5-HTP reviews: what real users say
We read 767 first-hand mentions of 5-HTP from health and supplement communities. 345 of them say clearly how it went — and 40% of those say it helped.
Where people say it works: mood (84% of 214), sleep (85% of 102), anxiety (72% of 71), energy (76% of 17).
Where it disappoints: libido (only 33% of 12 say better), digestion (only 33% of 6 say better).
Most common complaints: vivid dreams, heart valve, serotonin syndrome, drowsiness, nausea. All side effects →
Positive experiences
“I just one day randomly decided to take 5-HTP an hour after finishing my workout, and I felt WIRED 15 minutes after taking it, and that lasted for 5–6 hours.”
“I take 200 mg/day for migraine headaches and it has changed my life.”
“I used to take 5 HTP and it helped me sleep through the night.”
“My mood was pretty well improved, felt happy and pretty 'sated.' Overall pleasant.”
“It gave me nightmares, I shit myself and started panicking in fear. But... after that I was finally able to feel emotions again. I felt AMAZING.”
“after taking only 100mg of 5-HTP I found myself getting kind of sleepy... I woke up six hours later for work feeling super sleepy.”
Negative and mixed experiences
“I took 50mg of 5HTP and I went back to normal for a few days and was happier than ever, then I had a brutal hangover and later that day the same post-CBT feeling came back.”
“Looking at Doc Parsley's sleep remedy: Ooh, 5HTP 😬 I've tried that stuff before and it gave me the most bizarre dreams and urges.”
“At night, 5htp has a wonderful effect on me. I sleep, and wake up feeling refreshed.”
“5-HTP (100mg): Has a big effect on my sleep - I hit the pillow and fall asleep pretty quick... It gives me the best/craziest dreams... Overall it has a positive outcome on my mood.”
“It definitely worked, it kept me feeling upbeat and motivated. I noticed the same weight gain and low libido symptoms that I had had on zoloft and effexor.”
“I've been taking 5HTP for the last 2ish weeks with no problem...then took my 5htp, and left to go walk to the store. i started feeling weird and anxious...i was high...like i had just smoked a joint high.”
Quotes are verbatim and link to the original public discussion. Information only — not medical advice. How we collect reports