5-Hydroxytryptophan or 5-HTP is an amino acid that increases production of serotonin in the brain alleviating anxiety, depression, insomnia, pain, carbohydrate cravings and more.
Here are some excerpts from an excellent paper published in Alternative Medicine Review in 1998 titled 5-Hydroxytryptophan: a clinically-effective serotonin precursor:
5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is an aromatic amino acid naturally produced by the body from the essential amino acid L-tryptophan. Produced commercially by extraction from the seeds of the African plant, Griffonia simplicifolia, 5-HTP has been used clinically for over 30 years. The clinical efficacy of 5-HTP is due to its ability to increase production of serotonin in the brain.
In the central nervous system (CNS), serotonin has been implicated in regulation of sleep, depression, anxiety, aggression, appetite, temperature, sexual behavior, and pain sensation.
Therapeutic administration of 5-HTP has been shown to be effective in treating a wide variety of conditions, including depression, fibromyalgia, binge eating associated with obesity, chronic headaches, and insomnia.
I advise my clients to take all the amino acids between meals and away from protein containing food so they are no getting competition from other amino acids, thereby affecting absorption of the targeted individual amino acid they are taking. I typically make the same recommendation for taking 5-HTP however I simply do this to make things less complicated. In actual fact, 5-HTP can be taken with meals:
Intestinal absorption of 5-HTP does not require the presence of a transport molecule, and is not affected by the presence of other amino acids; therefore it may be taken with meals without reducing its effectiveness.
The recommended starting dose for 5-HTP is 50mg two or three times a day and it is well absorbed:
Initial dosage for 5-HTP is usually 50 mg three times per day with meals. If the clinical response is inadequate after two weeks, dosage may be increased to 100 mg three times per day. For insomnia, the dosage is usually 100-300 mg before bedtime. Because some patients may experience mild nausea when initiating treatment with 5-HTP, it is advisable to begin with 50 mg doses and titrate upwards.
5-HTP is well absorbed from an oral dose, with about 70 percent ending up in the bloodstream. It easily crosses the blood-brain barrier and effectively increases central nervous system synthesis of serotonin.
It’s well recognized that 5-HTP (and tryptophan) can impact both serotonin and melatonin levels but is often less recognized that other neurotransmitters can be increased too:
Other neurotransmitters and CNS chemicals, such as melatonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and beta-endorphin have also been shown to increase following oral administration of 5-HTP.
You can read the complete paper here at altmedrev.com, a publication of Thorne Research Inc.
The author does seem to favor 5-HTP over tryptophan but I have found that many of my clients do better on one versus the other. I typically start my clients on tryptophan unless they have benefited from 5-HTP in the past. I would also recommend tryptophan at night if someone is wired-tired and adrenal testing shows high cortisol levels as 5-HTP can raise cortisol levels.
It really all comes down to our own biochemical individuality. I recommend doing a trial to see which amino acid is going to work for your symptoms. I write about this in this blog: How to do an amino acid trial for anxiety
Low serotonin MAY be a factor in anxiety and/or depression (and research shows this to be a fact). Anxiety and/or depression could have one of many possible causes – low serotonin, blood sugar instability, poor diet, not eating enough protein, sugar, caffeine, gluten, low dopamine (for depression), pyroluria, inflammation etc.
If low serotonin is a factor then 5-HTP (or tryptophan) is one way to start to raise serotonin levels so you can feel calm, confident, happy, pain-free again, as well as sleep through the night and end the afternoon and evening cravings.
Have you found 5-HTP to be effective? Please share how much you take/took and when, and how it made you feel. Did you also try tryptophan and do you prefer 5-HTP? We’d love to hear in the comments below.
Have you got questions? Feel free to ask in the comments below.
If this information sounds intriguing and you’d like practical help to figure out if you could possibly benefit from 5-HTP or one of the other amino acids, I invite you to join us in one of The Amazing Aminos for Anxiety homestudy group programs. This homestudy group program will provide guidance with using each of the targeted individual amino acids.
