Description
- Neurotransmitter Support
- Supports Positive Mood
- Non-GMO
- A Dietary Supplement
- Vegetarian /Vegan
- Kosher
- Amino Acids
- Family Owned Since 1968
- GMP Quality Assured
5-HTP, the intermediate metabolite between the amino acid L-tryptophan and serotonin, is extracted from the seed of an African plant (Griffonia simplicifolia).
Suggested Use
Take 1 capsule daily, preferably on an empty stomach at bedtime.
Ingredients
| Supplement Facts | ||
| Serving Size: 1 Veg Capsule | ||
| Â | Amount Per Serving | %Daily Value |
| 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) (from Griffonia simplicifolia Extract) (Seed) | 100 mg | * |
| * Daily Value not established. | ||
Other Ingredients
Rice flour and cellulose (capsule).
Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, or tree nut ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.
Warnings
Store in a cool, dry place after opening.
Caution:Â For adults only. Consult physician if pregnant/nursing, taking medications (especially antidepressants), or have a medical condition. May cause drowsiness and mild transient GI symptoms. Keep out of reach of children.
Natural color variation may occur in this product.
Multivitamins
Protein Powders
Goldengirl –
..after reading more of 5 HTP users, I am going to try half a capsule (50 mg). Capsules are no picnic trying to split. I looked for a kit I could use to help split them, and I don’t see where they come in 50 mg, no so far anyway. I noticed the best effects when waking up in the a.m. after taking 100 mg yesterday at 3:30. Just felt depressed, bad, and wanted to try something, and I’d bought these a few weeks ago. I got a sort of anxious feeling and it made a tremor I have worse. It also made me want to eat everything in the house. But as I said, this a.m. I felt more like participating in life.
So I will try these again, along with my nutritious foods, no alcohol, no cigs, but coffee, gotta do my 2 cups of coffee with half Chicory Coffee:) I take Magnesium, Taurine, Vitamins A, B12, C, D, and a B complex. Oh, and Zinc. So this 5 Htp is specific to helping with my depression, and with the other good things, I am hoping.
You will feel it working within an hour if you are like me. But then again, everyone is different. I am 66, 5’2″, and right at 136 lbs. And no other prescription drugs.
Beliala –
As prescribed by a doctor, I continued to take this product to recover from panic disorder associated with atonic, complex seizure activity. Helped me recover quicker and helped my body detox during a VERY CAREFUL AND SLOW, DISCERNING titration from powerful psychotropic prescribed medication that my body was overly sensitive to according my allotypal markers. Though, the medication helped at first, it was not the proper amount and I was totally traumatized by the symptoms I was experiencing which made me suicidal and vigilante because they almost killed me quite literally induced my making histamine intolerant AND ALLERGIC TO LITERALLY EVERYTHING! This wasn’t the only thing I took to begin my recovery from my iatrogenic induced traumatic brain and body injuries, but it was helpful enough.
Lauren –
My seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or seasonal depression started in high school. In the colder months, I just didn’t produce the same amount of seratonin as usual. Because I knew my SAD was a chemical production problem and not a receptor problem, I take NOW 5-HTP to make the same amount of happy chemicals as I do during the spring, summer and fall. I like that it is a natural supplement and I know that NOW is trusted by nurses and doctors, so I know I’m not putting any funky stuff into my body.
This isn’t a cure for depression by any means, but if you are going through a depressive episode or if you have seasonal depression, this supplement can help even out your mood a) until warmer/sunnier weather rolls around, or b) until your situation becomes better. Mental health is soooo important. Take care of yourself, and always see a doctor if you think you need more than a supplement to help with your depression!
Amazon Customer –
My wife and I both took these at bed time for a few weeks. We did not have any negative effects, but no noticeable positive effects either. It does seem to have a slightly relaxing effect at night, but neither of us suffered with sleep before. We also both did notice vivid dreams. No adverse bowel side-effects. The goals were – waking up easier, more mental clarity, appetite control. In those respects it didn’t seem to do anything. I later learned that taking this can deplete your body’s own production, so we stopped.
Cobey Husih –
This product is Amazing! Every morning prior to taking this pill I would come into work and would be difficult to focus and motivate and hard to think on my feet. Wow, after taking this I feel energized, motivated and because im a sales person it has really got me to the next level.
