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Stress Less, Sleep More with Simple RemediesDear Pharmacist,
I read chapter 8 of your book “The 24-Hour Pharmacist” and want to take 5-HTP to help me sleep. You suggest taking it at “dinner” and this has caused a disagreement in our household. I think “dinner” is the evening meal, but my wife says “dinner” is the noon meal where she grew up. What time should I take 5-HTP and also, what other supplements can help me sleep?
–R.M. Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Answer: Your question hit a nerve with me because I serve lunch around noon, but this is my husband Sam’s first meal (because he skips breakfast) so he refers to our lunch as “breakfast.” It’s very annoying so I empathize with you. When I say “dinner” I mean the evening meal, not lunch, breakfast, or brunch.
5-HTP causes drowsiness within an hour or two. But evening dosing isn’t right for everyone because 5-HTP creates energy before it causes drowsiness. Think of a roller coaster –you have to go uphill before you coast downward.
My advice is to try taking 5-HTP around dinnertime and if it keeps you awake during the wee hours (ie you get up to mow the lawn, vacuum, and pay bills) then come over to my house 
Seriously, if this happens to you, then take the supplement at tea time (or even earlier at lunch) and this should allow you to enjoy the temporary lift in energy before the lull to la la land.
Seriously, if this happens to you, then take the supplement at tea time (or even earlier at lunch) and this should allow you to enjoy the temporary lift in energy before the lull to la la land.Why does it do that? Because 5-HTP undergoes a chemical reaction in the body to form serotonin, a ‘happy’ brain chemical, and serotonin is stimulating. Think of those popular anti-depressants like Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil that increase serotonin levels. Eventually, the serotonin breaks down to another chemical called melatonin, a powerful sleep hormone that your brain normally produces when night falls. The melatonin is what makes you fall asleep. How long is the roller coaster ride between 5-HTP and melatonin? It differs for everyone, but one thing’s for sure. Your body needs other nutrients to make these glorious changes, some of which include zinc, B5, B6, magnesium, methionine and others. Eating fruits and veggies and taking a high-quality multivitamin help you convert the 5-HTP to it’s important relatives.
Can 5-HTP replace Ambien, Lunesta or Sonata? No, I don’t think so, because those prescription drugs push levels of a chemical called GABA, not melatonin. A better substitute for these types of sleeping pills is GABA supplements. Please ask your doctor first. You can buy GABA at any health food store and online. At low dosages, GABA may relieve anxiety, panic attacks and irritability. In larger doses GABA induces sleep. I like GABA because it can improve memory and protect the brain. Besides, you can take it at midnight–as a snack — to help you stay asleep longer.
Did You Know?
The herb uva ursi has been used to treat chronic urinary tract infections, cystitis and problems of the kidney.
How abut “supper”? Everyone I know calls the evening meal Supper..
As far as 5-HTP helping me sleep…it didn’t, neither did it help my sister. The first week we took it both of us felt more energetic, after that..it was downhill.
DEAR SUZY COHEN THIS CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS MEDICATION TO TAKE AND YOU SHOULD ALSO STATE THAT WHEN SUGGESTING THE USE OF THIS MEDICATION
http://www.advance-health.com/5htp.html
5 HTP is available without prescription and is generally considered safe and may be beneficial for many individuals. Contraindications to 5 HTP use or conditions under which 5 HTP use should only be under the supervision of a physician are conditions in which increased serotonin levels may be harmful. This list is generic and does not represent a contraindication for all individuals. Professional advice may be indicated, especially if prescription medications are also being used.
1. Cardiovascular Diseases (high blood pressure, post-stroke, post-heart attack)
2. Extremely Elderly Persons
3. those with Parkinsons Disease, Cancer or Autoimmune Diseases (Scleroderma, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus)
4. Lung Diseases
5. Chronic Alcoholism
6. Liver diseases (hepatitis or cirrhosis)
7. parasitic infection
8. AIDS
9. Anorexia Nervosa
10. Low protein Diets
11. Allergies (severe)
12. Myalgia (persistent pain and weakness of the muscles)
13. Peripheral Neuropathy (pain weakness of the muscles)
14. Rash or Flushing
15. Edema
16. Nausea
17. Diarrhea
18. Sickle cell anemia
19. Hemophilia
20. Pregnancy
Concurrent drug use: 5 HTP should not be used if taking:
1. Anti-depressant drugs
2. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
3. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s e.g., Prozac)
4. Tricyclic medications
5. Weight Loss medications (i.e., dextenfluramine)
6. Anti-parkinson medications (e.g., L-dopa)
7. Barbiturates and other tranquilizing drugs
8. Antihistamines and cold medications
9. Alcoholic beverages
10. Intravenous (illegal I.V.) drugs
11. Cancer chemotherapy or
12. Antibiotic Medications
The principal reason for not combining 5-htp with these classes of medications is that many of them may also increase serotonin levels or affect other neurotransmitters, but by different biochemical mechanisms. The combination, in some cases, has the potential of acting synergistically to dramatically increase serotonin levels. This combined action could have adverse effects.
