50 mg every day with Inderal 40 mg will work fine for me. Best regards."

• reg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2022

"BE CAREFUL! I took 5-HTP without any advice from the doctor, and it kickstarted my panic attacks journey. Of course, I had some trauma deeply rooted in my subconscious, that was the primary reason for my panic attacks, but 5-HTP unleashed all of it! I ended up having to go to a psychiatrist and went on SSRIs to fix myself. The doctor told me the dosage advised on the 5-HTP box (100-200 mg/day) was way too high for me and that messed up my brain. Just don’t take this without a doctor’s advice, please, it might do more harm!"

• Hel...
• August 19, 2020

"I have tried 5-HTP 100 mg and 50 mg for anxiety/alcohol withdrawal, and I have had a good experience with it. I know there are a lot of different brands of 5-HTP. I usually stick to the Natrol brand. I've tried another brand, but that one made me feel really paranoid and high anxiety, feeling not good. But after I tried the Natrol brand, it didn't make me feel wired and panicky. I think some brands are generic or they add a little extra something in those off-brand ones. I start by taking little by little too, so it won't hit so hard if I take the whole dose (like a quarter of a whole) just to see how I feel in a few minutes."

• Pin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 19, 2017

"Took 50 mg sublingual this morning, kicked in about 30 minutes later. Had not eaten. Wanted to see how it worked. I am bipolar, GAD, and PTSD. I do suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. Made me feel happy, but it caused me too much mania, meaning high and very anxious. Increased my talking. Did give a boost, but not great for anxiety. I have just eaten, so it would bring me down some."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 5, 2019

"Used generic at 100 mgs for slight depression, mild anxiety. Got skipped heartbeats, especially upon any muscular exercise, and it was becoming increasingly worse. Figured out this was the only new supplement I had started and used for 1 month. It certainly helped me into a deep sleep, but the skipped heartbeats (like 40 in one minute) scared me—so I stopped. In two days following, my heart returned to normal rhythm. Starting a different brand now at 50 mgs—will keep you posted after one month."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2022

"My therapist said to take this for depression, so I bought a bottle of 5-HTP 200 mg, followed instructions, took 1 pill at night. Within 30 minutes of taking this, I went really hot and had a rash on my face, arms, neck, and chest. Went into severe vomiting for hours with muscle spasms in my stomach. Horrible headache from the back of my head wrapping around, felt like I was going to have a stroke. Made it through the night, I am 12 hours on but would not recommend. Feel horrible. Think it must have been an allergic reaction."

• Anx...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 3, 2022

"After the loss of some family members, a sudden realization of past trauma, and a prolonged period of stress at work, I started having panic attacks and rising anxiety, which I couldn’t explain, being a really logical person. With the onset of the pandemic and the surrounding stress and negativity, it resulted in more frequent spells of anxiety and worry. 5-HTP really helps me lift myself off the bottom step of extremely low periods and moments of rising panic and anxiety and helps me get more restorative sleep to enable recovery. I take 100 mg at night and 50 mg in the morning for a week after a troubling episode and reduce down to 50 / 50 and then 50, etc., and reuse if needed. It’s an absolute savior - no side effects and no embarrassment of continuous calls to the doctor, who takes days to get back in touch and only offers SSRIs."

• JCM...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2022

"I am very sensitive to any medication and have “inverted” symptoms from some (valerian gives me nightmares). So taking 5-HTP 3 years ago for acute anxiety, I felt the effects immediately. Now I am taking it again."

• Zob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 9, 2019

"7 days ago, I went cold turkey off Phenibut (dangerous, beware severe withdrawals), no sleep, extreme anxiety (I also have generalized and panic attack disorder), and extremely bad depression, which I’ve never had. I came across 5-HTP, which has seemed to help with the depression and anxiety, but it’s only been 3 days. Still can’t sleep, but my brain is in a bad way due to also being an ex-painkiller addict (clean from pills for almost 5 years) and recently Phenibut. I’ve got a very high tolerance to all forms of medications, etc., and started at 100 mg, but it didn’t do anything. 300 mg seems to take the edge off, but I don’t plan on going on a higher dose or for a long period of time because these adverse effects from Phenibut withdrawals only last a few weeks."

• Ann...
• April 24, 2018

"I was recommended this by a close family friend who also suffers from anxiety. I took 50 mg a couple of times a week a few months ago and didn't notice a change or any negative side effects at that time. I have been feeling more anxious over the past few weeks due to hormonal imbalance/other issues, so I decided to try again one night when the anxiety was really bad just to see if it could alleviate some of it. I took 1 50 mg capsule about an hour after dinner, and for the first few hours after I took it, I actually felt noticeably less anxious. At one point, my entire body felt very peaceful and relaxed and almost had a warm feeling to it. It did not help me sleep though like some people commented, I woke up multiple times throughout the night and tossed and turned, and then around 6 AM woke up feeling nauseous, wide awake, and anxious again. I'm not sure if this is because of my hormonal imbalance issues right now or side effects from this, but not sure it's worth it to try again."

• Joh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 4, 2021

"When you first take 5-HTP, you should start out slow, 50 mg a day a few hours before sleep. Make sure you use a reputable brand and make sure it is enteric coated and have it with vitamin B6 and C so it can convert to serotonin. The enteric coating will help prevent the 5-HTP from converting to serotonin in the stomach, which can cause stomach upset. Up the dosage slowly until you start noticing a benefit. (Effective dosages are between 50 to 300 mg a day.) As with any supplement or medication, give it time. Give the product at least 6-8 weeks to notice a benefit. Always talk to a medical professional before taking any new supplement or medication. And never take the product with an MAOI or SSRI. You could develop serotonin syndrome. Read the article below to educate yourself on 5-HTP and the current research."

• Por...
• April 17, 2017

"I felt great... very calm and confident. But combining 5-HTP with alcohol has caused adverse reactions. Additionally, I feel a sudden downswing sometimes and take a second dose, each dose being 50 mg. Since the supplement I take called Medulla also contains GABA, I am not sure I am doing the right thing, especially drinking up to 4 glasses of wine per night. Lately, I have poured the wine out, because I've felt odd. I am afraid that combining this with other supplements I take, plus Avapro for hypertension might eventually do harm, as the depression feels on the edge of returning and I feel agitated at times."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 30, 2020

"I decided to give this supplement a chance in combating anxiety and depression for perimenopausal hormone issues. I took 200 mg to start and was violently ill! Cramping, sweating, and vomiting. I probably took too much at once, but I will NEVER take it again."

• Hea...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 19, 2023

"I have taken this supplement for over 7 years. I’m not sure if it still works as well as it used to and came here to see about raising dosages. My experience has been overall good. I am a diagnosed NPD. I have increased anxiety around anyone who does better than me in life. To put it mildly, I loathe anyone who might have some sort of leg up on me. My son-in-law is one of these people. A very confident person and can’t seem to be manipulated by anyone. I’m not kidding when I say I just absolutely can’t deal with myself when I am around him or any strong male, really. My speech is off, I have stomach knots, and inside is like a raging fire in my head. I’m working closely with a therapist to change my way of thinking and understand it’s actually me that is the problem and that I am just an insecure old man with a lack of empathy. I have noticed on days when I take a double dose of 200 mg before seeing my son-in-law, I am much more lively and actually enjoy my son-in-law."