Hi. Just thought I’d share something that I read recently:
In the new study, published in the scientific journal JAMA Psychiatry, the research team, led by professors Mats Fredrikson and Tomas Furmark, used a PET camera and a special tracer to measure chemical signal transmission by serotonin in the brain.
They discovered that participants with social phobia produced too much serotonin in a part of the brain’s fear center, known as the amygdala. The more serotonin produced, the more anxious the patients were in social situations.
Ilisa
Thanks for sharing this study (link here for other who may be interested http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26083190).
I did see it when it was published and am not sure what to make of it. I think it shows that we have much to learn, and that some people (those with social phobia) may have issues with too much serotonin. We know too much can cause the same effects as too little.
When studies report something new we typically see follow-up studies that support it or report different findings so we’ll have to look out for those.
I am also not familiar with the method of measurement they used and would love to pick someone’s brain about this and it’s reliability.
I think this goes back to us all being unique, doing the questionnaire, doing a trial of the amino acid 5-HTP (or tryptophan) if low serotonin is suspected and seeing what the outcome is.
I totally agree with everything you are saying. It’s just very interesting, and if someone is not having success with your suggestions, this could be a possible reason why. The body is so complex, and we are all so unique, despite our commonality. Social phobia may be very different than generalized anxiety. Just wanted to share since I just happened to read that other article. I really love what you do, and am so grateful for all the information you share. Thank you!
Ilisa
Yes absolutely! All very interesting and we certainly appreciate all the researchers! I appreciate the discussion and am always learning and reading and questioning.
Thanks for those kind words too!
I was beginning to take the 5-HTP but stopped after a few days because I found some information which stated that 5-HTP can amplify dreams at night. I suffer terribly from this disturbing condition of unpleasant dreams all night long. ( this ‘symptom’ started when I was taking Chantix to stop using tobacco. Disturbing dreams is listed as a “side effect”
way down the list . Had I known how horrible this would be I never would have taken this stuff. So…I suffer from chronic anxiety and really need something to help me with this symptom. Does anyone know, if I take 5-HTP will this night dreaming condition get even worse? Thanks for any help
Demelza
I am sorry to hear about your disturbing dreams. I was not aware of this side-effect with Chantix but see a few papers that address this. Based on this paper “Twenty-seven reports of “abnormal sleep related events” often associated with abnormal dreams, nightmares, or somnambulism, which are known to be associated with varenicline [Chantix] use, were identified in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Individual Case Safety Reports Database.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25409105
I can’t find information about 5-HTP and dreams except on websites that focus on dreams and have not had this feedback from my clients so can’t comment
Based on this paper the SSRI Escitalopram/Lexapro those taking the SSRI and seeing mood improvements noted “changes in some specific dreaming characteristics, such as the subjective recall of dream activity, the dream recall quality, the dream emotional content and the dream complexity http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25174696
I can share that vitamin B6/pyridoxine does affect dream recall: “Morning self-reports indicated a significant difference in dream-salience scores (this is a composite score containing measures on vividness, bizarreness, emotionality, and color)” and “An hypothesis is presented involving the role of B-6 in the conversion of tryptophan to serotonin” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11883552
I wonder if Chantix is somehow affecting B6 metabolism or causing B6 depletion?
Sorry I don’t have an answer for you. If we were working together I’d have you see how you score on the low serotonin questionnaire and if you scored high start with a trial of tryptophan first. I’d also look into whether low vitamin B6 may be a factor
I would LOVE to work with you unfortunately, I am unable to afford this. I am suffering from a very difficult, rare condition and I have spent all the resource I had to try and get some authentic Help. Am feeling pretty desperate.
Thank you for sharing the information you have.
I’m so sorry to hear this – my book is very affordable and this blog is a wealth of information. Do let me know if I can help point you to other resources too.
I take 100 mg 5 htp in the morning with other vitamins . I wake up between 3 and 4 am and have trouble falling asleep again . Should I take more ? Or at different times ?
