Shown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by wishingstar on June 8, 2006, at 14:57:22
Hi everyone.. first time posting on this board. I generally hang out over at the psychology boards. :) I just started 5-htp for depression this morning and no matter what I read, no one seems to agree on how many mgs I should be taking. It seems that different websites (all which appear credible) recommend anywhere from 50-400+mgs per day.
I guess I was wondering what you all have tried and what you would recommend. I am a small person (female, around 110lbs). I am planning on taking 50mg in the morning and 50mg in the evening and observing how it works.. but what have your experiences been like? Thanks for any advice you can give me.
Posted by wishingstar on June 8, 2006, at 17:00:04
In reply to 5-htp dosage for depression, posted by wishingstar on June 8, 2006, at 14:57:22
One other question. Is it possible for 5-htp to INCREASE depression? I know that sounds counterintuitive, but man, I have felt terrible today. My first pill was this morning (50mg) and I was okay for a few hours, but I've been feeling very dulled and tired, and more depressed than normal, for most of the afternon. I feel like I could stare at a wall for 5 hours and be entertained.. and some negative thought I havent dealt with in a month or longer have hit me today. It's very possible that it's just coincidence, since this is only my first day, but is this even possible? Any thoughts? I have taken SSRIs in the past with little positive effect (and 40mg prozac made me manic), but never felt worse on any drug before.
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on June 9, 2006, at 3:44:21
In reply to and a second 5-htp question, posted by wishingstar on June 8, 2006, at 17:00:04
Hiya, welcome to Alternative!!
I think most sources recommend taking the 5-HTP at night, before you go to bed, and with a simple carbohydrate snack. I would avoid taking it in the morning. I'd start at 50mg, and then if I didn't feel anything after a couple of days, so increase it gradually.
You might also find that its not extra sertonin that you need, but maybe more noradrenaline and dopamine. If so, then try tyrosine, another amino acid (tyrosine is to dopamine and noradrenline what 5-HTP is to sertonin). Tyrosine is energising and I personally really liked it. You are supposed to take it on an empty stomach before breakfast.
Good luck, and let us know how you do!
Kind regards
Meri
Posted by dessbee on June 9, 2006, at 10:28:57
In reply to 5-htp dosage for depression, posted by wishingstar on June 8, 2006, at 14:57:22
Take a look at
http://www.raysahelian.com/5htp.htmlI've tried 5-htp but had to quit because of side effects.
Initially it was energizing but after a few weeks I became extremely fatigued. This depends on the overproduction of melatonin - the sleep drug.
Consider anything above 15mg a high dose since the body will not produce more by itself.
Posted by wishingstar on June 9, 2006, at 14:19:36
In reply to Re: 5-htp dosage for depression » wishingstar, posted by dessbee on June 9, 2006, at 10:28:57
Wonderful site.. thank you.
15 mg a high dose? The only capsules sold at the store I bought them from was 50mg! I feel like I'm emotionally just "all over the place" since I took the first one.. depressed all afternoon yesterday, then couldnt sit still last night.. now today, I feel pretty normal. We'll see what happens in the next few days. :)
Thanks!
Posted by wishingstar on June 9, 2006, at 14:21:37
In reply to Re: and a second 5-htp question, posted by Meri-Tuuli on June 9, 2006, at 3:44:21
Thanks for the info. If this does not work out, I will definitely look into the tyrosine. After feeling quite bad all day yesterday, I took a second pill last night and was up until 3am.. not with insomnia, but just incredible energy.. bordering on mania possibly. Today, I'm feeling pretty normal. I'm just waiting to see what happens as my body gets used to this. Thanks for your help. :)
Posted by blueberry on June 10, 2006, at 19:43:34
In reply to 5-htp dosage for depression, posted by wishingstar on June 8, 2006, at 14:57:22
You are not the only one that gets more depressed with 5htp. It happened to me too. I stuck it out for a full 2 months, so it had plenty of time to work if it was going to. I started at 25mg a day and increased rapidly from there to a max of 200mg a day. It was just so depressing the whole time. Not the crying despair kind of depression, but the blah lifeless dull drugged worthless kind where you just suffer and exist from hour to hour.
The only good effects I felt during the 2 months on 5htp was when I added xanax. Somehow that really worked amazing. No idea why. I didn't want to become dependent so stopped both.
Lowering the 5htp dose and/or adding a small amount of tyrosine are options. To lower the 5htp dose, just dump some out of a capsule and put the capsule back together. That way you can take a 1/4 dose or 1/2 dose or whatever.
