Will 5-HTP help me?

[angie1609]

Hey everyone :)
I'm trying to hang in there today. Not as achey, but just sooo tired, and feeling very down. I think i have seen that 5-HTP can help make you feel better emotionally.

Has anyone tried this? Does it help?

Thank you to everyone again...i wouldn't have made it this far without you :)

[Yoey54]

isnt it crazy how it effects people differently? I still cant sleep well and tho the rbs is less i still have it at night.Hang in there sweety,we will get there.

[FourJays]

Hi Angie - regarding the your question about the 5-HTP....I honestly don't remember whether it was something I felt immediately or if it took some time to "kick in".  It is my understanding that some of these things DO take time; so I wouldn't be discouraged if you don't get relief after the first day/dose, etc.  Have you tried the Rhodolia as Smiling mentioned?  I did use this for a few weeks in the first couple of months and it seemed to help a bit as well.  L-Tyrosine (amino acid) is another one that can give a little boost to energy and/or mood.  The 5-HTP is the only thing I am still taking (as mentioned before, down to 100mg daily); as a preventative for depression due to the high amounts of opiate/AD mix (tramadol) I was taking.  You will just need to experiment and see what works for you.  In any case, it is completely normal (unfortunately) to have the depression, anxiety and sadness feelings after opiate withdrawal.  While any/all of these supplements may or may not help, "time" is really the only thing that will alleviate them completely; and the amount of time is different for everyone.  Even then, if you try the supplements and weeks go by with no relief, you may want to talk to your doctor.  Maybe there is some other option he or she can suggest (whether rx or natural).  Are you able to get any fresh air and exercise?  This has made a huge difference for me; I started (exercising) at about a month clean and now will not go more than a day or two without - MAJOR natural endorphin source.  It's hard to get started, but once you do, you will notice a change.

I know it is tough early on, but it will get better.  One thing you DO have going for you is the sleep thing.....I did not get more than a couple hours here and there for a good couple months.  You are lucky there!  I hope things start to improve for you soon .......hang in there :))

[angie1609]

Glad you're hanging in there Yoey. I am the opposite...i do pretty well at night and get sleep, but i don't do so well during the day-just feeling depressed, upset, etc.

[Yoey54]

Glad to see you are still doing good and hangn tuff.I just wanted to let you know I am still off them as well.I had a horrible night the last night,but my wife really pulled me thru.My days are awesome,nights kick my butt.

[angie1609]

Thank you for the responses everyone!
No, i am not on any kind of antidepressant.

Another main question i have is: is it like some meds, where you have to take it for a few weeks to start working?...or is it the kind where you feel the effects after taking it?

So curious about that!
Thank you everyone :) just trying to read up on advice and tips when it comes to having the yucky feelings-depressed, sad, hopeless

[SmilingBright]

I love love my 5htp and rhodolia root.  I started taking those two for last few months.  I actually keep a few in my pocket to take when I feel like I need a pill. ;)

[FourJays]

Hi angie - I have been using the 5HTP for about 4 months now and I do think it has helped me, not only with depression but sleep as well.  I took tramadol for a long time (15 years); which is a synthetic opiate that also has anti-depressant properties.  My dr. suggested the 5HTP as an alternative to starting an rx AD; knowing that I would be battling with the depression coming off the trams.  I started taking it about 5 days after c/t quit of the tramadol; 300mg (100mg 3 times a day), and am now down to just 100mg in the evening.  It has been almost 5 months now and I can honestly say that I have had very minimal problems with depression - which I am grateful for considering how long I took the tramadol and at the extremely high doses I was taking.  I'm planning on dropping it completely in the near future (had no problem going from 300mg down to 200mg then down to 100mg).  So - it has been a positive for me; maybe you can give it a try (as long as you are completely OFF the opiate and not taking any other kind of anti-depressant).  I have heard other positive feedback about this supplement as well.  Ofcorse everyone is different so we can never be sure, but my experience with this has been very good.  Hopefully you will get some more feedback from others that have tried it.......good luck, hope this helps :))

[nursegirl6572]

Hey there!  Congrats on the amazing progress!

Are you any other meds at all, specifically any antidepressants?  If so, it is not advised to take the 5-HTP concurrently with an AD, definitely not an SSRI (ie Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, Celexa, Lexapro, etc).

I have seen some positive feedback on the anxiety and depression forums about 5-HTP, of course every experience varies.  I don't have any first hand experience with it however.

The mental part of detox is definitely rough, from what everyone reports.  Just keep in mind that it will take some time for your body to start producing its OWN "feel good" chemicals versus the artificial feel good chemicals one gets with opiates and opiate-like meds.

Hang in there, you're doing great!