5-HTP vs. L-Tryptophan

[junk]

OK. I started taking 5-HTP a while ago. I started @ 100mg x 2 day. Now I'm up to 200mg x 3 day. I can feel the 5-HTP working at killing my carb cravings. about 200mg lasts for 6 hours. Now I want to try the L-Tryptophan since Fonz suggested it's much better so I just ordered some.

Anyone with experience with both of them?
What dose did you take? And did you take them on empty stomach ?

 

[Mr.X]

OK. I started taking 5-HTP a while ago. I started @ 100mg x 2 day. Now I'm up to 200mg x 3 day. I can feel the 5-HTP working at killing my carb cravings. about 200mg lasts for 6 hours. Now I want to try the L-Tryptophan since Fonz suggested it's much better so I just ordered some.

Anyone with experience with both of them?
What dose did you take? And did you take them on empty stomach ?

From my experience, 5HTP has shown more promise then L-tryptophan, I would suggest trying the combination and seeing how it works for you individually. Overall, I see 5-HTP along being more then enough.

Mr.X

 

[junk]

Hey 10x Mr.X.

How much 5-HTP did you use? I'm now at 600mg a day and it's stops working.

Did you use Tryptophan ?

 

[Mr.X]

Hey 10x Mr.X.

How much 5-HTP did you use? I'm now at 600mg a day and it's stops working.

Did you use Tryptophan ?

I went up to 1000mgs but I wouldn't recommend going that high, for the better way to go would be to take a 1-2 week break from it and come back to using it.

The Trypt, I used and didn't like, but again it really depends on the person.

Mr.X

 

[anthrax]

I have used 100mg 5-HTP for insomnia

either I didn't take enough of it or I should have taken on an empty stomach (I know I should but I also needed to take my pre-bed shake) but it didn't help me (or really slightly)

 

[Mr.X]

I have used 100mg 5-HTP for insomnia

either I didn't take enough of it or I should have taken on an empty stomach (I know I should but I also needed to take my pre-bed shake) but it didn't help me (or really slightly)

Maybe adding L-trypt might help, have you thought of adding melatonin to your supplement intake?

Mr.X

 

[anthrax]

Maybe adding L-trypt might help, have you thought of adding melatonin to your supplement intake?

Mr.X

I wish I could find L-tryptophan !
(I mean real L-Trypt at an affordable price)

As for melatonin it really helped me when I used it to treat jet lag

But it was useless (from 0.1 mg to 4.5mg) while trying to treat insomnia after my workout

It seems that kava is the way to go (way better than valerian and/or GABA)

 

[Mr.X]

I wish I could find L-tryptophan !
(I mean real L-Trypt at an affordable price)

As for melatonin it really helped me when I used it to treat jet lag

But it was useless (from 0.1 mg to 4.5mg) while trying to treat insomnia after my workout

It seems that kava is the way to go (way better than valerian and/or GABA)

I think this mix has done me wonders before:
5mg Melatonin
1000mg 5HTP
3 caps of Benadryl
again, I don't recommend it but it worked for me


As far as teh L-trypt, this site is fairly cheap:
http://www.beautynhealth.com/tryptophan/

Mr.X

 

[Mr.X]

Btw...if you mix up the stack I just pointed out (just less dose) w/ maybe 2-3 caps of L-trypt, you might win the anti-insomnia battle.

Mr.X

 

[anthrax]

5mg Melatonin
1000mg 5HTP
3 caps of Benadryl
!?

I have never thought Benadryl could help
but why not

Anyway the company that will discover a new drug to treat insomnia w/o the dependence / addiction, withdrawal effects and other side effects will make heavy $

I guess the army is also on that one

 

[HANSEL]

5 HTP actually makes me feel like binge eating carbs for some reason, Phenylalanine and tyrosine seems to help me forget about food.

 

[dr0832]

5-HTP did nothing to make me fall asleep and help my insomnia. In fact I actually felt stimulated like the feeling I get from ephedrine or adderral. What it did do was make me feel like I got a full 10 hours of restful REM sleep when I only actually got 4 hours. This was when i took 200 mg. The side effect was that it gave me horrible constipation and my ass started to bleed FOR REAL. I would not fuck with that shit.