Joe –
Never expected this to work but it really did. If you feel miserable all the time, 5htp just might turn things around for you. It also fixed my sleeping schedule. For the first time in my life I go to sleep at a normal hour because I’m finally able to without tossing and turning for hours. I found that I required 200 mg’s, instead of the 100 mg. I only take these in the evening a few hours before I to go to bed. These work great on their own, but I’ve since also added Gaba and Kava to the mix. Though the 5htp works great on it’s own, the additions amplify the effects even more. My life has improved so much.
Anna Banana Bear –
Good, but not nearly as effective as some other brands that incorporate an extract. 5-HTP works way better than antidepressants in general, I have found.
Nicole –
I read alot about 5-HTP before I bought it, and I can tell you I was pleasantly surprised. I suffer from anxiety, but when I started taking this I noticed the anxiety has decreased…alot. One a day before bedtime and no side effects. I am so glad I bought this.
Natalie Cawthorne –
Really helped me get to sleep and stay asleep. And I felt it much easier to have a positive outlook during the days I was taking it. Note: I do not have depression or an anxiety disorder. I was taking it in the evening to help me sleep after taking my ADD medication (stimulants), and for easing everyday stress. I gave it three stars because it made me break out a lot on my forehead and neck (I don’t typically have large break outs, my skin is relatively consistent), which is the reason I stopped taking it.
C.N.G –
I wanted to phase out my Zoloft medication to a lower dosage and maybe one day to nothing. I added these as I phased out and wow! Definitely see a difference and same and maybe even better effect. I’m not a doctor so please don’t take my method to heart. Just saying what I did : 1 Week (150 mg of zoloft and 1 5HTP) 2 nd Week (100 mg of Zoloft and 1 5HTP) 3rd week (50mg of Zoloft and 2 5HTP)…..I am most likely going to do the 3rd week for a while and slowly transition to 25mgnand hopefully soon ditch the Zoloft!
Maria A Brooks –
Since I have started taking these I sleep great and I have great wake-ups. My mind is quiet and does not race which also allows me to take full advantage of a five-minute snooze, sometimes it feels like I slept for hours and it has only been five minutes. I also have wake-ups where I feel like I can get out of bed in the morning and get stuff done rather than sleeping my life away. I highly recommend.
MoGo480 –
If you do not have low serotonin levels or, issues with depression, anxiety, or insomnia/problems sleeping or staying asleep then DO NOT TAKE. I tried this because I thought it would help me focus but instead it just allowed me to fall into a deeper than normal sleep and I slept for nearly 24 hours and still woke up feeling like I could stay asleep forever. It did not make me groggy…I just felt like I welcomed sleep. I do not suffer from any symptoms that these supplements are intended for and what I’ve read, long-term use can negatively effect your body if you do not have low serotonin.
WebMD: It has been used safely in doses up to 400 mg daily for up to one year. But some people who have taken 5-HTP have developed a condition called eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS). EMS is a serious condition involving extreme muscle tenderness (myalgia) and blood abnormalities (eosinophilia). Other potential side effects of 5-HTP include heartburn, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, sexual problems, and muscle problems.
Gods servant –
I use this for anxiety and sleep along with melatonin and taurine. It’s helps me fall asleep and stay asleep.
JCH –
I fought a ten year battle with depression from my mid-twenties to mid-thirties. Therapy and antidepressants were helpful, but then a counselor recommended 5-htp to me. This changed everything. Within 48 hours I knew it was working, and now, two years later, I am a new person! Life used to be a drudgery, but today I feel lucky and grateful to live my life. I can be the mom to my little kids that I hoped to be, even on days when things get crazy (often!).
My husband and I dove in to the Mood Cure by Julia Ross for the full nitty gritty on taking 5-htp and similar supplements for amino acid therapy. Definitely educate yourself on it! It truly heals your body, not just substitutes for the mechanisms. I am on a low does of 5-htp today, similar to other supplements I take for health. If I miss a dose, it’s no biggie.
If it doesn’t work for you, the result will likely be that you won’t feel anything. But for people who feel a little nervous about potential side-effects, pick up powdered Vitamin C. 1,000mg to 2,000mg in 4 oz of water is the neutralizing dose for any amino acid supplements and should kick in within 30 minutes. Emergen-C packets work, too. (Note: too much Vitamin C can cause a spell of loose bowels, but rarely.)
