A mom in my community responded to an ADHD blog sharing how 5-HTP melts have been a miracle for one of her adopted children – after one week! 5-HTP is not where I typically start with ADHD so I quizzed her to get more details and then went looking for the research to understand the mechanisms. This blog shares her rationale for using 5-HTP, the truly wonderful results her son experienced, some of the research and some possible serotonin/dopamine mechanisms. This is what she posted:
5-HTP melts have been a miracle for one of my adopted kids. He had lots of trauma and off the charts ADHD. 5-HTP is better than methylphenidate (Ritalin) and we are now weaning off the non-stimulants.
Just 80mg 5-HTP in the morning is all he needs. He was super ADHD, he had a para (teacher’s aide) in public school for years to keep him on track and this year at a school for ADHD the teachers were complaining that he was never on task.
Now after a week it has changed his life. I am so thankful for the anxiety summit. Thank you Trudy
This is truly wonderful to hear! I responded saying how thrilled I was to hear the impact it was having and asked why this mom decided to try 5-HTP? This amino acid, which is a serotonin precursor, is not typically my first choice for alleviating ADHD symptoms. I consider low GABA (and using GABA) or low catecholamines (and using tyrosine), together with dietary changes, blood sugar control, and assessing for low zinc, low iron and low omega-3s – as a starting point.
I wanted to know if he had low serotonin symptoms such as the worry, ruminating, and obsessive type of anxiety which could have possibly been driving the ADHD symptoms? Were there any other symptoms that were a clue that low serotonin may be a factor: insomnia (with fatigue the next day impacting focus) or sugar cravings in the afternoon/evening (causing blood sugar swings affecting focus and mood)?
Why she used 5-HTP and which low serotonin symptoms he had
This was her response about why she used 5-HTP and which low serotonin symptoms he had:
We have tried all the amino acids over the years. I tried 5-HTP this time because SSRIs were the only class of medication he has not tried. I thought maybe it was worth a try and I also found this study: Comparative study of efficacy of 1-5-hydroxytryptophan and fluoxetine in patients presenting with first depressive episode (where the therapeutic efficacy of 5-HTP was considered as equal to that of the SSRI fluoxetine).
As for cravings or insomnia: he is a kid who loves sugar so I’m not sure if it’s a craving or typical. He takes 0.3mg of melatonin each night because guanfacine, the non-stimulant, prevents the production of melatonin.
She also mentioned that she has followed me for years and that DPA, an endorphin-boosting amino acid, works for her. She is a dietitian and shares my handouts and blog posts with her clients, so she clearly felt comfortable experimenting with the amino acids with her son.
5-HTP products and dosing
I also asked which product they were using and how she landed at 80mg. She wanted a fast-acting supplement that would dissolve in his mouth and purchased Natrol 5-HTP:
They are 100mg but we are breaking off a little because he was falling asleep in class.
I reminded her that 5-HTP (or tryptophan) is typically best used late afternoon and evening so if someone is falling asleep in the day I’d switch to bedtime dosing. If he needs it during the day for the ADHD symptoms then reducing the dose is the smart thing to do.
I love the sublingual/melt aspect of this product for quick results and because children do so well with a product that tastes pleasant.
However, I do not recommend this particular product because of very mixed ingredients information online. I have not seen the bottle of the actual product used but some of the online information states the product is gluten-free and soy-free and yet other information states it does contains gluten and soy. In some places they state it contains sucralose and an artificial flavor and in other places you see xylitol and natural flavor. This is all rather concerning. I’ll update this section as soon as I can confirm.
What does this mean for this mom? Now that she has figured out that 5-HTP helps her son, it’s best to find a better quality product so as not to cause other problems.
There are two chewable products in my online supplement store that come close to this product:
- Serotrex Chewable: Two chewables contain 200mg theanine and 60mg 5-HTP. This could be used in the day or at night.
- Designs for Health Insomnitol Chewables: Two chewables contain 10mg vitamin B6, 500mg inositol, 200mg theanine, 100mg 5-HTP and 3mg melatonin. This would need to be used at night instead.
Both of these contain theanine. Research shows that theanine reduces anxiety and improves cognition via “improvements in verbal fluency (especially letter fluency) and improvements in executive function (planning, multi-tasking etc).”
The research on 5-HTP and tryptophan for ADHD
This paper, The effects of 5-hydroxytryptophan on attention and central serotonin neurochemistry in the rhesus macaque, shares that
Individuals with depression and anxiety typically experience impaired executive function and emotional cognition, symptoms that are generally studied by examining disruptions in attention.
This study used 5-HTP as an intramuscular injection, rather than using it orally but the authors did report the following:
Our findings provide unique causal and mechanistic evidence suggesting that enhancing central serotonergic function results in categorically distinct changes in fundamental cognitive operations such as attention.
This paper, Does serotonin deficit mediate susceptibility to ADHD? summarizes the role of serotonin in ADHD, the interplay with dopamine and the use of oral tryptophan (a serotonin precursor similar to 5-HTP):
- A chronic deficit of serotonin at the synapse may trigger symptoms of childhood ADHD (developmentally inappropriate levels of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention).
- Studies from animal models of ADHD indicate intimate interplay between serotonin and dopaminergic neurotransmission.
- Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs)…as non-stimulant drugs acting on the serotonin system are … clinically effective.
- Oral administration of l-tryptophan, the amino acid precursor of serotonin, significantly alleviates ADHD symptoms.