Isabelle
Serotonin takes a dip mid-afternoon so I find that 5-HTP or tryptophan is best taken mid-afternoon and evening. I have my clients start low and increase based on their response. We may also add melatonin for sleep issues.
Keep in mind that early morning wakening can also be due to high cortisol or low blood sugar or food sensitivities, SIBO (if there is bloating), parasites etc
Hi,
I suffer from insomnia and anxiety, and was really hoping that 5-htp would help with that.
I tried taking 50 mg of 5-htp before bed and was really dopey all of the next day.
I felt as if I was in a stupor and couldn’t string two thoughts together.
I also had intense abdominal pain during the night.
I tried taking half of that dose but also had the same experience.
I’m wondering if I would have similar effects if I took tryptophan?
I had my neurotransmitters checked ( urine test) a few years ago which had shown that my seratonin was actually elevated.
Could the account for the side effects that I experienced?
Jen
Some people do better on one versus the other so a trial may be worthwhile. When someone has a bad reaction with the starting dose I think pixie dust and would have them start really really low i.e a few dabs.
I don’t use urinary neurotransmitter testing – you can read why here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/urinary-neurotransmitter-testing-falls-short/
Keep in mind that insomnia can also be due to high cortisol or low blood sugar or food sensitivities, SIBO (if there is bloating), parasites etc. With anxiety I’d also look into low GABA.
I have taken 5HTP for nearly a decade now; I was able to get off Prozac, experiencing less side-effects and more benefits! I started with 50mg, once, then twice daily, since I had read that ‘gastric distress’ was a possible side-effect; I don’t remember having any problems. Then I found a 100mg timed-release form, which I usually take first thing in the morning, along with L-Tyrosine. For about a year, I took one morning and night, as I felt I needed more (mild depression returned). Then I cut back to one and added Lithium orotate, and had good success with this combo for a couple years. I began to wake with some joint stiffness in my hands (different than carpal tunnel, usually in pinky and ring finger); I attributed it to arthritis (?–in my late 40s)…but noticed improvement when I avoided/minimized gluten. Then I ran out of Lithium, and before my next order arrived, I noticed I wasn’t waking with the stiffness–so am staying off Lithium (as well as gluten) for awhile. (What I read indicated it can actually HELP with joint pain… but everyone is different.) I use the 5HTP more for depression than sleep issues, but it’s true I don’t have the sleep issues I once did. I rarely have any dreams that bother me, either.
I have not tried Tryptophan; perhaps I’ll get some for my young-adult daughter to try, since she didn’t notice relief from depression/anxiety/panic attacks with 5HTP (but L-Tyrosine helps her, as does Rescue Remedy, w/Bach flower extracts.) I also have a son in teens who was able to get off depression/anxiety meds with 5HTP/L-Tyrosine combo.
Diane
It’s so wonderful to hear from people who have had great results with aminos. And it’s valuable and inspiring for others to read this (especially since they are able to replace the medications) – so thanks for sharing!
I’m curious about the timed-release 5-HTP – could you share more? And how much tyrosine you take?
I am a big fan of lithium orotate. Many find that 5-10mg twice a day seems to help many with mood issues, plus it has cognition benefits. I have not heard about joint pain but we are all different. May I ask how much you were taking.
Some people do better on 5-HTP and some do better on tryptophan so do look into this for your daughter.
I’m a little surprised to hear you’ve been taking 5-HTP for almost a decade and wonder if you’ve ever tried stopping and the results? The amino acids are typically a short-term solution (1-12 months).
Trudy,
Thank you for your input! I get Natrol T-R 5HTP 100mg (@ Costco). I haven’t actually tried stopping (other than missing a day or two); considering that as recently as 3 years ago I felt the need to increase to twice daily (as depression symptoms were returning), I think I’ll just stay on with a ‘maintenance dose’–unless you know of negative effects from long-term use. For tyrosine, I use either 500mg of L-tyrosine, or 350mg of N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine (supposed to be more bio-available? Swanson brand). I have also used this long term; I don’t notice a specific difference in symptoms, with or without it, but I have never relied on it alone, or tried significantly higher doses. My daughter, on the other hand, found the tyrosine alone to help, but takes one morning and evening.
