|  | | | Customer Reviews: | | | Average Customer Review: ( 43 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
116 of 146 found the following review helpful:
 Helpful, but use with caution Dec 26, 2009
By Mark Pawlyszyn
I've submitted this review for other bottles of 5-HTP, for two reasons:
1. I think aspects of my review are important and I hope to help as many people as possible; and
2. I actually took several different brands of 5-HTP, so my reviews reflect that. Mostly. :)
I have taken 5-HTP for insomnia and depression. Well, to combat those things. ;) At first it was quite helpful to me and I found that my moods stabilised reasonably well. However, I did find that after a while it had a propensity to making me feel a little bit manic or just . . . weird. I was sort of hyper-aware, for want of a better way to explain it. When I eased off I was able to resume taking it again after a couple of weeks and I found that a regimen of three weeks on and two weeks off seemed to work best without generating any of the milder side-effects.
My main caution came about through a very dangerous experience, which I have fortunately learnt from and not repeated. I was first taking this several years ago and I had the foolish notion of "if a little is good, a lot is better". Basically, I was taking everything under the sun for mood enhancement--St. John's Wort, 5-HTP, fish oil, you name it. If it even vaguely hinted at any pick-me-up capabilities I was downing those pills. And, typically, I was exceeding the recommended doses. I mean, hey, I'd taken supplements for most of my life and safely exceeded the recommended dosages, why should this be any different? Well, it was. In the end I tripped some invisible trigger and developed serotonin syndrome. The only reason I actually knew what was happening was because I had gone to university and studied psych and this is something I picked up in my extra-curricular research on neurochemistry. You won't hear of it from 99% of doctors, although it is a genuine disorder. They just don't know of it. It is also invariably fatal, unless you realise what it going on and stop the medication/supplementation in time. Thankfully, I was able to cease and recover, though I have had lingering effects ever since, even though the supplements are by now long gone from my system. Things have not gone quite back to normal.
Anyway, that is my caution. 5-HTP works, but it should not be combined with other medication or supplementation without some serious research first. Stay safe!
11 of 11 found the following review helpful:
 an answer to insomnia Jul 16, 2011
By Alison K
I have had insomnia due to anxiety for almost a year now. This arrived in the mail 2 days ago. The first night, it didn't do as much for me, but still put me to sleep pretty well. I took it at bedtime. Yesterday, I took it a bit earlier, about 2 or 3 hours before bedtime, and boy, did it work! I got to sleep before midnight and stayed asleep until almost 7 a.m. this morning. Oh, it was wonderful. I haven't slept regular hours in ages. I hardly ever write reviews, but if you have trouble sleeping, this is a must-try. I will definitely be ordering more.
58 of 74 found the following review helpful:
The deal with 5-HTP Dec 28, 2009
By Foks
SHORT VERSION: In a nut shell, 5-HTP can trigger serotonin or melatonin meaning alertness or sleepiness. You need to know a lot about this product before you take it. Serotonin and melatonin are hormones in our bodies--everyone's body, the first makes you awake and the second makes you sleep. Serotonin is triggered by sunlight and melatonin by the night time/darkness. However some people can have deficiencies anyway. It will be triggered differently in everyone--dosage is different for everyone too.
If you're really curious, here's this to read:
::PLEASE READ ALL BEFORE TRYING THIS OR IF ITS FAILED FOR YOU BEFORE::
I don't think people know that Serotonin is what we need during the day, its naturally enhanced/produced by the sun (its very important to be outside or open your blinds during the day). For some people its good to take HTP in the morning because it gives you a nice boost all day while having a mood-relaxing affect as well.
Melatonin is what our bodies start to naturally produce when its dark and make us sleep. These two things are a hormone that is found in *everyone*, just some people have a deficiency. For example, chronic headaches could be a sign of low melatonin and obviously insomnia is too. It may help to ask your doctor to help you decide and find out which is low etc. Everyone's dosage will be different, if you have side effects then it may be you just need a lower dose--your body is trying to get rid of what it doesn't need.
Of course, everyone reacts different to certain things but that's the general idea^. Perhaps htp triggers some people's melatonin? There are different Serotonin boosters, you can eventually find one for sleep or energy. (cool tip: Chocolate can enhance serotonin which is why it can make you feel good--which is probably why you crave it when your sad! Besides taste that is. Lol.) Anyway: "5-HTP is the precursor to serotonin and a trigger for melatonin" It all depends on who you are and how much you need and how it will be triggered when you take it. You have to really test this product in several ways before you know what's best. If you just want to sleep, I suggest Valerian root and Melatonin--can't go wrong there. There's several other natural sleep aids you can look up.
I find Serotonin to be a good enhancement to my overall life, anyone should buy this product but be open to trial and error and eventual success. You will either sleep great OR have a non-jittery energy filled day and/or feel happier.
Anyone just google "can htp trigger melatonin or serotonin" and/or other variations and be very familiar with things before you start taking them. Just be careful because drug companies may hate them for example and some people may not know what they are talking about, you have to really put a lot of work into these type of things. It's worth it though, I promise!
I hope this helps everyone =)
13 of 15 found the following review helpful:
It works wonders! Jan 08, 2010
By Amy Simpo
Amazing product with no side effects!
It has increase my positive mood.
Lessened my anxiety.
And kept me on track with healthy habits.
I have real bad depression and before I would only focus on that.
Now it seems I have more time on my hand and can do what I want.
I only need to take two pills a day. One in the morning and one at night.
A steady routine should be built. The effects aren't immediate. It takes affect in a week or two.
Great product at an affordable price. Really, GNC has it for $19 and it only comes with 30 capsules.
25 of 32 found the following review helpful:
Best choice I could have made! May 28, 2009
By Kathi Sims
I have been dealing with thyroid issues for over a year. I think we have the correct dose of my med now only because of 5-HTP. I started out taking 2 at bedtime; I sleep better and and my sweet tooth cravings are gone. It has curbed my appetite and no mood swings. This really works. No sad faces anymore:D
See all 43 customer reviews on Amazon.com
|
| | |