- Serotoninergic gene variants are associated with increased risk of ADHD.
I appreciate this mom for giving me permission to share here on the blog so we can inspire hope (and I wish for more and more improvements for this young boy):
My son is a 10-year old RAD (reactive attachment disorder) kid that was meth exposed and adopted at 3 years old. 5-HTP has worked so well. He has not thrown a fit in a month. Before fits were a daily occurrence. This might give hope to other parents.
Have you found that 5-HTP (or tryptophan) helps/helped you or your child with ADHD symptoms? If yes, do you feel the ADHD was caused in part because of anxiety and/or fear and/or feeling inadequate and/or perfectionism and/or poor sleep (all signs of low serotonin)? Or were the main symptoms poor focus, low energy, low motivation and depression caused by low catecholamines/low dopamine? Or a mixture of both?
If you’re a practitioner working with children or adults with ADHD, have you had good results with 5-HTP or tryptophan?
Please do share in the comments below.
I missed where the name of the product is shared. Could that be posted? Or emailed?
Jan
The blog was updated with the product and better options
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Can you take 5htp for a long period of time? I’m reading you can only take it for 4-6 weeks and then stop. Or for up to a year? But then when are you allowed to take it again? I’m confused
Hi ITrudy,
I have tried GABA, triptophan, 5htp.. , seriphos and none of them help me to sleep. I do not want to be dependent on melatonine but I take it very often as I go to bed at around 1:30 in the morning. The triptophan I tried three days no effect and it was so disgusting..
What else could I try?
My husband, bipolar, could not have any relief from 5htp or tyrosine.
Concerning my ADD kids I am afraid about the possible imbalance between serotonine dopamine if they take 5ht or tyrosine. What dose will you advice of both to avoid that imbalance in both? Should they alternate both?
Thanks a lot
Susana
If melatonin is helping someone sleep I have them continue to take it. It’s a great antioxidant too and safe to take long-term.
Tyrosine is contraindicated with someone with bipolar disorder.
Re concerns about an imbalance, we have folks take tryptophan or 5-HTP if they have low serotonin symptoms and tyrosine if they have low catecholamines.
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I am thrilled to find this post. My OB/GYN had me use 5-HTP for post postpartum depression after both babies. It was amazing , bc I was breastfeeding I wanted something natural and safe for my babies and it did the trick. I m using it again now in peri menopause w great results.
Tonight waa the first time I thought of using it to help my kids. So grateful. Will let you know how it goes. My son goes off task, has test and crowd anxiety and bad dreams some nights and poor sleep others.
Ange
Do keep us posted on how your son does with 5-HTP. Glad it’s helped you in the past and now.
I do want to add that I don’t use any of the amino acids in pregnancy or postpartum depression/anxiety simply because they have not been studied at these times. I do wish we had some research because I hear positive feedback like this from women all the time. May I ask how long you used it post-partum, how much you used and how it helped? And did you adjust your timing to use it right after nursing and then not nurse for 3-4 hours? (I’ve seen this as a recommendation)
Ms Trudy
Both times I used over the counter 100 mg. I used it 1 month after my morning feeding with our first and 100 mg for 3 months w my second. My morning feed gave the longest break because both babies took long morning naps before their next feeding.
5-HTP has a calm the seas effect for me. I remember taking it and saying to my husband, “I feel normal again.” I am using it now to help balance the mood swings of peri menopause w similar effects.
Ange
Thanks for the additional feedback. Love this … 5_HTP has a calm the seas effect and feeling normal again! Good timing with the nursing and glad it’s helping again.
We had a “miracle “ experience with adding L-Tryptophan 300mg at bedtime for my teenager. I was shocked to see how much it improved my child, especially in ways that I didn’t even realize were an issue.
We experimented with the dose until we ended up on 3 at bedtime. The results were like my teenager coming out of a fog, and also like my child was when she was younger. She became more engaged with the family and did a lot less isolation. She suddenly had interest in activities she had never pursued before. For instance, she wanted to start playing team sports after having played nothing for years. She wanted to do family game night! Before, we couldn’t force her to do it, and now it was her idea. Her thoughts seem to quiet down and were more organized. Her OCD and anxiety symptoms lessened. She became more goal oriented and focused on school. She laughs and smiles more!
We were most shocked because what we thought was normal teenage development was actually depression that we had no idea was there. This did not cure her ADD, but definitely improved her executive functioning.
We tried GABA and saw no improvement with that. We have tinkered with L Tyrosine, but haven’t been able to get on a steady dose of it yet to see if will also help.
This has been the most effective supplement we have ever used, and we have used a lot.
The brand we used was the Lidtke L Tryptophan.
Thank you for giving us the idea to try!
Kathy
Thanks for sharing the wonderful results your daughter has experienced with the Lidtke Tryptophan! I love all the surprise benefits she gets and this feedback: “This has been the most effective supplement we have ever used, and we have used a lot.”
Did you use 3 x chewable tryptophan or opened the 500mg capsule and what made you decide to trial tryptophan instead of 5-HTP and how did your experimenting go?
Since you say “We were most shocked because what we thought was normal teenage development was actually depression that we had no idea was there” what made you decide to even trial tryptophan – was it her anxiety and OCD? And was your daughter willing initially?