 

[HANSEL]

Are you sure your roomate didnt slip GHB into your protein shake?

 

[Mr.X]

5-HTP did nothing to make me fall asleep and help my insomnia. In fact I actually felt stimulated like the feeling I get from ephedrine or adderral. What it did do was make me feel like I got a full 10 hours of restful REM sleep when I only actually got 4 hours. This was when i took 200 mg. The side effect was that it gave me horrible constipation and my ass started to bleed FOR REAL. I would not fuck with that shit.

For me it makes me relax and gets the drowsy state together, but It's allways different for different ppl.

Mr.X

 

[junk]

OK.. Today was one of the most horrible days I've had for quite a while. Even though I took 300mg 5-HTP on totally empty stomach when I woke up, about 3-4 hours later the carbs cravings were uncontrollable, I felt like I was competely posessed. I estimate I ate like 4000 bad cals.

Note that the 5-HTP worked great for me for 2-3 weeks, really felt no cravings up until lately where they aggravated daily (along with more depression).

So making a lot of research on the net, I found out, the culprit maybe lake of L-Tyrosine which is vital for the production of other brain neuros. I've seen research that says 5-HTP effect diminish after a few weeks, but taking L-Tyrosine along with it brings back it's effect. Maybe even adding phenylalanine ?

The worest part is that you have to take them seperately, so that they would not compete with other aminos, and both should be taken on really empty stomach. So that means I have to have a lot of hours during the day without food in order to achieve it's full effect.

 

[Mr.X]

OK.. Today was one of the most horrible days I've had for quite a while. Even though I took 300mg 5-HTP on totally empty stomach when I woke up, about 3-4 hours later the carbs cravings were uncontrollable, I felt like I was competely posessed. I estimate I ate like 4000 bad cals.

Note that the 5-HTP worked great for me for 2-3 weeks, really felt no cravings up until lately where they aggravated daily (along with more depression).

So making a lot of research on the net, I found out, the culprit maybe lake of L-Tyrosine which is vital for the production of other brain neuros. I've seen research that says 5-HTP effect diminish after a few weeks, but taking L-Tyrosine along with it brings back it's effect. Maybe even adding phenylalanine ?

The worest part is that you have to take them seperately, so that they would not compete with other aminos, and both should be taken on really empty stomach. So that means I have to have a lot of hours during the day without food in order to achieve it's full effect.

I usually suggest against taking too much 5HTP, epecially early in the morning in the am. L-tyrosine does help but it doesn't really bring back any potency of 5HTP, or to make that clear not to any really high degree.

Have you tried taking AF-NYC with some Pseven and taking a break from the 5HTP? For, the 5HTP doesn't always work the same for everyone.

Mr.X

 

[junk]

Oh yeah. When I take NYC or T-REX I get so depressed I can kill myself (never happened to me with any other supplement ever). I think it's an interraction between the 5-HTP and the Yohimbine or maybe the Dostinex I'm taking aong interracts badly with Yohimbine. I'm heading to the store soon to try L-Tyrosine at 6 grams a day, might help. As I said, 5-HTP really worked excellent up till very recently.

 

[Mr.X]

Oh yeah. When I take NYC or T-REX I get so depressed I can kill myself (never happened to me with any other supplement ever). I think it's an interraction between the 5-HTP and the Yohimbine or maybe the Dostinex I'm taking aong interracts badly with Yohimbine. I'm heading to the store soon to try L-Tyrosine at 6 grams a day, might help. As I said, 5-HTP really worked excellent up till very recently.

Maybe if you get off all the products for a week or so, it might come out as a positive when you get on. I know Dostinex and don't think that's the big problem.

It might be a chemical imbalance in your brain (not implying you're metal, I'm saying it might be something w/ depression). I suggest going to see your doctor and seeing if you might have a bigger problem then we can solve here on Elite.

Mr.X

 

[junk]

Maybe if you get off all the products for a week or so, it might come out as a positive when you get on. I know Dostinex and don't think that's the big problem.

It might be a chemical imbalance in your brain (not implying you're metal, I'm saying it might be something w/ depression). I suggest going to see your doctor and seeing if you might have a bigger problem then we can solve here on Elite.

