5-HTP and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Nut...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 16, 2021

For Anxiety "Be very mindful it's all about the dosage & type. Always start with the lowest dosage, this is a very strong drug not to be messed with. 25-50mg is all that is needed to start with and use slow release to avoid bad side effects. I started this for PTSD, ADHD, depression, insomnia, mood swings. I use 50mg slow release as soon as I open my eyes and if need be during stressful times, another 50mg after lunch. At 1st, I did take the recommended dosages which in my experience are dangerous. Horrendous side effects. Trial, error, and masses of research were the key in the end. I have now been taking 5-HPT for 13 years on and off due to PTSD and undiagnosed ADHD, which was causing me all sorts of issues from Depression, Anxiety, Insomnia, Terrible Mood Swings, Migraines, the list goes on. This stuff has helped tremendously with all the above. I cannot rate it enough, actually saved my life :)"

• Nut...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 9, 2020

For Anxiety "5-HTP, in my experience of taking it (10 years+), has absolutely been down to dosage. I have had terrible side effects with the lowest recommended dosages: sweats, shakes, anxiety through the roof, nightmares, and insomnia. Until I started at the lowest dose I could buy, 50 mg slow/timed release type in the morning, I had no unwanted side effects. I have increased my dosage to 100 mg daily if having a bad episode, and usually after say 6 weeks to 3 months, I have gradually reduced back down to 50 mg over 2-3 weeks. For example, I take 100 mg on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, and 50 mg on the other days. Then I take 50 mg for 2 days and 100 mg on the 3rd day, and so on. Obviously, I am not a medical professional, I am just sharing my experience here. I suffer from PTSD, depression, and anxiety, and 2 out of my 3 pregnancies ended in serious episodes of PND (suicidal psychosis). I self-medicated for many years and have been prescribed many anti-depressants and anti-psychotics, all of which have given me the worst side effects listed."

• Gez...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 18, 2015

For Anxiety "Don't start off with too high a dosage, it affected my sleep. I went from 150 mg back to 20 mg and slowly increased. After two weeks of stomach upset, it went away. I have noticed I am calmer, however, my body seems to get used to the dosage quickly, and I need to increase it. I am up to 180 mg now and again need to up the dosage. It's really worth giving this product a try before you turn to pharmaceutical medication."

• Med...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2018

For Anxiety "Only started taking this for a few days. After experiencing mild anxiety and insomnia, I started with 200 mg and noticed immediate improvement with sleep and anxiety. I found a boost in concentration and therefore better memory, which helped with work and socially. 200 mg was a high dose to start off with, in which I had nausea. Some tips for people: start at 50 mg if first dose, and consume with a light carb-heavy meal, avoid caffeine if possible. I feel like that if you cycle use (i.e., 1 month on, 1 month off), it will reduce the likelihood of tolerance and dependence. I decided to not take it for a day and noticed withdrawal anxiety, it may be worth tapering off the dose instead of going cold turkey. To conclude, this is excellent for anxiety and sleep, although not for everyone."

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

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

• Diz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2016

For Anxiety "Don't take this with benzos, it made me extra drowsy and anxious. One pill-I only took half of one pill (50 mg!). I got some kind of adverse reaction. My insomnia got worse, I got panic attacks, shivering, tremor, felt disoriented, and seriously more depressed. Now I have woken up in the middle of the night for many nights to the same feeling: anxious, can't fall asleep again. I regret taking this. And I said once again: DON'T MIX THIS WITH BENZOS and be careful if your nervous system is sensitive, you are sensitive to supplements, or you suffer from bad insomnia, because it can cause a paradoxical reaction. Start with tiny doses to find out whether this is the right supplement for you. For me, it definitely is NOT. This supplement also has many side effects."

• Ari...
• September 2, 2019

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

• Zob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 9, 2019

For Anxiety "7 days ago, I went cold turkey off Phenibut (dangerous, beware severe withdrawals), no sleep, extreme anxiety (I also have generalized and panic attack disorder), and extremely bad depression, which I’ve never had. I came across 5-HTP, which has seemed to help with the depression and anxiety, but it’s only been 3 days. Still can’t sleep, but my brain is in a bad way due to also being an ex-painkiller addict (clean from pills for almost 5 years) and recently Phenibut. I’ve got a very high tolerance to all forms of medications, etc., and started at 100 mg, but it didn’t do anything. 300 mg seems to take the edge off, but I don’t plan on going on a higher dose or for a long period of time because these adverse effects from Phenibut withdrawals only last a few weeks."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 20, 2020

For Anxiety "5-HTP was absolutely terrible. I only took a 100 mg dose for anxiety and had 5 hours of symptoms of serotonin syndrome. Could not sleep. Heart racing. Waves of anxiety, feeling like a panic attack."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 23, 2022

For Anxiety "It made me feel much worse. It triggered even more anxiety, insomnia, and deeper depression. So disappointed. Clearly not for everyone. Please be careful."