Nature's Way 5-HTP, L-5-Hydroxytryptophan with Vitamin B6 & C, 60 ct

I take 2 tablets (100 mg) nightly. It's a must for sleep. It's important to take it on an empty stomach or its expensive urine. Unless it's taken with something that only has carbs but not any protein. Tryptophan is an amino acid which competes with all other amino acids for metabolism. So I take mine with a small serving of a simple carb. (simple carbs are faster acting than complex carbs like in bread or potatoes). I take it with a small glass of apple juice or other fruit juice on an empty stomach. This helps the efficiency of the metabolism. When taken on an empty stomach with a small simple carb serving without protein, is like a guided missile from your stomach to your brain. It gives it the best chance at crossing the BBB- blood brain barrier. Tryptophan is the precursor for serotonin. Serotonin is the precursor for melatonin. Melatonin is the hormone that is secreted by the pineal gland and is known to regulate the sleep cycle by controlling the circadian rhythm. Tryptophan is broken down in your body to 5HTP so this supplement has already taken that step for you. 5HTP must be enteric coated or it won't survive your stomach acid for brain metabolism. Also, it is known that Vitamin C and Vitamin B6 are necessary for conversion of 5HTP to serotonin. This supplement is both enteric coated and has Vit C & B6 already in it. It is the only one that I know of that has both key aspects and I've been taking 5HTP for sleep for over a decade. For my nighttime sleeping regimen, I take two pills of this 5HTP (100 mg) with apple juice on an empty stomach & wait about an hour and then take 5-10 mg of controlled released melatonin. It only makes sense with our pharmacology and how neurotransmitters work in our brains. Tryptophan is converted to 5HTP which is then converted to serotonin (some of which is able to cross the blood brain barrier-5HTP is more efficient at this than tryptophan alone). Finally and most importantly, serotonin is the precursor to melatonin. You must have a sufficient amount of serotonin on board for melatonin to become converted in your brain. 5HTP is like gas for your brain. Then, if you don't already have serotonin (to be able to convert to melatonin), it's like trying to drive a car with gas but no oil. It's so important to understand how to take 5HTP properly and to use the correct supplement. Sometimes, I will have some good deep sleep with REM (dreams) and will wake up at 2-3 am and unable to get back asleep. So I will take 50 mg more of 5HTP & a 5 mg instant release supplement of melatonin. The conversion is tryptophan->5HTP->serotonin-> melatonin. Its different for everyone but I find that I have to take it on a regular basis for about 2 weeks nightly to start receiving the benefits. I have better sleep with more dreams and REM sleep. I know personally from my dream recall and my Fitbit is usually pretty accurate too. Some people are able to take it sporadically as needed and it works. The correct dosage and timing is different for everybody. You just have to experiment a bit and start out low and work your way up to the dosage that feels right for your best sleep. For the timing for sleep, I eat dinner early purposely for my best nights sleep, around 5:30. You don't sleep as well when your body is also working on digesting your food (late night snacks) at the same time. I give my body three hours to digest my food so I'm taking it on an empty stomach. I take my 5HTP around 9 pm, melatonin around 10 pm and am usually asleep by 11 pm. By nature, I have trouble getting to sleep and falling to sleep but this helps a lot. For some of the people that rated it one star because it had no effect, it could be that they didn't take it properly; on an empty stomach or long enough. I wish the instructions would say to take on an empty stomach instead of with a meal. Some experts believe that if it is enteric coated, that it can be taken with food and it will be just as effective. All I can say is personally, it only works for me on an empty stomach. Our neurotransmitters in out brains are derived from amino acids from protein. The amino acids are all in competition with one another for their designated neurotransmitter. It's like a lock and key. Tryptophan isn't found in large quantities in most foods compared to other essential amino acids so it losses out in competition. When taken on an empty stomach there is no competition. Add a small amount of some fruit juice (simple carb) and it will help the metabolism and efficiency.

I found this product to work very well for me. It assisted my ascent from depression, curbs my craving for complex sugars, helps me to feel calm & serene. Even assists with sleep! Can't say enough about it. I think it only works if you're deficient in serotonin, though...Which I turned out to be, as I responded well to it. My particular dosage, after I worked up to it (it can make you nauseous in the beginning if you take too much @ once..) Is Two 50mg. tablets, every 4 hours. So, I program my phone to beep at: 10a, 2p, 6p, & 10p. If I'm PMS-ing & craving sweets more than normally, I'll take one or two & that makes them subside. This is Obviously just my own personal schedule I worked out; Perhaps you'll find another works better for you. Good Luck~ & Good Health!! : D

I've been using this stuff for more than 20 years. It's a natural anti-depressant because it's a precursor to serotonin (helps your body make more), and therefore lets your body self-adjust rather being forced to alter the amount in your brain. It CAN have a serious side effect (seratonin syndrome) which my sister actually experienced. Basically, DO NOT take the maximum dose every day for years or you will overdose, and get palpitations/jitters. Use it occasionally (a couple times a week or less) with the minimal effective dose (one or two) and you ought to be fine. I keepa bottle around for bad days. The price has tripled since I started taking it for a lot less product, but that's how it goes. Get it cheap if you can. If you can't, try it before other methods as it's gentle on your body. Consult with doctor before taking.