Mr.X

Thanks bro, the problem I have is most diffenetely has to deal with a brain chemical imbalance (i.e. Serotonin). Depression and/or binging can be either due to Chemical Imbalance (that's mostly the case with us, bodybuilders) or it may be due to psychological reasons (not my case).

Chemical related depression is when you actually don't have any good reason to be depressed. In my case, my economical and family statuses are excellent. Moreso, I had many periods in life when things weren't nearly as good as now, yet I was less depressed.

That's the sign of Chemical Imbalance related depression (which is my case). In that case, talks with not help with the situation (although elite talks do see to work to some extent.. lol )

The best advices (THAT WORKED!) were always the ones I got from guys good guys like you, Fonz and other knowledgable people.

This morning, I took 200mg of 5-HTP on empty stomach first thing in the morning before cardio. 3 hours after my breakfast protein bar I took 3grams of L-Tyrosine along with B-Complex & C (as suggested). I'll take another dose of 5-HTP later today (another 200mg not more) and at night another 2grams of L-Tyrosine. If within 2-3 days I don't feel these insane cravings, it means this shit is working...

 

[Mr.X]

Thanks bro, the problem I have is most diffenetely has to deal with a brain chemical imbalance (i.e. Serotonin). Depression and/or binging can be either due to Chemical Imbalance (that's mostly the case with us, bodybuilders) or it may be due to psychological reasons (not my case).

Chemical related depression is when you actually don't have any good reason to be depressed. In my case, my economical and family statuses are excellent. Moreso, I had many periods in life when things weren't nearly as good as now, yet I was less depressed.

That's the sign of Chemical Imbalance related depression (which is my case). In that case, talks with not help with the situation (although elite talks do see to work to some extent.. lol )

The best advices (THAT WORKED!) were always the ones I got from guys good guys like you, Fonz and other knowledgable people.

This morning, I took 200mg of 5-HTP on empty stomach first thing in the morning before cardio. 3 hours after my breakfast protein bar I took 3grams of L-Tyrosine along with B-Complex & C (as suggested). I'll take another dose of 5-HTP later today (another 200mg not more) and at night another 2grams of L-Tyrosine. If within 2-3 days I don't feel these insane cravings, it means this shit is working...

My question to you is what cycle are you on? and are you in post-cycle therapy?

Mr.X

 

[junk]

My question to you is what cycle are you on? and are you in post-cycle therapy?

Mr.X

I'm in my 10th week of a light cycle (250mg test enathate, 500mg eq) first 3 weeks dbols and 3 last weeks dbols.
It's really just as to not loose too much muscle (which my body has a tendancy of loosing no matter what i do)

 

[Mr.X]

I'm in my 10th week of a light cycle (250mg test enathate, 500mg eq) first 3 weeks dbols and 3 last weeks dbols.
It's really just as to not loose too much muscle (which my body has a tendancy of loosing no matter what i do)

If your depression is a problem, have you thought of getting off the cycle? and starting post-cycle therapy

Mr.X

 

[junk]

10X Mr.X.. If anything the cycle is the only thing that makes me continue. It's not my first cycle, I know my body pretty well. The worest thing that could happen to me and that would really extremely DEPRESS me is me 'abandoning' like a looser, stopping the cycle and keeping the fact that the 10 weeks I've worked so hard to achieve 8% at the end (I'm now about 12%) in vain. My plan is to loose about 6 fat pounds more so that I would be every lean to start my bulker after a 4 months break. That's the mission and it has to be accomplished.

BTW: What's your thought about DNP? Any personal experience? I have some sitting around for well over a year and half and I never touched it. Since I only need to loose about 6-7 pounds, I'm just wondering if a 200mg a day (NO more) for the duration of one month could help me safely achieve my goal?

 

[Mr.X]

10X Mr.X.. If anything the cycle is the only thing that makes me continue. It's not my first cycle, I know my body pretty well. The worest thing that could happen to me and that would really extremely DEPRESS me is me 'abandoning' like a looser, stopping the cycle and keeping the fact that the 10 weeks I've worked so hard to achieve 8% at the end (I'm now about 12%) in vain. My plan is to loose about 6 fat pounds more so that I would be every lean to start my bulker after a 4 months break. That's the mission and it has to be accomplished.