When someone does well with tryptophan at night, we often trial 5-HTP in the day when there are residual symptoms to address (like ADD). And yes tyrosine is also worth trialing. With ADD it’s also key to look at low blood sugar, gluten/sugar, low iron, low zinc, low omega-s etc
I love hearing stories like this and plan to share this as a blog post so more folks are inspired and have hope.
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Hey Trudy,
I read all your blog articles and listened to some of your talks. I made a chart of symptoms and then decided to try GABA Calm first. Since that didn’t help, the next logical choice for us was Tryptophan. My daughter has a lot of anxiety, intrusive thoughts and other OCD symptoms. The reason I didn’t trial the 5HTP first was because my daughter has some PTSD like startle responses, and since you said it isn’t good if you have high cortisol, I just made the guess that she might due to her startle response.
With the Lidtke brand, we used the capsules and I did not open them up. My teen would not have gone for that because she already takes a lot of supplements and medication because she is being treated for Lyme and Bartonella. She is cooperative with taking all the supplements/medication. We started at 1 capsule a night for probably 5 days and saw no difference, then went to two for another 5 days, and then landed on 3 when we noticed the dramatic change. Even her LLMD was shocked at how differently she interacted with her in our last appointment.
I think we will trial the L Theanine/5HTP combo in the morning next.
Oh yeah, I also wanted to mention that I decided to try 2 Tryptophan at night for insomnia and it has been a big help. I was really surprised because I remember many years ago trying prescription Tryptophan and it did nothing but make me feel drunk. 2 capsules at bedtime of the Lidtke brand makes it so I can ease right into sleep.
Thanks for everything!
Kathy
Thanks for following up and love your step by step logical approach for landing on tryptophan and doing the trial increasing every 5 days. It does sound like you do 3 x Lidtke 500mg for a total of 1500mg at night? You had written “We had a “miracle” experience with adding L-Tryptophan 300mg at bedtime for my teenager” and we both know the dosing is unique for each person but I want to get her story right and other readers would like to know too.
Since you mention the theanine/-5HTP combo (keep us posted on this) I assume you saw I shared her story in this week’s blog – Tryptophan for my teenager: she laughs and smiles, her OCD and anxiety has lessened, and she is more goal oriented and focused on school https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/tryptophan-for-my-teenager-she-laughs-and-smiles-her-ocd-and-anxiety-has-lessened-and-she-is-more-goal-oriented-and-focused-on-school/ I’ll update the blog with your helpful feedback.
I do also have these questions on the new blog and would love your input as a mom who has lived this and has been so willing to share:
– Now that Kathy has seen these wonderful changes in her daughter, I’d love to know – if she could go back in time – what questions would she have asked her anxious and depressed daughter so she could help her with solutions sooner?
– And what would she suggest to other parents to be looking out for in order to identify anxiety and depression in their children (who often cannot adequately articulate that they do feel anxious and/or depressed)?
Thank you again for sharing your daughter’s story and love that her LLMD (Lyme literate doc) was shocked! My hope is that more and more LLMDs actively seek to identify anxiety/depression in all their Lyme patients and start to recognize the power of the amino acids for helping their Lyme/Bartonella patients who commonly have anxiety, depression, OCD and the many of the symptoms your daughter experienced. This would also help moms like you recognize their child has depression rather than seeing it as normal teenage development.
I have many blogs on neuropsychiatric Lyme. Here is one – Neuropsychiatric Lyme Disease by Dr. Suruchi Chandra https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/neuropsychiatric-lyme-disease-suruchi-chandra/. I also interviewed Dr. Chandra and Dr. Darin Ingels on this topic on the recent Anxiety Summit 6: Toxins, Meds & Infections. Please feel free to share with your LLMD.
Love that you are benefiting from Lidtke tryptophan too! Interesting about the prescription tryptophan reaction – perhaps a higher dose?
Hello Trudy,
After listening to Dr. Murry’s talk on your Anxiety Summit, I decided to try 5-HTP on my 18-year-old daughter (a senior in high school) who was adopted at 5 years of age. She has always had some issues with focus, but she has never been medicated for this. She has had some learning struggles. She was exposed to alcohol in the womb, so some of her learning difficulty has been attributed to this.
I
She started 5-HTP in December and doesn’t ever want to miss a day on it. She says that she can better complete her assignments because it helps her to “stay on task”. Even on days that she is not in school, she wants to take it, because it makes her feel happier.
Because she has done so well on it, her 23-year-old biological sister (also adopted) started on it. She was also exposed to alcohol while in the womb and has some learning struggles. She is in college. She also doesn’t want to miss a day, because she says that “it keeps her on her toes,” which she says means that it “keeps me focused,” when she is working on her school work.
I am so thankful that I learned about this therapy through your summit!
Betsy
Betsy
Thanks for sharing the wonderful results both your daughters have seen with 5-HTP! I love hearing stories like this and plan to share this as a blog post so more folks are inspired and have hope. I’m also going to look into the research on exposure to alcohol in the womb and see if there is evidence 5-HTP helps since low serotonin is often a factor in these instances.
Can you please share which products they are using and how much is helping? Did they make any other changes at the same time? And what have you tried over the years to help with focus and learning issues?
