5 HTP and / or St Johns Wort

[sandie]

Now that I am completely off AD meds, (although I am still on Propanalol), I am thinking about taking either 5 htp or St Johns Wort.

I am aware of seretonin syndrome and know that even 5 htp has to be taken with caution, but I feel I need to take something. I still have depression / anxiety. The anxiety is being addressed with CBT (and willpower!) and the physical symptoms are helped by the propanalol.

Any experiences / thoughts / ideas etc, - good or bad about either St Johns or 5 HTP would appreciated. Especially useful would be thoughts around what can be considered a sensible daily dose of 5 HTP. There is a lot of conflicting information online (probably because it is not 'proven' to work). Would be good to learn how others have used both and if it has helped.

[AdamE]

I didn't have a huge difference when I was using 5-HTP with Sertraline. But I didn't actually know there were issues with using both. I was taking Tranquil Sleep which worked great for me. It uses 5-HTP, Suntheanine and Melatonin. But I stopped taking it because of the interaction with Sertraline and 5-HTP. Didn't want to take the chance since I've only been on it for almost 2 weeks. It sucks because the stuff tastes like candy almost! So instead I just take a 500mg magnesium supplement before bed. That works for me.

But to your question you might be pushing the boundaries with all the other medications. Maybe try it for ONE day and see how you feel. If things get way worse stop immediately. SS can at least be reversed and won't hurt you if you quit that right away. Not sure if you'd have to quit the other stuff too or if that's all it would take is to quit 5-HTP. I'd let your doctor know too.

[sandie]

AdamE - sorry I think I might have confused you. I am not on any prescribed meds - other than a beta blocker, so seretonin syndrome is not an issue if I start either 5 HTP or St johns Wort. However, I am curious to see if NMP members have had success with either of these two.

[AdamE]

Ooops my bad. I'm curious myself. I've seen good reviews for St. John's Wort. I use to take 5-HTP way back in the day but didn't feel any different for me. But that was 10 years ago. I'm definitely curious about the St. John's Wort though if Sertraline doesn't cut it for me.

[uru]

Sjw has a lot of interactions.

[sandie]

I started 5 HTP yesterday. I can't take St JW because it interacts with the stating that I take.

Last night I took 5 HTP and a Melatonin and my sleep wasn't too bad. Here's hoping.

I would love to know what dosage 5HTP users take and whether they have felt it to be beneficial.

[unspoken]

I took 2 5-HTP tablets a few weeks ago because I didn't know it could interact with the antidepressants I was taking, someone just told me it can help you sleep because it's the precursor to tryptophan. I read the packaging but it said nothing about what it was meant to do or about possible interactions. I think it was before I started taking Mirtazapine, when I was on 150mg of Sertraline and various sleeping pills. It didn't appear to have any effect, positive or negative on me, but then I was pretty messed up on the amount of other medications I was taking at the time.

I had a look at some St John's Wort in Holland and Barratt (shop) today and the packaging said "Do not take if you have been diagnosed with depression" so I guess they're just covering themselves. Sorry, this post hasn't really answered your questions. I had a friend at school whose family all used homeopathic medicine and they seemed to use Hypericum for a lot of things, which I think is the same thing as St John's Wort.

[wayne7]

Hello Sandie. I have tried 5htp before and i did not notice any side effects but it was hard to say if it helped at all. i am thinking of trying it again though. I can't remember the dose but i took what it said on the jar.

[Peaceful123]

from as much as i know, there are people reporting that St John's Wort is extremely beneficial for them but there are others saying that it is completely useless or even detrimental. my guess is that since we are all having different body chemicals, drugs are working for us in different ways. good luck

[NoPoet]

Consider this.