Posted by wishingstar on June 11, 2006, at 17:32:15
In reply to Re: 5-htp dosage for depression, posted by blueberry on June 10, 2006, at 19:43:34
So you think its possible that while a higher dose is actully causing depression, a lower dose might have a positive effect? As you can tell, I dont know much about alternative health and these topics.
I've been taking 100mgs (50mg around 10am, 50 before bed) for almost a week now. I feel pretty normal up until around 4 or 5pm, and then crash and feel depressed for the rest of the evening. Very odd. I'm going to give it a few more days, then try something else instead. As you mentioned, it's more of a "dragging myself through life, I hate everything" feeling than a crying, sad sort of depression. A terrible feeling really. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Posted by blueberry on June 11, 2006, at 18:42:57
In reply to Re: 5-htp dosage for depression » blueberry, posted by wishingstar on June 11, 2006, at 17:32:15
Since you say you feel ok most of the day until late afternoon, maybe just some dosage changes might make a difference. For example you could try 100mg all at bedtime and none during the day. Or keep the night dose of 50mg bu take 25mg twice during the day instead of 50mg once.
I don't know though. Some people respond to serotonin, some people don't, and some people get worse.
Posted by wishingstar on June 11, 2006, at 18:53:47
In reply to Re: 5-htp dosage for depression » wishingstar, posted by blueberry on June 11, 2006, at 18:42:57
Feeling depressed at night has always been my pattern, even when not on any type of drugs/supplements. The night depression just seems to be intense. I will consider switching the dosage around if this doesnt work itself out soon. Thanks for the help.
Posted by dessbee on June 12, 2006, at 4:16:50
In reply to Re: 5-htp dosage for depression » wishingstar, posted by dessbee on June 9, 2006, at 10:28:57
5-htp is a really tricky supplement. Taking high doses will eventually lead to accumulation of melatonin, so any initial energizing effect will be replaced by fatigue. The only way to take low doses is to open capsule or split pill.
You might want to try seroctin instead, it is an extract that increases serotonin/melatonin naturally with fewer side effects.
Posted by dessbee on June 12, 2006, at 4:22:49
In reply to Re: 5-htp dosage for depression » dessbee, posted by dessbee on June 12, 2006, at 4:16:50
Taking into account that you became manic on low dose of SSRI you migh benifit from takin St john wort, which is good for mild depressions. Make sure to buy a quality brand with standardized 0,3% hypercin content.
Posted by wishingstar on June 13, 2006, at 22:01:17
In reply to Re: 5-htp dosage for depression » dessbee, posted by dessbee on June 12, 2006, at 4:22:49
Thanks for the response. I stopped the 5-htp. Took my last dose last night. I just couldnt take it - I was feeling 100 times worse taking it then not. I dont understand how that is even biologically possible, but heck, it happened. No more 5-htp for me.
Unfortunately, I cannot take st johns wort because it interacts negatively with another perscription drug I take on a regular basis.
I am considering trying tyrosine after reading some good things about it. Does that sound right? I hadnt heard of the other supplement you mentioned, but I will look into it as well. Thanks for your help.
Posted by dessbee on June 14, 2006, at 5:01:47
In reply to Re: 5-htp dosage for depression » dessbee, posted by dessbee on June 12, 2006, at 4:22:49
If SJW is not an option you might want to try seroctin
http://www.the7thfire.com/HN/seroctin.html
http://www.suvida.com/Products/Seroctin.asp
Posted by holymama on June 19, 2006, at 18:00:07
In reply to Re: Seroctin » dessbee, posted by dessbee on June 14, 2006, at 5:01:47
I started taking 5-HTP a couple of months ago, after searching around on this site and others to find a correct dose. I too found it difficult to find any standard dose.
I started high -- like 200 mg a day, before bed. And it caused insomnia and perhaps hypomania. I was up at 3 or 4 am for the day.
I stopped taking it for a few weeks, until I started seeing a nutritionist who told me that the dose was way too high. He suggested trying 25-50 mg a day, and to take it earlier in the day if it was causing insomnia.
So now I open up my 100 mg capsules and split the powder up into smaller doses. I start back with 25 mg, and am now up to 50 mg a day. I take it early in the morning, before breakfast. My energy level is fine, and I sleep at night. And my mood is better.
So it may be worth trying again sometime, gradually, and at smaller doses and earlier times of the day!!
~Autumn~
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