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Betsy
As mentioned above here is the link to the blog post sharing the wonderful results both your daughters have experienced – 5-HTP benefits both adopted daughters who had prenatal exposure to alcohol: they are happier, more focused and can stay on task https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/5-htp-benefits-both-adopted-daughters-who-had-prenatal-exposure-to-alcohol-they-are-happier-more-focused-and-can-stay-on-task/
I’ve added some information you may find helpful – Prenatal exposure to alcohol: the adverse effects, and impacts on serotonin and dopamine. There are also links to some blogs on addressing neurotransmitter imbalances with tryptophan, 5-HTP and tyrosine
There is also a list of questions for you (expanding on the few I asked above). I’d love to hear back from you as I feel these answers may be helpful for me and other blog readers as they navigate trials with 5-HTP for their children.
I hope your daughters are still doing so well!
Hi Trudy,
I have had trouble finding serotrex and am wondering if attentrex would have a similar effect for my ADHD and ASD 8 year old son. He also has cystic fibrosis so is on many other medications to help control that, but I haven’t started him on anything specifically for the ADHD. I’d like to try something more natural before going straight to stimulants. If we do the stimulant route he’d have to be put on something to keep his appetite up to help with weight gain. He struggles with anxiety, depression, ruminating thoughts, and poor sleep. He hates school and struggles with friendships and social interactions but gets great grades. I’m feeling very optimistic reading others experiences with these supplements and am hopeful that they can benefit my son.
Hi, Trudy. I’m only 42, could you please adopt me? Wow! Just imagine waking up to, and being fed on an emotionally healing and organic food diet made by this highly intelligent woman. Crikey! That would be absolutely freaking awesome, I reckon. Instead, what do I get to wake up to each morning? Yep, you guessed it, I’m surrounded by zombified brain-dead idiots who live in the past, that no matter how much I try to educate my family on health, nutrition or the poisons lurking in our environment, they will have absolutely nothing to do with it, but prefer getting back to eating their KFC diets, and watching dumb crap on the TV all day long in their bubble. Thus, can you understand why a person like me would have such huge respect for people who are much smarter than me? Ha!
Mark
Your first sentence really gave me a good chuckle! 🙂 thank you for your kind words! Or maybe you’re asking this mom to adopt you? I’d say just continue to set a good example for your family. You never know when someone will be ready and open to change.
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I am not an expert or doctor, however I can tell you from the research I have read that 5-HTP can bring about dependency on it over time, and if I recollect properly from reading the research diminishing returns. However this is different with minimal dose Tryptophan, where you can get the benefit but not the diminishing returns.
This is far better, and I would recommend speak to a holistic practitioner., mainly to get advice and the right dose if required, for the patient.
Neil
Please share some links that support these claims. It’s the first time I’ve heard this and I’m curious to read more as I see nothing in the research about this and nor have I seen it clinically.
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What brand and dose of 5-THP would you recommend for a 10 year old boy with ADHD? He’s already taking the Source Naturals GABA Calm lozenges which has helped some but is still struggling to stay focused.
Sara
I added some brands to the blog
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Hi! I am so lucky to have bumped into this blog- where can I see these added supplements I also have a 9yo adhd with Trich and walking a fine line between stimulant and Trich – she takes low dose concerta and NAC AM abs gaunefecine at nighttime with melatonin and NAC – I would like to add 5-htp
Ivette
Always best to discuss with the prescribing doctor. I have seen kids be able to stop meds with the right combination of nutritional support. The can be 5-HTP or sometimes GABA and/or tyrosine. Also diet is key – quality animal protein, healthy fats, no gluten, no sugar, eating for blood sugar control, gut health/microbiome etc. Low zinc, low iron and low omega-3s need to be addressed too if they are issues.
If you are new to the amino acids (and other nutrition solutions like gluten/sugar/caffeine removal, blood sugar control, gut health, pyroluria etc) my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” is a great place to start. More here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/
Hi Trudy,
I can’t sleep! After testing my levels of dopamine and serotonin are way high! Any clues as to why? Somehow body not breaking them down? Not getting taken up? I quit the tryptophan, theanine I was taking after that.
Sophia
I don’t use urinary neurotransmitter testing as it’s not reliable. I use the symptoms questionnaire and trial of the amino acids. Regardless of results if someone has low serotonin symptoms we trial tryptophan and/or 5-HTP and if someone has low GABA we trial GABA and/or theanine – increasing until the ideal dose is found. I’d ask yourself how they were working for you before you quit.
If sleep is impacted by high cortisol then I like to use adrenal supporting product to nourish the adrenals and Seriphos to lower high cortisol (but only after salivary cortisol testing – more here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/seriphos-original-formula-anxiety-insomnia-cortisol/
With sleep issues we also look at parasites, gluten, sugar, caffeine, SIBO, sex hormone imbalances, and sleep conditions like dark/cool room, no EMFs etc
This is fascinating! I am 52 and was diagnosed with ADHD (inattentive) 7 years ago, after my son was diagnosed. Working with my functional medicine NP it appears my root cause may have been environmental exposure to chemicals when I moved to a small town in AR (age 10). From Trudys list I would list “perfectionism” as a contributing factor. Vyvanse (prescription) has been the only treatment offered by a Psychiatrist and I don’t take it because of the side effects and cost. The executive functioning challenges continue to impact my business and home life and I have been searching for a holistic treatment.
I am hoping someone on here can offer guidelines as I would love to try 5-HTP. I already take compounded thyroid meds, Vitamins A, B-12, C, and D3 w/ K, Zinc and Magnesium and Melatonin (20 mg) at bedtime.
*Dosage for an adult?
*When to take?