The Lithium Orotate is 5mg, so a very small dose. Now that I have been off for about a month, I’ll try it again, to see if the finger joint stiffness returns/changes. (I could certainly use the cognitive benefits! What dose is recommended for this? Being peri-menopausal, I struggle with focus and memory, even while using bio-identical Estrogen. ) I’m still wondering if the joint stiffness is a gluten reaction, but since it can take 3-6 mos. to completely clear the gluten/response from my system, and I haven’t been 100% gluten free, it’s hard to know for sure. I have talked with several people who avoid (but don’t totally eliminate) gluten, and notice that tendonitis/joint pain flares up when they use more gluten, but doesn’t bother with just occasional/minimal use. Do you recommend completely eliminating gluten for such a mild sensitivity?
Also, what dose of tryptophan to you recommend to start, and is there a specific brand or form? (I usually use Swanson; I’ve found their supplements to work for me, and the price is affordable.)
Trudy,
I need your help with my naturopath’s recommendations.
I am working with a naturopath who seems very knowledgeable about insomnia and anxiety. I have had a bad form of insomnia off and on for about a year (mostly on) where I wake up several times a night with my heart pounding. The heart pounding gets worse each time I wake up, and often it takes a couple hours in the morning for my heart rate to stabilize. It’s awful. I am so tired.
I did have some stressful events in the last year and I did realize I have some anxiety to work through. But I’ve been doing SO much work – cognitive-behavioral therapy, working with an innovative anxiety specialist who does NLP and hypnosis, I do EFT tapping, meditate and have had a qigong master doing 4 different healings on me.
Initial testing about a month into it showed that my cortisol and DHEA (via a 24 hour salivary test) are surprisingly normal. My serotonin was very low. Dopamine was low but not horrible.
Anyway, I’ve been working with my naturopath for 3 months and I’ve seen only mild improvement despite many tweaking to my supplement regiment. I am using Orthomolecular products and am currently taking 300 mg of HTP three times a day, and the supplements also have lysine, tyrosine, cysteine HCL. I was taking Macuna as well to increase my dopamine. I just added a Tyrosine powder 10 days ago because he is looking for some “competitive inhibition” between the serotonin and dopamine. I had to decrease the dopamine because I was getting spacey/disassociated/panicky, which he said is a classic sign when the dopamine supplement needs to be scaled back.
I am about at my wit’s end. I am thinking this regiment is not working for me. I have so much muscle tension in my jaw and back, and I can’t get rid of it. I know it’s not me, it’s my hormones causing it. And the waking up feels like it’s a biological problem.
Help! I’d like to bring suggestions to my naturopath, or perhaps even try adding something to my current regiment to see if it helps.
Thanks for any info you can provide.
Heidi
I should also add that I am taking a urine test every month to test my serotonin and dopamine levels. At the last test taking 3 weeks ago, my serotonin and dopamine levels were now almost too high. In general, when I have taken more 5-HTP than dopamine (the ratio), I have always felt a bit more physical tension whenever we’ve tried to focus on elevating my serotonin levels through 5-HTP.
I have not felt any improvements in my “calm” feelings this entire three months. Ugh.
Heidi
I’m sorry to hear about your insomnia and anxiety.
I know some practitioners have been taught to use the 10:1 5-HTP: tyrosine ratio and it’s not something I use since we are all so unique. If I’m working with someone with anxiety/insomnia I do not have them add tyrosine/mucuna until they are doing better with anxiety and sleep.
I don’t use urinary neurotransmitter testing – you can read why here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/urinary-neurotransmitter-testing-falls-short/
Keep in mind that insomnia can also be due to low blood sugar or food sensitivities, SIBO (if there is bloating), parasites etc. With anxiety I’d also look into low GABA.
