5-HTP for Insomnia User Reviews

• Rob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2021

"Solgar 5-HTP 100 mg. 1x daily. First three days it helps with my insomnia, nice 7-8 hours of sleep, but no change with anxiety or mood. Then I started waking up at 3 a.m., sweaty with elevated heart rate and having very vivid bad dreams, and it continued during the day with tension headache and severe anxiety and depression. I didn't know 5-HTP was causing it, so I continued taking it. Things got worse to the level that I was stuck in a dark mood and suicidal feelings. I stopped taking them. Three days later, my system cleared and was back to normal. Some of us are sensitive to these 'brain chemical adjusters.'"

• sir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 26, 2016

"I take 5-HTP for both insomnia and anxiety. The benzodiazepines and other meds didn't work anymore. So I've started to take 100 mg of 5-HTP at night with a bit (7.5 mg) of mirtazapine, and bang, gone for the whole night. Incredible. I was so happy after searching for a remedy for years. I've started to take some small doses of 5-HTP during the daytime (50 mg at noon), and my anxiety is down. Now I have to let go of the Ativan slowly but surely for my daily anxiety because it is now useless, so I just have to figure out the right dosage and hope to use only this and nothing else for my sleeping problem and anxiety. (Don't forget the vitamin B6 to make it work better.) So I went from a bunch of pills at night to almost nothing :-)"

• Eco...
• August 17, 2016

"I've struggled with sleep-onset insomnia for 15+ years. It started in my early forties when perimenopause hit. I tried 5-HTP recently, and after 2 weeks, I'm sleeping great! I take 200 mg time-release an hour before bed. I also drink milk/buttermilk before bed and gelatin mixed with hot water and juice earlier. I only take Ambien or Ativan when I still can't get to sleep, but that's unusual. Since I'm sleeping soundly again like when I was younger, my energy level is back to normal, and I feel great again! I also changed my diet to low sugar/high fiber. 5-HTP is a lifesaver to me!!!"

• Cat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 26, 2024

"I was not sleeping at all most nights and tried 5-HTP, and it improved my sleep significantly (now sleep 5-7 hours). I started with 100mg time release in the evening, then raised it to 100mg in the morning and 100mg in the evening. I have been on it for 3 years at this dose. I noticed my insomnia returning a few weeks ago and upped my dose, adding 100mg at lunch. It helped to relieve the insomnia once again. I have tried stopping the 5-HTP on 2 occasions over the 3-year period and within 3 days, I was back to not sleeping at all. It must be genetic as my mother has terrible sleep as well. No side effects for me other than slightly softer stools. I hope this helps someone else with insomnia."

• Anonymous
• August 11, 2011

"It works very well with my Ambien pills, which have almost stopped working, but I can't sleep without (sounds familiar to chronic insomniacs, I guess). I fall asleep amazingly fast (faster than at any time in my life) and I sleep up to 8 hours, which I had forgotten about even on Ambien! I take only 50mg in the late afternoon with food because I have a sensitive stomach. I wish I had tried this before."

• JLa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 10, 2019

"Have been trying various doses (100 mg before bed, 100 mg 3 times during the day) of 5-HTP for chronic insomnia, and it has made things significantly worse. Agitated and utterly unable to sleep. Even when I add melatonin, which has helped somewhat before, I am having terrible nights. Perhaps this is not surprising, as Prozac 10 mg also made sleep impossible for me. Hoping this side effect will drop off if I continue, or lower the dose, but thought I'd share this for anyone else having a similar experience."

• Meo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 16, 2024

"I took 5-HTP after a rave sometimes, and it really works wonders. Then I started taking it for insomnia (400 mg once per day). At first, it worked well, but after a while, I got serotonin syndrome-like symptoms. At first, I didn't know from what, but then eventually figured out it was 5-HTP. Definitely strong stuff, so use it with caution!"

• Ari...
• September 2, 2019

"Started taking 5-HTP with magnesium. Had to get online as it's not an approved drug in Australia. After 2 bottles, I had to come off it as it was upsetting my bowel. I started having panic attacks, depression, insomnia. This withdrawal lasted 4 weeks. There should be a warning about coming off this med, be careful. Maybe this is why it's not approved here."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 25, 2015

"I have a love-hate relationship with 5-HTP. It has definitely helped me sleep in the past, but after a while, I build up a tolerance. I don't like stopping and restarting because the first few days of restarting give me an upset stomach."