Thank you! I’m so hopeful and thankful for any suggestions 🙂
Teresa
Typical starting dose for 5-HTP is 50mg midafternoon and evening. I have clients do a trial and increase based on symptoms. Perfectionism is a classic low serotonin symptom too. And tyrosine helps if the ADHD is due to low catecholamines. Looking at dietary factors is key too – no gluten, no sugar, no caffeine, eating for blood sugar control, low iron etc
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Hi Sophia,
I hope you find the reason for your sleep issues. If your sleep problems are new, it could be the supplement, as you said. I’ve even heard about people getting too much CoQ10 causing their sleep issues. It is a great supplement but there is such a thing as having too much of a good thing. I used to take a B vitamin complex, years ago and it gave
terrible sleep problems. I just couldn’t fall asleep. So, I stopped using it.
By the way, how did you have your neurotransmitters tested?
Good luck,
Jo
Jo
Thanks and yes we must always consider this and medications (even benzodiazepines).
I suspect it was urinary neurotransmitter testing which I don’t recommend as it’s not reliable. I use the symptoms questionnaire and trial of the amino acids.
Dear Trudy,
I always gain from your articles. Would 5- HTP help me off Effexor and Ativan (I’ve been on generics for almost 3 years) My weight is up (to when I was 9 months pregnant, not good) and I don’t want to be on these meds all my life because of their side effects. I also take troche hormones and progesterone cream and daily good quality vitamins. If so, is there anything else I should be doing to help in being better. I exercise, eat healthy foods but have upped my sugar a lot this last year or two and try to get enough sleep, but am going to bed earlier for my health. Can you comment or advise?
Mae
Thanks for the kind words! I use 5-HTP or tryptophan with clients wanting to quit SSRIs. Effexor is an SRNI but you may find this blog helpful https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/taper-from-antidepressant-tryptophan-amino-acids/
With Ativan, the amino acid is helpful for tapering, together with melatonin and niacinamide
With medication tapering we always working with the prescribing doctor and do a slow slow taper.
You mention the sugar increase and this is important to address. With any tapering of medications it’s much easier when you are nutritionally stable first. My book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” is a great place to start.
Dear Trudy,
I love all your helpful info. Been following you for awhile to get help for my ADHD 16 year old girl. Tryptophan really helps when she’s mean :). I love what is in the Designs for Health Insomnitol chewable but I doubt my daughter will take it. Is there a comparable supplement in capsule form. She is very OCD and needs inositol but want drink the powder. Help! Keep up the great work that you do!
Lynn Funchess
Lynn
Glad to hear tryptophan helps your daughter when she’s mean. When clients who have OCD we continue to increase the tryptophan as it helps with these symptoms too. I would try the Insomnitol as many kids and teens like it. Inositol is also available in capsules but you need a lot to get the higher doses. We also always check for gluten issues and PANDAS/PANS/strep and other infections and gut health.
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Hi Trudy does 5-HTP work for adults? And would it interfere with others meds? My Son is taking 819 mg invega trinza every 3 months.
Angie
5-HTP does work for adults. I am not familiar with invega trinza but see it’s an antipsychotic that does list the following as drug interactions: SSRIs and tryptophan https://www.medbroadcast.com/drug/getdrug/invega-trinza. 5-HTP falls into the same category so best would be to discuss and work with your son’s prescribing physician so the potential risk of serotonin syndrome can be monitored.
I’d also suggest working with a functional medicine practitioner and/or nutritionist to find other ways to help your son with anxiety, ADHD, insomnia etc (like zinc, vitamin B6, omega-3s, blood sugar control, no gluten, low iron etc – based on unique needs).
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Hi Trudy,
With Tryptophan, do you also recommand taking it sublingually instead of swallowing the whole capsule.
Martine
For folks with digestive issues opening up the capsule does seem to be more effective. I have clients trial both ways and observe. What works best for you?
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10mg is a very high dose of B6 for a child. I’d be worried about that of using for more than a few weeks.
Ally
Good point. Thanks for weighing in. Hopefully short-term use would be enough.
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I see that you are currently not accepting new clients…do you have a resource list for where I could find providers well versed in this approach? I am desperate for someone to advise me on my son, I am stabbing in the dark at a lot of different things with him, like gaba, and seeing some amazing results but also think I am missing something and am worried that I might not be striking the right balance on his supplements. Do you recommend anyone else? Have a national database? Or?? Thank you!!
Hope
Glad to hear you are having some amazing results with your son. Unfortunately I don’t yet have a list of providers.
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My autistic son and I are in the ten percent who can’t tolerate GABA. I get very emotional and can’t stop crying and he gets irritable. We both have genetic variants for GABA Glutamate imbalances however. Anything else we can try for anxiety?
Brenda
I’m curious about this “the ten percent who can’t tolerate GABA” – may I ask where you learned about this as it’s new to me. And what genetic variants for GABA Glutamate imbalances you have. Also, in order to understand this I’d like to know what GABA products have you trialed, how much was used, was it used sublingually or swallowed and which low GABA symptoms you and your son have? Also do either of you have current or past benzodiazepine or fluoroquinolone antibiotic use? Do you also have the low serotonin type anxiety too?
Interesting. My son has severe hyperactive adhd and some anxiety. He’s been treated for Lyme, pandas and more over the last few years but the hyperactivity & impulse control are still big problems. He doesn’t feel well on SSRI or stimulants that’s we’ve tried. He’s already on GABA at night but we’ve never tried 5 htp. Intending to think about.