BTW: What's your thought about DNP? Any personal experience? I have some sitting around for well over a year and half and I never touched it. Since I only need to loose about 6-7 pounds, I'm just wondering if a 200mg a day (NO more) for the duration of one month could help me safely achieve my goal?

I would have to disagree; if a chemical imbalance is the issue, stoping your cycle might help. I really would suggest going to the doctor with this. And, no, DNP is not the way to go.

Mr.X

 

[junk]

Hey Mr.X bro,

I just wanted to update on my situation. The L-Tyrosine did the job for me pretty well. It started from day 1 but after 3 days of using it, I feel M.U.C.H. better and I don't seem to have those totally insane, out of this world, extreme, non-controllable carb cravings at night anymore. I've researched Pubmed and found a connection between L-Tyrosine and 5-HTP use, I guess I was depleted of L-Tyrosine.

I now even use less 5-HTP than before yet still feel MUCH better. I'm reminding you, that before, 5-HTP stopped working for me completely after 2 weeks. Now it's working again even at lower dose.

Here's my regimn:

06:00 (Wake up to pee) Empty stomach - Take 2500mg L-Tyrosine with 500mg Vitamin C and B-Complex.

08:00 Wake up, take 200mg of 5-HTP empty stomach

16:00 Take another dose of 2500mg L-Tyrosine with C and B-Complex.

18:00 Take another 200mg of 5-HTP.

I'm also taking 15g a day of Inositol so that could be helping as well. It's fucking amazing, because as you recall, the 5-HTP totally stopped working for me even at 700mg a day. Now I'm on only 400mg a day and I feel it's more than enough.

Now, I may just guessing here, but here's something interesting.. The insane Cravings I was talking about (obviously chemical related) started happening to me 2-3 days after I stopped taking the Liporexin (I was taking Liporexin constantly for a month). Liporexin contains good amounts of Acetyl-L-Tyrosine. Now, it may not be a coinsidance that when I stopped the Liporexin, I started feeling the cravings. I've researched the web for well over a dozen of hours and it seems that the Serotonin alone may not be the problem but also the epinephrine effect(L-Tyrosine/L-Phenylaline->epinephrine). I can now look at a chocolate box and don't have give a damn about it! Radical change for me. I guess everybody's different though. The only 'bad' thing I feel from the large dose of L-Tyrosine and 5-HTP is some lethargy and lake of strength, but that doesn't bother me too much. Just wanted to share my personal experience. 10 Years in the sport and you still never stop learning.. I like it

 

[Mr.X]

Hey Mr.X bro,

I just wanted to update on my situation. The L-Tyrosine did the job for me pretty well. It started from day 1 but after 3 days of using it, I feel M.U.C.H. better and I don't seem to have those totally insane, out of this world, extreme, non-controllable carb cravings at night anymore. I've researched Pubmed and found a connection between L-Tyrosine and 5-HTP use, I guess I was depleted of L-Tyrosine.

I now even use less 5-HTP than before yet still feel MUCH better. I'm reminding you, that before, 5-HTP stopped working for me completely after 2 weeks. Now it's working again even at lower dose.

Here's my regimn:

06:00 (Wake up to pee) Empty stomach - Take 2500mg L-Tyrosine with 500mg Vitamin C and B-Complex.

08:00 Wake up, take 200mg of 5-HTP empty stomach

16:00 Take another dose of 2500mg L-Tyrosine with C and B-Complex.

18:00 Take another 200mg of 5-HTP.

I'm also taking 15g a day of Inositol so that could be helping as well. It's fucking amazing, because as you recall, the 5-HTP totally stopped working for me even at 700mg a day. Now I'm on only 400mg a day and I feel it's more than enough.

Now, I may just guessing here, but here's something interesting.. The insane Cravings I was talking about (obviously chemical related) started happening to me 2-3 days after I stopped taking the Liporexin (I was taking Liporexin constantly for a month). Liporexin contains good amounts of Acetyl-L-Tyrosine. Now, it may not be a coinsidance that when I stopped the Liporexin, I started feeling the cravings. I've researched the web for well over a dozen of hours and it seems that the Serotonin alone may not be the problem but also the epinephrine effect(L-Tyrosine/L-Phenylaline->epinephrine). I can now look at a chocolate box and don't have give a damn about it! Radical change for me. I guess everybody's different though. The only 'bad' thing I feel from the large dose of L-Tyrosine and 5-HTP is some lethargy and lake of strength, but that doesn't bother me too much. Just wanted to share my personal experience. 10 Years in the sport and you still never stop learning.. I like it

Good to hear that it worked out for you. In the case of Trex, it might be an issue in the case of going from a stimulant environment to an non-stimulat environment - just as with people that get off the ECA stack and have a problem with eating.