• Gre...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 21, 2020

"Just a few comments regarding 5-HTP and melatonin. Often the actual tablet strength is the problem. The tablet strengths are insanely high. 100 mg of 5-HTP is way too much and can turn you into a sleepy zombie, but you don't sleep. Melatonin is even worse. A 3 mg tablet of melatonin is off the charts too much. I crush a melatonin tablet and take a crumb or two, and it knocks me out cold. A 3 mg tablet lasts me at least a week. 5-HTP is good at around 25 mg, however, long-term the zombie effect starts. You feel asleep, but you are actually awake. Hormones that affect your brain are in your body in extremely small quantities."

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 13, 2019

"I've been taking 5-HTP 400 mg for 2 months to try and help with insomnia and depression. But I don't feel any different at all? I don't understand it as other people have reported success, so I was hopeful for this stuff."

• Che...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 18, 2020

"I have been using 300 mg of 5-HTP at bedtime, as well as Klonopin. It works for me. I have severe insomnia due to a problem with fibromyalgia. That being said, go for it. The Klonopin alone didn't do it, but the combo cocktail does. I feel like the quality of sleep is better, also. My chemical complex is strange. I need large doses of anything to benefit."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 29, 2021

"Was recommended to take 5-HTP because I have no problem falling asleep, but rather staying asleep. Took 100 mg and slept better (still woke up but in a much calmer way), but then the next day after taking 100 mg again, I could tell it prevented me from falling asleep and also elevated my heart rate to the point that I couldn’t sleep at all. I am going to speak to a doctor to ask whether it might work at a significantly lower dose. So many websites say 100 mg is fine and even say 200 mg is okay to start with—I wish more recommended 25 mg max to begin, especially if you’re sensitive."

• Hea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 24, 2023

"Well, I’ve struggled with insomnia (2-4 hours of sleep per night) for a year following a major life transition. No medication could help, but I noticed CBT was of some use. I saw a holistic doctor who recommended 5-HTP, and I noticed it has helped me dream more, fall deeper into sleep, and feel generally more at peace. Funny thing is, I had tried taking 5-HTP in the past, and had it help somewhat, but nothing extraordinary. I inquired about this and was told that 5-HTP supplementation isn't always high quality. I recommend seeking out a holistic doctor and taking 5-HTP of higher quality. Mine also has 100 percent vitamin C and glycine in it. The difference is significant."

• Tri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 19, 2019

"I bought some 400 mg high-strength tablets after reading good reviews about 5-HTP and knowing I have a high tolerance for medicines. I took a tablet around 8 PM hoping to feel a bit drowsy by bedtime, but it's 12:15 AM and I'm still wide awake, even though I also took 2 zopiclone at 10:55 PM and ran 13 km earlier and did a full 9-hour day at work today. I feel a little bit queasy in my stomach, but it's hard to say as I do have a lingering chesty cough right now too. I feel a bit anxious as I want them to work."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 13, 2021

"Works for cannabis-related insomnia when I've stopped smoking after prolonged daily use. After researching online and using on and off for a few weeks, I use around 100-150 mg depending on how tired I feel (recommend starting much lower ~50 mg). Very noticeable effect on sex drive, so only tend to use it when I know that's not going to be an issue (if it's going to be a problem, don't take it 2-3 days before, and you should be fine)."

• Big...
• March 30, 2014

"I love 5-HTP because it not only helps with my sleeping patterns, but it has definitely had a noticeable difference in me having a better, non-dreading approach to life."

• Dav...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2019

"Took 5-HTP for insomnia, but it made it worse, gave me stomach cramps, and made me feel hungover the next day, horrible."

• Wat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 28, 2012

"Natural alternative - prescribed by my M.D. helped 'boost' the effect of Lunesta when I wasn't sleeping long enough at night."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 22, 2023

"Positive, effective. First natural supplement with a visible effect."