Brook
Glad this is helpful. Please keep us posted. With hyperactivity & impulse control we also always look at blood sugar issues too (and all things diet-related – gluten, sugar, caffeine, dairy, soy, salicylates etc)
Apologies for the delay in your comment approval and my response. We had a computer glitch where a large number of comments were hidden from view in a spam folder. It mostly affected new folks who were commenting for the first time but it’s hopefully resolved now.
This more in response to an earlier post than to today’s post but could also be pertinent here as well:
I recently was reading a bit from Murray & Pizzorno’s Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine [rev. 2nd ed.] and in a section on phenylalanine and tyrosine for depression, I found mention of a study done in the early ’70s on the use of 5-HTP for treating depression.
During that study they found that about one in five of their test subjects [20%] who had responded well to 5-HTP, experienced a relapse after one month of treatment. They found that the antidepressant effects of the 5-HTP appeared to wear off despite the fact that their serum levels of it were still at the same level as when they were benefiting from it.
The researchers discovered that while serotonin levels appeared to stay at the same levels after one month of treatment, other neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine declined. When the researchers added in tyrosine the test subjects “responded well”.
[Reference: H.M. van Praag et al, “In Search of the Mode of Action of Antidepressants: 5-HTP/Tyrosine Mixtures in Depression” Adv Biochem Psychopharmacol 39 (1984): 301-314
So if people find that their wonderful response to 5-HTP in treating their depression begins to wane after about a month, try adding in a small amount of tyrosine to begin, gradually increasing it until you achieve the desired result. Some people may find the waning occurring earlier or later than one month too. We are all individuals biochemically-speaking.
Not sure if this is an issue with ADHD patients on 5-HTP or not.
When I read this I knew I needed to share it with you and your followers online.
Michael
I don’t often find this to be an issue with 5-HTP but suspect it’s because many of my clients need serotonin support and catecholamine support. We figure this out based on the symptoms questionnaire and after doing the trial of 5-HTP and establishing the ideal dose, they go on to trial tyrosine and figure out the ideal dose.
Thanks for sharing this study – it’s new to me but makes sense and needs to be kept in mind when only 5-HTP is used and low catecholamine symptoms get worse. I’d love to know out how common this is and if it’s a potential issue with tryptophan too. And a potential issue with anxiety as well as depression. I’ll be keeping a watch for this.
I am planning to trial Serotrex Chewable with my 13 year old son with ADHD. He usually takes 18 or 27 mg of Concerta on school days depending on the amount of work that he has to complete. Would the effect of this supplement be immediate like his stimulant medication or does it require dosing over a period of days/weeks/ months in order to have a possible effect? Thanks!
Brette
I’m not familiar with this particular product but see it has 100mg theanine and 30mg 5-HTP which is a good starting dose. If the amino acids are needed (i.e. the person has low GABA and low serotonin – more on that here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-mood-questionnaire-from-the-antianxiety-food-solution/) and the correct dose is used (we start low and typically increase over a few weeks), the effects are immediate.
Please keep us posted as to how it goes with your son. And be sure to discuss with the prescribing doctor.
Apologies for the delay in your comment approval and my response. We had a computer glitch where a large number of comments were hidden from view in a spam folder. It mostly affected new folks who were commenting for the first time but it’s hopefully resolved now.
Hi Trudy, I’m turning to you as Im unable to find a Functional medical expert in Ireland…so..far….! My daughter suffers from chronic migraine which has got much worse since she turned 33 yrs.. She is on Escitalopran for depression but suffers greatly from extreme anxiety and has had panic attacks over the years. Currently she takes Almotriptan ,sometime two , when an attack is taking place …they are not vey effective , so she doses on Panadol xtra again to no avail. Her Doctor, a GP, is now saying after 32 consultations in 2020 that medication is not helping and will no longer prescribe Xanax . Previously she was on Zomig but found the side effects horrendous with huge anxiety , and anger present. Today she had to go to an emergency doctor for a Diclac injesction as she has endured Migraine pain all week.
As I believe GABA cannot be accepted by mail in Ireland what can she do and do you think it would work for her.
Ken
I’m sorry to hear about your daughter’s migraines. GABA can help to reduce muscle tension and has been shown to be factor in migraines (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1674338/). An alternative to GABA would be taurine or theanine but I often find low serotonin to be a factor with migraine so a trial of 5-HTP or tryptophan is worthwhile when there are other low serotonin symptoms (anxiety and panic attacks are common ones)
This is a useful paper: The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Patients with Migraine https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5353077/ I’m very surprised to see botox mentioned and would avoid this (more on this here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/botox-injections-cosmetic-or-non-cosmetic-are-they-a-root-cause-of-anxiety-and-panic-attacks/). Other factors to look into: gluten issues, gut health, hormone imbalances and antiphospholipid syndrome.
Apologies for the delay in your comment approval and my response. We had a computer glitch where a large number of comments were hidden from view in a spam folder. It mostly affected new folks who were commenting for the first time but it’s hopefully resolved now.
Hi Ken- I was recently told by my ND to try Butterbur, I’m not sure if Trudy has any info on here about that but I’ve been doing quite a bit of reading on it and it looks promising. There’s a supplement called Butterbur Extra, which also contains 5-HTP https://vitanica.com/all-vitanica-supplements/butterbur-extra-brain-chemistry-vessel-support/ I hope your daughter finds relief soon!
