I have been tapering from 60mg of Cymbalta (I'm down to about 2.5mg now) for almost 3 years. It's been totally brutal and horrible despite how slow I have taken it. I've been taking 5htp since I got down to about 25mg of Cymbalta. THERE IS NO WAY I would ever make it through the taper without taking this 5htp.Not all 5htp brands are equal. This is the best one I have found, probably because it has the methylated B-6, and because Thorne is a generally a good quality brand to begin with. Cymbalta is an SNRI- the 5htp only boosts serotonin and not norepinephrine (just a side note, on the off chance that someone reading this is tapering off an SNRI), but still, I can't emphasize enough how much it has helped me. There are other supplements one can take to help with Norepinephrine...I haven't found one that works for me yet, but everyone is different. Also, other vitamins I take, such as vitamin d, methylated b12, and methylated b complex, have been game changers.My son (17) also has depression and anxiety. He takes this 5htp, a super high quality fish oil, vitamin D, methylated vitamin b complex, and a multivitamin. He is literally two different people depending on whether he is taking his supplements regularly (we're on good streak currently, he's been taking them nearly every day for over two months and is feeling great).I almost never write reviews, but something told me to tonight. Who knows, maybe it will help someone. :) Read more

If you are low in Serotonin, this is an excellent product for you. You might wonder why it is a bit pricier than other 5-HTP products by companies like Jarrow or Doctor's Best (both excellent products, by the way). And that is because this one contains one of the important co-factors (vitamin B6) needed to properly absorb the 5-HTP. But wait - it gets better - the B6 in this product is methylated, which means it is completely bio-available. Since some of us cannot create the methyl molecules needed to absorb certain B vitamins (B6, B12, and Folic Acid), taking those in methylated form is a huge advantage.The body creates Serotonin (a neurotransmitter) from tryptophan, found in turkey, eggs, soybeans, dairy products, and seeds and nuts. But some of us don't produce enough, or nerve cells are unable to receive the serotonin after it is synthesized. Low Serotonin can lead to a host of issues such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, ADD, ADHD, premature ejaculation, fibromyalgia, eating disorders, chronic pain, migraines, sugar and alcohol cravings, low self-esteem, obsessive thoughts and behaviors, PMS, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.Supplementation with 5-HTP and B6 can help your body produce more Serotonin, It can also help to take other the co-factors such as Vitamin C, Zinc, and Magnesium.Important medical disclaimer: Please consult your doctor if you are taking or considering taking an SSRIs (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors). SSRI's are antidepressants that prevent the re-absorption of serotonin by nerve cells. This increases the availability of Serotonin in the brain. If you are taking an SSRI, you should NOT also be taking 5-HTP.Another important note: If you are suffering from depression, low motivation, lack of energy, or ADHD, please still consult your doctor. He or she might want to put you on a different medication that is not an SSRI but one that increases the amount of norepinephrine and dopamine in your brain (like Welbutrin). I know, I hate meds too. But I have found that sometimes it is difficult to fix all brain chemistry issues yourself, sometimes you need a boost. The good news is that you can still take 5-HTP at the same time and work on increasing your Serotonin. It can be a win-win situation and you'll feel alot better. Read more

I am so glad that I got brave and started taking 5 HTP which works perfectly for me. Every human body reacts differently to even the cleanest supplement, but I 'm glad my body was receptive to it. I take 1 capsule 1 hour before sleep and notice that it makes me sleepy prompting me to go to bed which before, I wasn't sleepy even at 2:00 am. I also think it's a good idea to get full amino acid testing done to know exactly what imbalances the body is going through before reaching for any sort of supplementation. I am glad this works for me and I hope many people have a similar experience. Cheers to great Health! Read more

Without disclosing the specific medical situation involved with a close family member, I will say that this product truly does work, and has totally replaced previous prescription medication. As a retired healthcare provider, I am very familiar with the prescriptions available to treat certain conditions, as well as the fact that 5-HTP can be an excellent alternative. In this case, this particular brand in the right dosage works very well. As with any condition and personal differences, your experience may be different. But in this case, I can confidently say that this specific product should not be blamed if you don't get the results you are looking for. Physicians often have to change dosages and even medications to meet the needs of each patient, and lack of positive results may not be the fault of the specific medication (or in this case, OTC alternative). This works! And the company seems to be one of the very best. We've switched to their brand on a number of products, and been pleased with results. Read more

This works. I take 2 about 2 hours before bed. Helps me fall asleep and stay asleep. No morning grogginess either. Read more

I cannot say enough good things about this supplement. It made a tremendous difference for our son and I was so relieved that we didn't have to look to prescription anti-depressants with their myriad of side effects. Our son went from not wanting to go anywhere and emotions completely flat to being back to his old self and doing things he enjoyed and wanting to be around friends and family again. I highly recommend. Read more

Has significantly improved my mood. Was having horrible irritability and feeling sad and angry often. After just a week of taking this, my mood had 100% changed. One month later, I have continued to maintain the reduced irritability and dealt with my stress is a less "reactive" way. Read more