( 18 reviews )
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Posted: Aug 16 2009
5-HTP My experience, not medical advice. Read, research, and talk to your doctor. Back story: After a bout of depression, my doctor prescribed Welbutrin. Within 20 minutes of taking the first pill, I knew it was addictive. I used it, while entering counseling, and starting acupuncture to manage my chronic pain all with in a matter of weeks. The Welbutrin gave me enough clarity to start to research and start to put together a natural plan. (Welbutrin also gave me tremedous headaches and dizzy spells.) I'm really into holistic, herbs, and natural stuff. It was during this period that I can across 5-htp. What is does for me: It balanced out my brain chemistry, much like the Welbutrin, but with out the yum factor that leads people into addiction or the nasty side effects. Within 20 minutes I felt "different." Yes, 20 minute, but that's me. Advice: When you're taking natural or prescribed medicines, monitor your feelings and any changes closely. 5-htp calmed and soothed me. You know the way you feel on vacation or when you're not under a great deal of pressure. It is weird and very hard to describe. I was able to withstand the regular rigors and stress of my job. (I teach job readiness skills to people on public assistance.) The usual crap that would make react negatively and push the limits of my patience, were now minor irritations. Not only did I notice the change in my disposition, my co-workers did as well. I am now able to navigate the turbulent, stressful ocean that is my work life without reacting like a maniac! Another benefit, I sleep better and dream more. After using 5-htp for a few months. I was pleased enough with the product to recommend it to my friends. Let me explain, my best friend was on prescribed anti-anxiety. I tossed him a bottle and told him what it did for me. Told him to read up on it on the net and give it a try if he wanted. Well he didn't , for a month or so, when his prescription ran out he popped 1 or 2. He continued to use the 5-htp until the bottle ran out and then went back to the prescription meds. Once back on the medication he spent the weekend in the bathroom. He asked me, then I had to explain, most likely it was his body's revolting against the meds after getting use to a natural product that relieved him of his anxiety. My co-worker now orders 5-htp regularly, but keeps a bottle of prescribed medication on hand "just in case." My buddy has recently been promoted to a supervisor's position and his stress level has increased 3 fold. He has doubled his daily dose of 5-htp to accommodate. The office secretary lately has been looking exceptional stressed lately. (Yeah, we work in a pit and she works a second job.) I aked if I could recommend something to her. That something was 5 HTP. I gave her the same advice: research, read, and talk to your doctor. I told her, I had an extra bottle at home. The next day I gave it to her. I recommended a 2 pill dosage. I asked her how she was felling when I ran into her after lunch. She said fine and was smiling (that was Monday). When I cheked in with her at the end of the week, she had to stop taking them because she was feeling too calm. LOL. She even ran around the the building recommending 5 htp to anybody who would listen. She actually gave away a bottle to one of our co-workers. I did not order 5 htp from source naturals but from puritans pride ([...]Their 5 htp is derived from Griffonia simplicifolia, aw well, and also contains valarian root, which adds to the soothing effect. I highly recommend puritans pride because the usually have most products for buy 1 get 1 free (see my review of then on [....]). Right now 8/2009, they are running a buy 1 get 2 free plus shipping. Okay, that's [...]for 1 bottle containing 120 capsules of 5 htp at 100mg. If you order during the sale you get 3 bottles for [....] Yes, I am promoting puritans pride because I love a deal just as much as the next guy. Why pay [...] for only 1 bottle? On with the rest of my review... How does it work? 5-HTP works by manipulating serotonin, a neurochemical critical to a wide variety of brain functions. Serotonin, in turn, is made in the body from 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan, which is simply a modified amino acid obtained from plant sources. Without adequate levels of serotonin, you'd probably suffer from depression, sleep disorders, addiction, and obesity. Studies have shown that there's often a direct association between obesity (due to overeating) and decreased brain serotonin levels. Without adequate levels of serotonin, the brain perceives that the body is starving and turns on the hunger mode. Obese people who suffer from low levels feel chemically compelled to eat more and more. Once they ingest carbohydrates and various sugars in general, they experience a temporary increase in serotonin levels. That's why some people are willing to eat an excess of junk food that's entirely lacking in protein. That's also why drugs like the now banned Redux (dexfenfluramine), which increased serotonin production, were successfully used as an appetite suppressant in the treatment of common obesity. Once serotonin levels retained to normal levels, the food-jones disapeared. Other "addictive" substances raise serotonin levels, too. Examples include alcohol, tobacco, certain narcotics, and caffeine. Summary: 5-htp worked for me and my friends. It has been liberating emotionally, physically, and financially. Being able to endure more and not having to pay prescribe medicine prices for it. I take 100mg in the morning with breakfast and 100mg at night before bed or with dinner. Please, find out what works for you. As a comparison I use to use St. Johns Wort. It too had a calming effect, but the side effect was light sensitivity. However, St. Johns Wort doesn't have the long lasting effect or soothing feeling that 5-htp does. Draw backs: With herbs and natural medicine you have to find out the right dosage for you. Base dosages on height and weight and monitor the results.
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Posted: Jun 7 2009
I bought the 5-HTP, 100 mg capsules from DAB Nutrition. I received them very promptly. I find the combination of 5-HTP and St. John's Wort therapeutic.
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Posted: Jun 4 2009
I think this stuff helps me, and it is definitely worth a little extra money. I don't know which brand is best but I've only tried two.