Hello! I read most of your information and decided I would like to try ‘ Lidtke Tryptophan’. How to I order it?
I’m in Canada. Thank you.
Carolyn
We are in the process of setting up our Canadian store for Fullscript. We’ll let you know once it’s ready for ordering. Can we email you at this email address?
Hello, I’ve been taking 5htp daily successfully for 7 years. I did not know you are supposed to take it intermittently. I tried going off of it for a day and my anxiety was very high. Based on your book, I ordered tryptophan instead and took a small dose today. I was please with it, but noticed itching and redness. With further research I read that it can increase niacin in the body? I have a niacin allergy and get those same symptoms. My predicament is, do I continue with the 5htp daily since the tryptophan triggers my niacin allergy? Is it OK to stay on it daily?
Thank you
RM
May I ask where you heard 5-HTP should be taken intermittently? I don’t have clients stop unless their anxiety has resolved and would always use 5-HTP if tryptophan causes any issues. We also continue to look for why serotonin is low and attempt to address these root causes too – like gluten, low protein intake, poor digestion, low zinc etc
If you are new to the amino acids (and other anxiety nutrition solutions like gluten/sugar/caffeine removal, blood sugar control, gut health, pyroluria etc) my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” is a great place to start. More here https://www.everywomanover29.com/store/aafsbook.html
Trudy, does the sublingual chewable tryptophan go directly to the brain so it doesn’t go down the Quin path and cause more inflammation? My son has dysbiosis and pathogens and I’ve been told his low serotonin is probably do to the tryptophan steal. We started on 5 htp and have seen wonderful things so far but I worry he may have high cortisol so this may not be good for long term. What are your thoughts on the “Tryptophan Steal”?
Lisa
If someone is doing so well on 5-HTP I don’t have them switch. It’s generally obvious when 5-HTP is an issue because it causes a wired and sometimes agitated feeling.
I’d love to hear more details about the wonderful things you are seeing with 5-HTP with your son?
Please do share more on this and who said this to you: “My son has dysbiosis and pathogens and I’ve been told his low serotonin is probably do to the tryptophan steal”? I’m familiar with the term/concept but have not seen it used in this context.
There is no research that has identified how much or if any supplemental tryptophan (swallowed or chewable) is converted to quinolinic acid.
Hi Trudy, So, this what you would recommend as a starting point for ADHD? “I consider low GABA (and using GABA) or low catecholamines (and using tyrosine), together with dietary changes, blood sugar control, and assessing for low zinc, low iron and low omega-3s – as a starting point”? Also, I’ve read if people respond to GABA, that they have a problem with their blood brain barrier. Do you believe this to be true? Is it safe for long term? Thanks!
Sharon
Yes, correct. Dr. Datis Kharrazian’s GABA Challenge for a leaky blood brain barrier is a theory and we still have much to learn https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/dr-datis-kharrazians-gaba-challenge-for-a-leaky-blood-brain-barrier-is-a-theory-and-we-still-have-much-to-learn/
Hi Trudy
I’ve stumbled across your article whilst researching ideas to help severe sleep problems in children .
We are in UK, our 12 yr old daughter was diagnosed with ADHD (combined) Age 7 and has been on meds since she was 9. She’s never felt any difference in herself on meds but school has noticed differences in focus/attention/concentration.
She changed meds a couple of months ago due to negligible improvements in all symptoms but is now on max dosage of 50mg Elvanse (lisdexamphetamine) – she still feels little difference in herself, she’s better focussed in the day but zero effect on emotional dysregulation etc and it’s massively affected her appetite (none whilst meds in her system) – she used to eat like a horse!
High school has had a massive negative effect on her (huge increase in oppositional and aggressive behaviours, negative and risky impulsive behaviours – running away from home at night, self harming to name but a few). She doesn’t think there’s any problems. We withdrew her from temporarily school to re-assess (with a view to ultimately reintegrating her in a carefully managed way).
She’s had speech and language assessment and clinical assessments – an attachment disorder has been highlighted and possible dissociation disorder, there’s also a question mark over possible high functioning autism.
She’s always had massive problems with bedtime routines, the ‘going to sleep’ but as when she’s asleep, she generally sleeps through fine. We’ve tried SO much but her routine has completely gone out of the window over recent months and she will not actively participate in reintroducing it. She often become more hyper (anxious) at bedtime and now insists the iPad is the only thing that helps her wind down (which of course it isn’t and it keeps her awake so late) and although takes 2 tablets of melatonin each night, often won’t work with the ‘window’. Worse still, her anxiety seems to have increased and she’ll insist I have to stay awake and sleep with her – it’s ruining my evenings and sleep, i’m exhausted most days and it’s not great for my marriage.
We are hoping to soon start an intensive family-based therapy programme soon but in the meantime I need to try to address the bedtimes.
Where do I start?! I’m reading great results with 5-HTP and I’ve heard before about l- theanine – I don’t know much at all about GABA or tryptophan but when I read the research, it suggests low seratonin and/or dopamine is indicated by anxiety, stress, sleep problems etc but high levels are indicated by impulsivity and aggression – but what is your child has all of the above? How confusing?! Are her levels high or low? And what about cortisol?
Am assuming that to trial anything, she’d need to come off her meds?! And if so, how do I work out what she is high/low in and what to trial?
So sorry for the war and peace, it’s been an increasingly difficult and upsetting time for our whole family and despite my efforts, things are currently worsening not improving.