I used another 5htp that has been discontinued and I have been trying to find a replacement ever since. So far this one is the closest. I get a good night's sleep I wake up feeling clear headed. As well I take it during my period and it helps regulate mood. And I take it during the day as well and helps with focus and mental clarity. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars cause the other one I used still gave me something more I haven't been able to find yet. I didn't experience any side effects accept I had to take it with a bite to eat.

As someone who has had a serious pain condition since I was 8 years old which also causes a metabolism imbalance making insomnia something I have faced every night of my life, I have been pleasantly surprised by 5-HTP. I'm sleeping. I did studies on the supplement before purchasing to assure it didn't have adverse side effects to the many narcotics I live on. I had no conflicts w/ any meds I'm on so I gave it a go. I read that it can cause vivid dreaming and nightmares, anxiety and upset stomach but for me it has been wonderful. I have always been a vivid dreamer as well as lucid dreamer when I have been able to sleep, so for me, I dream more than normal but I haven't experienced any nightmares... though I am dreaming of people that I haven't thought about in 20+ years, so it must be where and how it acts on the brain. I haven't had the horrific nightmares so many people warned about but honestly, what are nightmares for some aren't nightmares for all. One thing I have realized that could be a concern for some people similar to me that have suffered from insomnia for 30+ years is I have become almost addicted to sleep and so fascinated by the dreams that I have become a dreamchaser. This is polar opposite to anything I've experienced in trying to sleep my whole life and I enjoy it so much all I want to do is sleep. My schedule and life allows for it, so I just go with it. I'm more well rested than I've ever been. As for pain, I am now able to take a little less breakthrough pain medication than before. I don't find it a relaxant, and I take it primarily for sleep, but I don't have to take as much extra pain medication at night as I had previously. On a side note, I have lost a minor amount of weight. This is welcome. I also take Nutra Sleep, 5-HTP, and several other sleep supplements (L-Trypt, Melatonin, SomaSleep) but I can highly recommend 5-HTP without hesitation, especially for people suffering from RSD/CRPS, FMS, CFS, who are not taking drugs that could cause adverse reaction. Be sure to research all meds you are on or talk to your pharmacist or doctor to confirm you are not taking something that could cause problems. Sleep is good but Safety is better.

I have anxiety and always have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. My bf daughter had suggested 5 HTP. So I looked it up and decided to try them. They do work better then melatonin for myself. This works faster and also if I wake up I am able to fall right back asleep. And when I wake up I’m not groggy or still tired. I wake up good. I do not use these as an everyday fix it pill personally. I will take them for a few days and then not take it for a day or two. Just my preference to do so.

This is a really good 5-HTP supplement. The benefits are felt approximately 48 hours after first ingestion and will be felt until 48 hours after last taken. The supplement will up your mood slightly. The biggest complaint some will have with this product is that it didn't totally change their life and how they feel about themselves. This is a MILD mood enhancer...that's it. If you go into supplementing with 5-HTP with this in mind you will really like the effects you get but if you are expecting to fly to the moon...standing on this latter will let you down. I highly recommend using this specific product as it has less filler in the caps than other competitors and it is priced correctly.

I bought this for an uncle of mine with an addiction problem who was living with us, at the time. He is doing pretty well now, with some occasional relapses. I mistakenly thought it was his serotonin levels that needed to be increased. Being the supplement doctor that I am (I am joking) I made my own "lets see if this helps" prescription. It didn't help him, unfortunately. Of course, later I found out it was another brain chemical that his addiction ruins.So I was stuck with a bottle of this. In addition to "prescribing" supplements to family, friends, and coworkers, I am also a guinea pig. And I would do anything almost, than waste food, pills, clothes, etc. I decided to take this myself and see what, if anything, it would do. Well, good heavens, it helped ME. I am an HSP and a hormone sensitive type person and it can make me moody. I tend just to get very quiet whenever I feel angry or sad, but this made me into the bluebird of happiness. These are too expensive (not really but for our budget now) for me to buy in bulk or something but I take them when I am feeling bad or before my cycle begins, etc. They really help with bad moods. I have even given this to my husband when he was a bit down. They do not help people (like my uncle) with addictions though it seems, sorry.