Thanks for the reply, Trudy. My naturopath says it can take 4-6 months to hit the right level of aminos, which seems crazy given your experience and discussions about people finding relief much sooner than that. I will have a discussion with him to see if perhaps tryptophan would be a better match for me – if he’s willing to give it a try and has experience with it. I also think that intuitively, I am on “too much” aminos. I have felt this for a couple months. I was originally on a GABA supplement called Cerenity PM for a couple weeks and it didn’t doo much for my insomnia, which is why we then went down the 5-HTP route.
I am also intruigued by your comments about the urine tests. He is puzzled as to why my levels were low, then really high, then slightly decreased. I see now that the test is unreliable. Sigh. I really like him and would like to keep working with him. Any advice you have for how I could make a case to try something else would be appreciated.
heidi
Heidi
Based on my experience if you don’t get results with the amino acids within a week then it’s time to look at the amounts, the brand, thyroid health, absorption and bipolar II (lithium orotate helps here).
And then look elsewhere for root causes (https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/60-nutritional-biochemical-causes-of-anxiety/) this can take longer.
I have had clients who have been taking Cerenity PM when they started with me and some had good results. But I prefer GABA to pharmaGABA and would only have someone take phosphatidyl serine when their cortisol is high.
I’m sure your naturopath will be open to what you’re learning. Just share what you’ve read here and in my book (and give him a copy?) and ask if he’s willing to work with you on figuring it out.
And remember that I only recommend Lidtke tryptophan. Quality is key.
If we were working together I wouldn’t give up on the 5-HTP just yet, I’d just have you stop the tyrosine/mucuna and do 5-HTP alone, starting with 50mg twice a day mid-afternoon and evening and increasing based on how you respond. He may even be more open to you trying that first.
Trudy,
Thank you – from the bottom of my heart – for your replies. You are giving me some hope. I emailed my naturopath and he doesn’t seem pleased about me wanting to try something different. He wants me to continue on my regiment until this Friday or Saturday, then take the urine test and see him in 2 weeks. He said I could go off the supplements after I take the test if I want. He said if my serotonin level is “still all over the place” when he gets the test results, he would want me to go back on all the supplements and up the tyrosine powder from 1 tbsp a day to 2 tbsp a day. I can’t continue to spend $700 a month for something that isn’t working.
Since I don’t think I’ve received any benefit from the supplements (I think the small benefit I’ve gained in three months has been due to EFT tapping, qigong, and meditation), I’m going to stop the supplements and just see what happens for a couple days. Sound reasonable to stop cold turkey?
I signed up for your aminos course and listened to the first audio today and I’m not sure how to go through the program since I’ve already tried aminos. My main problem is the heart pounding when I wake up several times in the night (and it gets worse when I wake up the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th time). For your best guess as to what will give me the fastest results with this symptom, do you recommend I do the 5-HTP alone, as you mention above (I think I will try the brand you recommend, since my current supplements have other aminos in them)? Or something else?
Here are other facts: my thyroid is normal (took a traditional test plus antibodies test a few months ago), my glucose seems to be normal (did a fasting glucose test last month), I generally don’t eat much gluten but have been more strict about it for a month, I eat protein at all meals and eat breakfast (fruit/greens/whey smoothie or eggs) about an hour after waking, I don’t think I have traditional low blood sugar since I don’t get shaky or nervous between meals, I don’t have bipolar II, and don’t think I have SIBO (since I don’t have bloating).
The only clues are that I do have some sugar cravings, not strong, but I like to reward myself with cookies or candy. Also, the ONLY thing that seems to help me sleep slightly better is taking antihistimines before bed. I am wondering if I have histamine intolerance and got some DAO enzymes to break down histamine at meals.
So, if I go off my supplement regiment this weekend, do you think I would benefit from letting them wash out of my system (in case my serotonin is now too high) and then re-starting with tryptophan or 5-HTP? One final thing, I bought the GABA calm and I have felt some benefit within 15 minutes of taking it. I don’t want to confound the results if I take too many things at once, but I also want fast relief.
