Nature's Way 5-HTP, L-5-Hydroxytryptophan, Vitamin B6 & C, Griffonia Bean Extract 50 mg, 60 Count

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.

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 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.

Everybody's different, and this is only how my (MOSTLY NORMAL) brain-/body-chemistry responds. That said, 5-HTP - ALONG WITH prayer (the gratitude kind), diet, exercise and a little professional therapy - helped alleviate the menopausal anxiety I began to experience and, coincidentally, took away the constant hunger I've always had. I felt more able to handle life again and found it easier to make healthier eating choices, which also helped with the anxiety. (I'll probably work on that the rest of my life, since bad eating choices - what and when - rarely stem from hunger). After nearly a year I still take it during the week to help me deal with stress without snapping at people (I try to let weekends go fallow of supplements; it just makes my body feel better to do it that way). 5-HTP is a little expensive, but well worth the investment. (And if life ever goes over the top again, at least now I have a therapist I can go back to.)

(my wife) I have struggled with depression and fatigue since my teenage years and it worsened during the pregnancy with my daughter. My OBGYN prescribed zoloft which I was on for almost 2 years after giving birth. While it helped to stabilize my mood it didn't help with my fatigue and I didn't want to stay on it forever. I slowly reduced my dose and started taking this. I take 1 tab in the morning and 1 tab at lunch time. I love it! I'm on my third bottle. It greatly increases my energy and I'm not struggling to stay awake in the afternoon anymore! While things do not work the same for everyone I would strongly recommend trying it. At this price point it is worth a try. I will keep using.