I've done extremely well on 5-htp and take a very high dose due to severe insomnia.

They advise not taking it with antidepressants althought Dr. Rodger Murphree, a chiropractor who specializes in treating CFS and fibro using orthomolecular medicine uses it with them. Here's a seminar he put on for doctors. He discusses 5-htp starting in part 3:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPGdqpMxU24

I have been taking it for four months and I am starting to see a real differeance. I also do not take anitdepressants since I have not had any luck with the ones I have tried..but my mood and addituded has greatly improved down side it does not help with pain but I can smile when I hurt (LOL):-)

i just came off cymbalta and would like to try something else. haven't tried 5htp, always been nervous of it.

susan and hayley, how do you know how much to take? do you take it in the evening or morning.

susan, did it really take that long to see a difference or was it very gradual?

I would like to see the comments about this 5-hpt, I tried it once but gave up because it didn't seem to work, I only used it for like a week but gave up because I still couldn't sleep at all and ended up taking sleep meds but I guess the trick is to give it a longer time, I just want something that works within days but no months. Im so tired of wonder, why can't I sleep?//

Kat, I use it to control the depressive phase of my bipolar 2 so I started off taking as much as it took to keep my mood stable--usually around 400 mg a day. Later, when my insomnia was so bad, I absolutely couldn't sleep to save myself, I doubled it to 800 mg a day and seem to handle it just fine. I know that's a lot, but fibro sufferers are known to not be able to absorb nutrients properly so I figure even though I use a high quality brand, my body probably only absorbs half to three quarters of it.

I take 400 mg after dinner, and then the other 400 mg in the middle of the night when I wake up and can't get back to sleep.

I think a lot of people give up on 5-htp as they take so little, it barely does anything.

If it revs you up instead of calming you down, chances are you have a sluggish liver according to Dr. Murphree. This happens mostly to CFS sufferers or those with other health issues involving the liver.

I had a lot of issues in the last month and a half a death in the family helping family members dealing and I had with way more stress then normal and emontional factors so I feel it helped before the four month mark and if I did not have the factors I feel I would have felt a lot better sooner as I really think it helped me get thur the family crisiss. I don't take it for sleep even though I have sleep good thur most of the family events I take it for a mood a sub to anitdepressants. I brand I buy is Platinum and I just take one Vcaps as they call them.

I've been using 5-HTP for a couple years as prescribed by my Dr. for sleep. I find it has 0 side effects and helps very much. I also believe it helps with mood. I can't and won't take antidepressants. The ones I have tried in the past specifically Cymbalta made me extremely ill. I take 150mg per day.

There is another thread going about Magnesium. I use a magnesium supplement called Magnelevures, (also prescribed by my Dr.) which is a powder you mix with a cup of water. I buy this at my Dr.s office however you can buy it online too. Here is an explanation:

Magnelevures provides magnesium along with essential nutrients formulated specifically to encourage optimum absorption and tissue utilization of magnesium for the proper functioning of and protection against damaging effects on the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Magnesium, along with vitamins B1 and B6, enhances nervous system function while taurine provides an essential component found in heart muscle and the central nervous system. As a powerful antioxidant, glutathione inhibits free radicals and protects against cellular damage. A daily life consisting of overwork can lead to nervous strain, especially in cases where there are insufficient coping mechanisms. Additional factors such as lack of exercise, poor diet as well as tobacco and alcohol use can cause cardiovascular dysfunctions. Magnelevures is indicated for insomnia, anxiety, irritability, arteriosclerosis and blood pressure control. Magnesium (saccharomyces) 150 mg

The ingredients are as follows:

Vitamin B1 2.1 mg

Vitamin B6 3 mg

Glutathione 10 mg

Taurine 100 mg

Ammonium glycyrrhizinate

Citric acid

Natural Orange Flavor

Mannitol

I also take 3mg of melatonin. This is my nightly ritual. I sleep pretty good most of the time, usually getting at least 7 hours. I get 6 a lot too, and I am happy when I get 8 or more! Prior to this routine I was lucky to get 4 hours and that was constantly waking. I so understand how sleeping is such a battle with Fibro. I would not take 5-HTP or Magnesium with out the recommendation of your Dr. The 5-HTP is a no no especially if you are already taking an antidepressant.

I wish all of you peaceful rest.

I've been taking 5htp for a while now, at night and in the morning. 100 mg each time. Sometimes I'll up it if needed, but that's my regular everyday amount. I definitely think it helps me. I also take some other vitamins and supplements but this is my main "fibro pill" for lack of a better term. lol. You can easily buy it at a store ( pharmacy or GNC type place ), and I've had no ill side effects personally. Check out this site for more information on usage and such.

treatingandbeating.com

Toth, Thank you so much for the web site, that is so interesting and I will bookmark it, so much to read. I have been taking 50mg of 5-htp before I go to bed, it is helping some, I might try taking 50 mg in the morning and 50mg in the evening before bed, I also have really bad insomnia and perhaps it wouldn't hurt to up the dosage and will talk with my doctor. I also read that you shouldn't take 5-htp if your on an antidepressant.
Thanks again for the site.

PS forgot to say thank you to Hayley that is awesome on youtube. Do you buy your 5-htp from his web-site? He certainly sounds like he knows very much and perhaps I should get his book.

I tried 5HTP on a couple occasions, and I believe it made me feel bad with no positive effects, I think I was taking 100 mg, but I really do not remember.

I am on Trazodone (and until this week didn't know how much it is doing for me) as well as Ultram, and both affect serotonin. Maybe I was over ding it on things that affect my serotonin levels, I don't know.

I hope it works well for you.

LeAnne, I buy my supplements from vitacost.com and use their housebrand, NSI. I've done very well on them.

i watched the utube video and thought it made a lot of sense. i am going to purchase the 5-htp in hopes that it will help.

i have a question though, i understand taking it before bed, but what are the benefits for taking it in the morning?

@katcelina
I take it in the morning as well, and don't have any issues with doing so. It doesn't "knock you out" or anything, so taking in the morning doesn't affect my day at all. You could also take a lower dose in the am if you're concerned about this. I know I've read about other people weaning off after a certain time period and taking it only when having a flare, sort of like a pain pill. I've not been on it for too long so am not there yet and still taking twice a day. I know others it hasn't helped at all, but it has for me and hoping for you all too!

Kat, the reason I take it at night is that is helps you sleep. If my mood is low, I'll take some anytime of day. Insomnia is the bane of my existence so most of what I do is to help me to sleep.