Thank you, so very much.
Heidi
Heidi
I’m so glad you’re hopeful and am sorry your doc isn’t willing. I’ve structured the amino course in a way that mirrors how I work with each of my clients. So just follow the classes one by one and do the trials as laid out, with doing one amino acid at a time so you know what is doing what. The key is start low and go slow. I know it’s hard when you feel bad but I’ve found it’s the best way.
You could skip the low blood sugar class if you don’t think it applies to you.
I really can’t consult via my blog. If you feel you need more guidance the programs with Q and A and/or facebook group support are options for you too. The first Q and A call is next week Tuesday.
Who is your naturopath?
Hi Trudy, I have used GABA for my anxiety, but I could only tolerate 150mg, as it made me feel worse when I had taken the whole capsule of 300mg. I could not take it at night as it kept me awake and a bit shaky for some reason. After this experience my Naturopath gave me L-theanine that I take during the day. Its a 225mg, and she suggested I take 1 or 2 as needed. Before bed I take 1 or 2 capsules or Relora Plus from ‘Thorne’. Because I just entered full menopause, and have some hot flashes, she gave me Estro-Mend from ‘Douglas Laboratories’.
I also have Lorna Vanderhaeghe’s Adrena smart capsules which has Ashwagandha 62.5 mg, plus some other things. What do you think. I appreciate your feedback, and thank you for helping all the women who needs much needed advice!
Agnes
I can’t consult via the blog but we are all different and many do better on smaller amounts especially GABA. I have my clients start on 125mg. Adrenal support is great for menopause
Do you recommend taking tyrosine and 5htp at the same(with each other) time? Or should they be separated? Thanks!
Shan
They can be taken together but I recommend doing them separately while doing a trial to figure out if you need them
I was told at the health food store that 9Botanica) Kava Root (liquid Phytocaps) 409mg pipermethyticum, and 75mg Kavalactone, would help calm me down as I am cleaning, organising my mother’s house for sale, and I am exhausted and overwhelmed. They also said that (New Roots) Magnesium Bisglycinate 150mg plus 30 mg 2-aminoethanesulfonic. Those both could be helpful as I experience anxiety as I awake during the night with an attack. DO you think it is a good idea?
Thank you!!
Agnes
I’m sorry to hear you’re exhausted and overwhelmed. I don’t use kava and prefer GABA. Source Naturals GABA Calm is a good product for daytime and GABA alone for night-time. Magnesium is a wonderful calming mineral for night-time.
I have my clients do the amino acid questionnaire (https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-mood-questionnaire-from-the-antianxiety-food-solution/) and do a trial.
I also have them review the precautions https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acid-precautions/ and discuss amino acid use with their doctor if they are taking any medications.
Thank you so much for your feedback. I am checking out the links you have sent me. I appreciate all your help!!
Trudy, Thank you so much for all the infomration. I’m stuggling with doctors wanting to put my daughter on an SSRI (she has been suicidal and we are in treatment/therapy). She is currently not open to anything “Mom” suggests i.e. diet, excersise, aminos and other vitamins/minerals, but wants to try the SSRIs. I feel so conflicted about this because I believe there is a better way to her wellness and frustrated at the healthcare providers. We start treatment with SSRI’s this week. Any suggestions or resources you might recommend would be welcomed.
Jammy
I’m sorry to hear about your daughter. It’s often hard for family members to make recommendations so having her hear it from someone else may help. If she reads my book The Antianxiety Food Solution is a great resource and so is this blog. If she likes to listen to audios, the interviews I’ve done on The Anxiety Summit (https://www.everywomanover29.com/storemenu.html) are excellent. It may be helpful for her to hear real life stories from people who have seen results – Meme was suicidal and used food and nutrients very successfully https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/anxiety-summit-the-anxiety-summit-amazing-aminos-acids-client-success-with-meme-grant/
There are many wonderful integrative practitioners that can help too – when she is ready.