Again, I would suggest getting off a cycly if you're on one, if not then more power to you I'm glad this worked out.

L-tyrosine did not do much for me or my clients but a lot of them are natural so there is no innate chemical imbalace related to AS use. There is a slight connection with L-T and 5htp but not to a really high degree - but it is there. I'm glad to see it worked well for you.

Mr.X

 

[dr0832]

is tyrosine the stuff thats in turkey that can make you sleepy? If so can it be used as a sleep aid?

 

[ProteinFiend]

i remember reading on this board that the bean that 5htp is derived from caused heart failure in a tribe of people that ate them regularly...

could just be shitty genetics of the tribe... but i just thought id mention it.

 

[Fonz]

Hey Mr.X bro,

I just wanted to update on my situation. The L-Tyrosine did the job for me pretty well. It started from day 1 but after 3 days of using it, I feel M.U.C.H. better and I don't seem to have those totally insane, out of this world, extreme, non-controllable carb cravings at night anymore. I've researched Pubmed and found a connection between L-Tyrosine and 5-HTP use, I guess I was depleted of L-Tyrosine.

I now even use less 5-HTP than before yet still feel MUCH better. I'm reminding you, that before, 5-HTP stopped working for me completely after 2 weeks. Now it's working again even at lower dose.

Here's my regimn:

06:00 (Wake up to pee) Empty stomach - Take 2500mg L-Tyrosine with 500mg Vitamin C and B-Complex.

08:00 Wake up, take 200mg of 5-HTP empty stomach

16:00 Take another dose of 2500mg L-Tyrosine with C and B-Complex.

18:00 Take another 200mg of 5-HTP.

I'm also taking 15g a day of Inositol so that could be helping as well. It's fucking amazing, because as you recall, the 5-HTP totally stopped working for me even at 700mg a day. Now I'm on only 400mg a day and I feel it's more than enough.

Now, I may just guessing here, but here's something interesting.. The insane Cravings I was talking about (obviously chemical related) started happening to me 2-3 days after I stopped taking the Liporexin (I was taking Liporexin constantly for a month). Liporexin contains good amounts of Acetyl-L-Tyrosine. Now, it may not be a coinsidance that when I stopped the Liporexin, I started feeling the cravings. I've researched the web for well over a dozen of hours and it seems that the Serotonin alone may not be the problem but also the epinephrine effect(L-Tyrosine/L-Phenylaline->epinephrine). I can now look at a chocolate box and don't have give a damn about it! Radical change for me. I guess everybody's different though. The only 'bad' thing I feel from the large dose of L-Tyrosine and 5-HTP is some lethargy and lake of strength, but that doesn't bother me too much. Just wanted to share my personal experience. 10 Years in the sport and you still never stop learning.. I like it

Try to start taking 5g of Acetyl-L-Carnitine/day in on dose. When you wake up.

This will help curb carb cravings by increasing dopamine levels.

Work your way up to 5g 2X/day. Don't take it after 12 noon, or you might get insomnia.

Fonz

 

[Fonz]

i remember reading on this board that the bean that 5htp is derived from caused heart failure in a tribe of people that ate them regularly...

could just be shitty genetics of the tribe... but i just thought id mention it.

5-HTP can either be converted centrally or peripherally via enzymatic conversion to 5-HT(Serotonin)

Peripheral conversion has shown to induce cardiac damage.

Fonz

 

[junk]

10x Fonz. I still didn't get the L-Tryptophan I ordered from somewhere. I wonder if the L-Tryptophan will take off where the 5-HTP stopped. 5-HTP stops responding more and more after a short time.. I know you suggest L-Tryptophan over 5-HTP anyday for appetite suppression. What do you think about Phenylaline? DL-Phenylanline ?