My prayers to anyone reading this – I wish you all the best in your journey; it can get better!
ClassyCurly –
First of all don’t take any supplement just to ‘boost your mood.’ That’s just reckless in my opinion.
Secondly, this supplement has been great in helping treat my depression (I also have my naturopath on board). And it did nothing for my irritablity… that’s why don’t go messing with mood enhancing supplements. My naturopath suggested I take tyrosine too. I started taking acetyl-tyrosine along with 5-htp and it’s been amazing! My irritability is back to the normal range (don’t read too deep into this bc someone will use this info to boost their mood inappropriately).
Finally, adding Tyrosine to the mix really helped balance my neurotransmitters (Tyrosine balances dopamine levels). Everything is trial and error. So thankful I am able to have my naturopath guide me. You do the same. Get professional advice don’t just take supplements bc you read reviews.
Miss B. –
Its a great supplement to help ease your mind during a pandemic. I am not sure if it is a placebo effect but I am definitely feeling a bit more calm and happier. I can’t tell if its because I am sleeping more or it is the supplement helping me sleep.
Anyways def recommend it!!!
Duane Rochester –
I started taking these supplements based on an article about insomnia out of Johns Hopkins, a chapter on insomnia from Power Juices Super Drinks by Steve Meyerowitz, and some customer reviews on this site. I take this product along with GABA, L-Tyrosine, L-Tryptophan. I also take 5-HTP. However, it is a form of Trytophan, which I think you can leave off. (I will post this same review on those product pages.)
For a decade plus, I have struggled with insomnia and accompanying fatigue and anxiety. Over the past several years, I have done numerous sleep studies and have pleaded with my doctors for help only to be told that insomnia is something with which I must live even in the face of diminished mental functioning. I’ve tried all the natural sleep remedies such as Valerian Root and melatonin with no success. I’m currently on an anti-depressant Remeron, which while it helps me sleep and stay asleep, I am not getting quality sleep. I no longer dream, and if I do, I cannot see or remember my dreams when I wake up. While asleep, my dreams appears in B&W so dim that I can only make out the outline of images.
A new development in my insomnia is driving-while-drowsy, which only happens when I get behind the wheel which is a lot living in Los Angeles and working in catering and events. Almost immediately, I begin to get drowsy and my eyelids become heavy. Knowing what is happening, I immediately take actions such as rolling down all of my windows and slapping my face to stay awake. As I’m driving, eventually, the back of my neck starts to hurt and I get a mild headache because my brain is signaling my body that it need to shut down. (Now if I were to get off the freeway and pull over to the side of the road to take a quick cap my drowsiness goes away.) It was at that point that I realized I might be dealing with something neurological, which is where L-Tryptophan comes in.
For the past six months, I have been taking L-Tryptophan, GABA and L-Tyrosine three times a day, and one 5HTP capsule at bedtime. The quality of my sleep, my overall neural functioning, my stress and my anxiety have come full circle. I am no longer experiencing drowsiness while driving, and my overall mental functioning, stress levels and anxiety have disappeared. (GABA and L-Tyrosine are both neurotransmitter support.)
If you’re struggling with insomnia, I cannot recommend these three supplements enough. Had I not refused to believe that insomnia was something with which I would just have to live, I might never have found these products. Before taking any over the counter medication, I always try to find a natural supplement to address whatever health issues I’m dealing with rather than going the pharmaceutical route. Give this regiment a try. And let me know if it works for you.
adam j welch –
For ME I was on Effexor for 4+ years got sick of the side effects and tapered down the Effexor to every other day for awhile. I stopped, started 5 htp double the recommended dose and slowly stopped that after a few months. No signs of withdrawal from the Effexor. That is how I used it. NOT A DR. just telling my story
Joana Wall –
5-Htp can raise cortisol at night preventing someone from getting a good nights rest. I take this during the day to help with my mood as taking it at night disrupted my sleep by raising my cortisol
levels. It’s a great product but I would caution people who tend to be night owls or who wake up a several times during the night and have trouble getting back to sleep to consider taking this during the day instead. Phosphorylated serine, magnesium, and lactium work better for sleep in people like me whose cortisol levels are elevated at night.