Trudy, thank you so much for the encouragement and resources. I had a conversation with my daughter today and talked to her about my concerns with the SSRI’s and that I wanted her to be aware of the research before she started them but wanted her to decide what she wanted to do. She decided not to take them at this time. She also said she would be willing to try the aminos I had suggested as long as it was a pill she could swallow (she does not like the sublinguals). We went through your questionnaire some weeks back actually and she has the highest need for Tryptophan but also GABA. My plan is to order the Tryptophan and start her on this first to see how she responds and then later start the GABA as well. I have your book on my kindle and will encourage her to read this, but she will probably opt to listen to podcast or a youtube video. (the teen language 😉 I’m so glad I had already read your book and was aware of these options.
Wonderful Jammy! I do have some youtube videos that could work for her
Can u recommend a certain brand of gaba at night
Lusine
The GABA only and GABA/theanine products here are excellent for bed time https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-pyroluria-supplements/
Hello! I recently decided to give 5HTP a try for depersonalization syndrome. It was suggested by my Naturopath. It has helped me a lot with this issue of spacey/detached feeling– which is great– but it seems to give me headaches. I read that this is common in the first few days of taking it but it should get better. For me, it hasn’t got better but worse. I only take 25 mg at night. Would tryptophan be better?
Lisa
Glad to hear it’s helping. I don’t have any experience with depersonalization syndrome (or depersonalization disorder (DPD), also known as depersonalization-derealization syndrome) but have had a few people ask questions about this on the blog. May I ask if you have been diagnosed with depersonalization syndrome or if it’s self-diagnosis?
How much does the 5-HTP help with the spacey/detached feelings? (on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being worst)?
It would also help me to learn more if you’re willing to share which of the low serotonin symptoms the 5-HTP helps you with too.
I can’t give you specific advice but if I was working with someone who says 5-HTP helps with a number of low serotonin symptoms AND they report benefit from 5-HTP, I would have my client switch to tryptophan (and only the Lidtke brand), also starting low.
I’m two weeks off of amitriptiline for insomnia and have been trying to adjust by taking 200 mg 5- HTP and about 1000 gaba. I also have to add a sleep aid cap of 50 mg and Theanine Serene with Relora to get any sleep at all. I thought if I can increase the serotonin I could get more sleep. Going off just 25 mg of amitriptiline has been horrible!! Any advice would be appreciated!!
Hello Trudy!
I am a huge fan of your work, thank you so much for all the information. I was wondering about 5 htp in regards to increasing cortisol. Let’s say a person was very low on serotonin and needed the 5htp to rebalance to normal levels, would the 5 htp still increase cortisol even if it’s “balancing low levels to normal”? In other words, would 5htp only increase cortisol if the person had normal or high serotonin so it would push it above the normal amount of serotonin that’s natural in the body thus increasing cortisol? (Sorry for the confusion)
Michael
Sometimes 5-HTP increases serotonin and sometimes it doesn’t. I only have clients use 5-HTP if they have low serotonin.
Thank you so much for this information!
I struggle very much with anxiety, nervosity and insomnia. I have been taking GABA and 5htp (around 50-100mg/day) for a few months now with some success. I want to try lithium orotate, to see if it could be a better match. Is it ok to add it to the 2 others? Can one take low dose lithium orotate with 5 htp?
Corinne
I often have clients add lithium orotate to GABA and 5-HTP but we first optimize their GABA and 5-HTP by increasing to the optimal dose. The clue is hearing they work “with some success.” We always want to capitalize on what is already working (and 50-100mg 5-HTP once a day is just a starting dose for many).
Lithium orotate is particularly helpful when we see fluctuating benefits of the amino acids i.e. benefits come and go.
Hopefully diet is being addressed too – gluten-free, sugar-free, caffeine-free, real whole food, quality animal protein, organic veg and fruit, fermented foods and healthy fats.