Alcohol and 5-HTP should not be taken together. Allow at least six hours between use of alcohol and 5 HTP.
DEAR SUZY COHEN THIS CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS MEDICATION TO TAKE AND YOU SHOULD ALSO STATE THAT WHEN SUGGESTING THE USE OF THIS MEDICATION, I AM A HEART PATIENT AND WAS CONSIDERING THIS FOR MY SLEEP ISSUES UNTIL I DID MY OWN RESEARCH
http://www.advance-health.com/5htp.html
5 HTP is available without prescription and is generally considered safe and may be beneficial for many individuals. Contraindications to 5 HTP use or conditions under which 5 HTP use should only be under the supervision of a physician are conditions in which increased serotonin levels may be harmful. This list is generic and does not represent a contraindication for all individuals. Professional advice may be indicated, especially if prescription medications are also being used.
1. Cardiovascular Diseases (high blood pressure, post-stroke, post-heart attack)
2. Extremely Elderly Persons
3. those with Parkinsons Disease, Cancer or Autoimmune Diseases (Scleroderma, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus)
4. Lung Diseases
5. Chronic Alcoholism
6. Liver diseases (hepatitis or cirrhosis)
7. parasitic infection
8. AIDS
9. Anorexia Nervosa
10. Low protein Diets
11. Allergies (severe)
12. Myalgia (persistent pain and weakness of the muscles)
13. Peripheral Neuropathy (pain weakness of the muscles)
14. Rash or Flushing
15. Edema
16. Nausea
17. Diarrhea
18. Sickle cell anemia
19. Hemophilia
20. Pregnancy
Concurrent drug use: 5 HTP should not be used if taking:
1. Anti-depressant drugs
2. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
3. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s e.g., Prozac)
4. Tricyclic medications
5. Weight Loss medications (i.e., dextenfluramine)
6. Anti-parkinson medications (e.g., L-dopa)
7. Barbiturates and other tranquilizing drugs
8. Antihistamines and cold medications
9. Alcoholic beverages
10. Intravenous (illegal I.V.) drugs
11. Cancer chemotherapy or
12. Antibiotic Medications
The principal reason for not combining 5-htp with these classes of medications is that many of them may also increase serotonin levels or affect other neurotransmitters, but by different biochemical mechanisms. The combination, in some cases, has the potential of acting synergistically to dramatically increase serotonin levels. This combined action could have adverse effects.
Alcohol and 5-HTP should not be taken together. Allow at least six hours between use of alcohol and 5 HTP.
I HAD A TERRIBLE TIME SLEEPING FOR NEARLY A YEAR I DEPENDED ON PRESCRIPTIONS SLEEP AIDS ONE TIME AT MY DOCTORS OFFICE I ASKED IF SHE KNEW OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD HELP ME GET SLEEP AT NITE THAT WASN’T HIGHWAY ROBBERY.SO SHE PUT ME ON TRAZADONE.50MG.IT WORKS WONDERS FOR ME.IT ONLY COSTS LIKE $20.00PER MONTH THATS BETTER THAN $75.00 YOU WILL NEEDS TO GET YOUR DR. TO PRESCRIBE IT FOR YOU.
I am going thru menopause and my sleeping patner is a crazy one. So, I’m presently taking a combination of 100mg of L-Theanine,15mg of 5-HTP and 1.5mg of melatonin all in one pill from Webber Naturals is fast acting and it’s working. However, in the morning I am dragging myself out of bed. Maybe it is too much for me. Although before I was taking 3 mg of melatonin and it was not enough to make me sleep all night. This is working, I am planning to stop after 4 weeks and see.
Suzy, are you going to answer Alan above, who felt it necessary to post his comments twice? My gut feelings is that he is full of beans and is a representative of one of the pharmaceutical companies sent to debunk natural methods of healing. Big Pharma puts out a lot of misinformation (some call them lies) in order to promote their own products, all of which have side effects, some very serious, even death in some cases.