Sabrina rodriguez –
These work amazing! I have been giving them to my 10 year old daughter who struggles with bad behavior, meltdowns, easily frustrated etc… these have made her a totally different child. She is happier, listening better and handling the word “No” without having a major tantrum. In 8 months she has never went longer than 2 days with good behavior. This has been the best 9 days ever! I know it hasnt been that long but its night and day difference.
London Michaels –
This helps me with hot flashes and moodiness after a hysterectomy. I can sleep really well when I take this, but I have to take it in the morning. I take one capsule in the morning on an empty stomach. If I take it with food it does nothing. It hurt my stomach at first, but no pain no gain. It doesn’t hurt my stomach anymore. 5 htp hurts your stomach, period. If that is too much for you to handle, there’s an easy fix…don’t take it. Would you rather have an upset stomach for a few minutes for a couple of days or insomnia for a couple of days? Would you rather have an upset stomach for a few minutes for a few days or depression everyday? Do what seems good to you. As for me, I endured the pain and I’m seeing the gains, I’m happy and well-rested. ? ?
Amazon Customer –
5-HTP is awesome. I’m in my twenties and have struggled with mild to moderate depression (and occasionally severe) since I was a kid. I’ve taken this supplement off and on since I was a teenager to combat the depression. While psychotropics worked alright for a three-month period, I didn’t like list of possible long-term side-effects, so I haven’t taken prescription medication for depression since I was seventeen. After a few pretty good years without debilitating depression, I’ve started to struggle with my mood again – noticeable mood swings and the general “feels” (including some crying). So I’ve started taking 5-HTP again, and it has really helped me level out! I’m going through several major life changes, and this supplement really takes the edge off of the big feelings. I still have my emotions, but my emotions no longer have me 😉
I also started taking Omega Brite about nine months ago, and that really pulled me out of a moderate depressive spell. This is the other supplement I highly recommend to people looking for more natural ways of regulating their mood.
Customer –
I was skeptical when I first bought this and I never tried it before. Once I did, I can’t leave without it. It puts me in a very good state of mind. I would say even improves my productivity and ability to think better. Works for my depressions too. I can only say that it works 100% for me personally! Anyone else I know who tried this too, swears by it. So many of the positive reviews you read on Amazon about this product is TRUE! I can confirm this!
Chicky344 –
I have insomnia and I take 1 or 2 at bed time. I’m out in a few minutes and it takes care of my anxiety for the next day. I used to get prescribed meds for both disorders that made me feel numb and abnormal. This makes me feel like myself again. Love it
Rocky –
Ive suffered from migraines for over 15 years. I’ve seen every doctor there is. Nothing seemed to prevent them. Every migraine preventative medicine i was given, I could not function on. The only prescription that helped was imetrex and maxalt. But they didnt prevent them. I tried all the natural migraine supplement mixtures on Amazon. Either didnt help or made me not feel good. I read a article on how 5-HTP helped some people. So i tried it before going back to Doctor for more nerve blocks. I haven’t had a migraine ever since. I take 500mg before bed. Praise the Lord!
Mi$$ P –
So I purchased this product and after reading the reviews I was a bit apprehensive about taking it because of all the side effects being reported. But I took it and here we go. So i first took it at 7 because it was reported to be a sleep aid. I got what I would describe as the jitters and nervouse energy. I was up until noon the next day cleaning and burning off the nervous energy. When I did finally go to sleep my dreams were very vivid and real feeling. So much so I woke myself up several times moving in my sleep. Then I decided to take it during the day since for me it gave me nervouse energy. I skipped a day and took it the next day with little to no side effects. I did feel like I had a gas bubble. Not like a upset stomach more like I needed to pass gas all day. I got sleepy at a decent hour, 8/9 ish and went to sleep with the vivid dreams I described earlier. Needless to say my movement in my sleep woke me up again and by 3 -4 am I was wide awake. So it does seem to work, but maybe just not for me.
Steven Hatfield –
I take 5 HTP along with L-Theanine and Gaba at bedtime. The three really help me sleep and help me focus the next morning.
At first I had some pretty vivid dreams but that has faded with time .
Frank Edward Stone –
Paired with A-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine my 16yr. battle with depression and anxiety is now over!