Thanks so much in advance for any feedback, advice or suggestions.
Rosie
Rosie
I’m sorry to hear your daughter is struggling. We use the different amino acids based on symptoms and I have folks do the questionnaire and we go from there. Reading this it could be a combination of all of them. It’s not uncommon to have low levels of serotonin, GABA, dopamine and also endorphins, as well as low blood sugar. Here are the symptoms https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-mood-questionnaire-from-the-antianxiety-food-solution/
Since you are new to the amino acids (and other anxiety nutrition solutions like real whole food, quality animal protein, fermented foods, organic produce, health fats, gluten/sugar/caffeine removal, blood sugar control, gut health, pyroluria etc) my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” is a great place to start. More here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/
It’s a comprehensive approach – amino acids AND diet. What is her diet like right now – gluten-free, sugar-free, caffeine-free, eating protein at breakfast for blood sugar control, real whole foods, grass-fed red meat, wild fish, fermented foods etc?
My book does have an entire chapter on the amino acids and many folks do really well implementing on their own. My online GABA Quickstart group program is helpful when you have questions and need guidance (and moral support/encouragement). More here about the program and purchase info https://www.anxietynutritioninstitute.com/gabaquickstart/
With regards to meds, some can be combined with the nutrients, but always with the prescribing doctor’s approval and monitoring.
Hi there! Just discovered your site and am working my way through it. I have an adult family member with ADHD who takes strattera, as well as zoloft for anxiety. Would you recommend dosing with any of these supplements for someone who takes these meds? His diet is pretty bad–his meds affect his appetite so he has a really hard time regulating his food intake (doesn’t eat for hours and then reaches for the first/fastest, usually sugar-laden thing he can find)–but dietary changes will require more effort on his part, so I’m wondering if I should suggest any supplements to him as a starting point? Thank you!!
J
I’d try and work on dietary changes first and consider GABA and/or tyrosine (and not 5-HTP or tryptophan) but it’s important to always work with the prescribing doctor.
If you are new to the amino acids (and other anxiety nutrition solutions like real whole food, quality animal protein, fermented foods, organic produce, health fats, gluten/sugar/caffeine removal, blood sugar control, gut health, pyroluria etc) my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” is a great place to start. More here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/
It’s a comprehensive approach – amino acids AND diet. What is your diet like right now – gluten-free, sugar-free, caffeine-free, eating protein at breakfast for blood sugar control, real whole foods, grass-fed red meat, wild fish, fermented foods etc?
My book does have an entire chapter on the amino acids and many folks do really well implementing on their own. My online GABA Quickstart group program is helpful when you have questions and need guidance (and moral support/encouragement). More here about the program and purchase info https://www.anxietynutritioninstitute.com/gabaquickstart/
5htp
Gaba
Saffron
Give these for my 11 year old daughter with innatentive adhd to sleep. In order to booster her Serotonin. I’ve noticed good results. I slso give her other multivitamin during the day but seems like I’m giving her many gummies and supplements. I’ve done extensive research for natural versus adhd meds. Would like to possibly talk to you for more advice.
Alina
Glad to hear these are helping your daughter. I do have a waiting list https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/services/
Until then, if you are new to the amino acids (and other anxiety nutrition solutions like real whole food, quality animal protein, fermented foods, organic produce, health fats, gluten/sugar/caffeine removal, blood sugar control, gut health, pyroluria etc) my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” is a great place to start. More here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/
It’s a comprehensive approach – amino acids AND diet. What is her diet like right now – gluten-free, sugar-free, caffeine-free, eating protein at breakfast for blood sugar control, real whole foods, grass-fed red meat, wild fish, fermented foods etc?
Hi,
In the article a dietician stated:
“As for cravings or insomnia: he is a kid who loves sugar so I’m not sure if it’s a craving or typical. He takes 0.3mg of melatonin each night because guanfacine, the non-stimulant, prevents the production of melatonin”
Both my children are on this and one of them with ADHD cant sleep at night, Im fine to move guanfacine to morning. I cant seem to find any evidence on this though. I would love to know if this is true. Can you shed some light?
Marian
I’d discuss with the prescribing doctor
What do you think about the role of phosphatidyl serine? There has been lot of study of pycnogenol in ADHD? The role of magnesium threonate in ADHD ?
Anoop
Yes all of the above can be considered. I do like to start with the amino acids (5-HTP and also tyrosine) because we get results so quickly.
Do you work with food aversions? My baby had food aversion and does not want to pick up and eat anything. He only wants to be fed smooth purées. The occupational therapist says it’s not my fault but it feels like I did something wrong. Can amino acids help? He is almost 17 months old.
Bajrangi
Fear can often trigger food aversions but with a baby this age I encourage working with an OT to help and with a nutritionist who can help with picky eating and issues with textures/crunch/taste
Thank you for this helpful article. I noticed the questioning of 5-htp for adhd but I recently learned of the 7 types of add studied through brain scans from dr. Amen and it would be worthwhile checking out his recommendations for the different types as some of them are relieved by serotonin (ssri’s) or naturally 5-htp! Neat! This totally explained for me why vyvanse alone doesn’t relieve all my adhd symptoms and I also take an ssri as well. I will be slowly trying to transition to 5-htp soon to see if it works. So far everytime I try to reduce the ssri I have all of the anxiety and hyper focus symptoms that come back.