Here is a great question that came in from one of the attendees of the live Amazing Aminos for Anxiety program that I hosted earlier this year. This attendee is asking when to use a combination of tryptophan and 5-HTP for anxiety and sleep, and concerns about high cortisol when wanting to use 5-HTP:
The book says “for symptoms that occur earlier in the day, 50-150 mg of 5-HTP on waking and midmorning” but it also cautions about taking 5-HTP if one has severe insomnia (which I do) as it can raise cortisol. Is it okay to take tryptophan upon waking and mid-morning? I’m assuming the reason for holding off until late afternoon is to avoid daytime drowsiness, but am wondering if this is where the tyrosine may come in? (At the end of the program)
I started getting good results at 500 mg tryptophan. Sometimes I needed more so I doubled the dose to 1000 mg. Sometimes I got better results than others. It’s possible I may need to take more than that – the book says to take up to 1500 mg. Is consistency key (as opposed to PRN/as needed) when taking tryptophan, in the same way that one has to build up a blood level of serotonin when taking an SSRI? I also wanted to mention that prior to coming off my SSRI, my mood was fine
She is referring to my book The Antianxiety Food Solution and she had been taking these amino acids before starting the group program with me. Her goals were to address her insomnia, the anxiety and the depression. The tryptophan she had been taking was not the Lidtke tryptophan, which is the brand I recommend.
You can listen to the 4 minute snippet of this question and my answer here:
Before using any amino acids be sure to check the Amino Acid Precautions and work with your doctor if needed.
And a friendly reminder for you …. we are offering $100 off each of the 3 options of The Amazing Aminos for Anxiety homestudy programs. This offer expires today, Monday October 19th at 9pm PST midnight EST (previous emails said 9pm EST – sorry about that)
This is a powerful home study program that results in you feeling
- less stressed and overwhelmed, and happier
- more energetic and focused
- sleeping through the night
- and no longer suffering from emotional eating/stress eating!
I walk you through, one week at a time, how to use five of the top individual amino acid supplements (tryptophan/5-HTP, GABA, glutamine, DPA/Endorphigen and tyrosine) to help you eliminate anxiety, social anxiety and panic attacks. We also cover pyroluria, other key nutrients, diet and lifestyle changes.
There are 3 program options available:
- Basic: Homestudy if you’re a DIY person
OR
- Plus: Homestudy + 2 Q and A Live with Trudy (if you need some guidance and will have questions you can opt for this one)
OR
- Premium: Homestudy + 4 Q and A live with Trudy (if you need some guidance and will have questions) + private Facebook group for group discussions and interactions.
All 3 options include access to Questions and Answers from the previous program so you get to learn from others. Options 2 and 3 include the LIVE Question and Answer sessions i.e. you can ask your own questions (option 3 also includes the facebook support).
For #3 Premium program, we will also be closing the cart and not taking new registrations until January next year
You can check out the 3 program options and register here https://www.everywomanover29.com/aminosforanxietyhs/
Got questions about the program or tryptophan and 5-HTP? Feel free to ask them below and read some of the commonly asked questions on this blog post
Thank you Trudy.
In ref to Insomnia and taking Gaba 5HTP etc. was told to do urine neurotransmitters test first; to see what would need on those.
Thanks for your feedback.
Romy
I don’t find urinary neurotransmitter testing to be valuable and use the questionnaire and amino acid trials instead. You can read more here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/urinary-neurotransmitter-testing-falls-short/
Hello, Does the Homestudy Course include depression along with anxiety and pyroluria? If not included, do you offer a homestudy course on depression?
Many thanks, Nan
Nan
I do not have a homestudy program on depression. The focus of this program is not depression but many of the neurotransmitters can impact depression and mood and we address those areas: low serotonin, low endorphins and low catecholamines. We also discuss healthy eating, removing gluten, hormones etc all of which can affect mood. And we cover SSRIs and the aminos. Many people in the prior program found wonderful mood improvements.
Hello, I am taking 100 mg GABA 3xday for panic attacks but find I am still stressed. Can I take 5htp as well as GABA?
Thanks so much, Carol
Carol
I cannnot give you specific advice but can share that there are no known issues with taking GABA and 5-HTP. 5-HTP can sometimes raise cortisol so I like to check salivary cortisol levels in my clients.
I encourage you to check out the amino acid precautions too https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acid-precautions/ and work with your doctor if you are taking an SSRI
Hello,
I know you cannot give specific advice, but I am hoping you can share your thoughts on this!! Long story short: I had a baby in Feb 2012 and then 8 months later I was in the ER two days in a row having(what I know now) panic attacks. I didn’t have a history of anxiety:depression so it was very scary! I have been trying for the past 3 years to get help/answers. My doctors really only prescribed benzodiazepines (which work great) and SSRI’s(didn’t work so great). I got off all rx about a year ago. Sorry for the long (short!!!) story.
So my question(s): I have been taking 5htp and ltyrosine for about 3 weeks. The first week I felt better than I have in 3 years. The last two weeks I just feel weird?? I increased the dose and it doesn’t seem to be helping. Any thoughts/suggestions? My second question is about gaba…..my ND said she doesn’t have much success with it, but I read your questionaire and feel like I fit perfectly with low gaba as 97 % of my issues are physical panic/anxiety.
Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.
Hi
Sorry to hear about this. I like to have my clients do one amino acid at a time (so you get a feel for what’s working) and start really low. I don’t have my anxious clients use tyrosine until the anxiety is way down. I have great success with GABA and doing a trial is the only way to know if it works. I find GABA works the best – more than pharmaGABA although some do find the latter helps
Trudy,
Thank you for the response. I added myself to your wait list a few weeks ago and I can’t wait to get to work with you!!!! I have some GABA, it think it is 500 and that seems high but maybe I can open the capsule and just take a little!?! I stopped the 5-htp and tyrosine today because I just feel strange….not really sure how to explain! Anyway, thank you again for responding. Hope to work with you soon
I like to have my clients start low on GABA and 500mg is often too high although some people do great on it. I’m working with someone right now and 500mg GABA 3 x day works great for her but she started with 1 GABA Calm and increased it over a week. I always say start low.
Hi Trudy,
Thanks so much for the wonderful info on the Anxiety Summit–it really gave me much hope about approaching depression/pyroluria from the nutrient/nutrition perspective. I am grateful-thank you!
In your home study program, you suggested starting with the Lidtke Tryptophan rather than than the Lidtke Tryptophan Complete (because of the lysine in the latter?). I mistakenly ordered the latter!
I had a couple of unsettling days and wondered if you would be able to share your concerns about taking the Trp Complete that I could watch for? I am currently taking the Trp Complete (1x), along with glutamine (1000mg capsule) before bedtime; been on it now for about 5 days.
I not sure if I should just get the Trp itself to proceed with the trials/suggestions you have in the home study, or continue with my current bottle of Trp Complete for a couple more weeks, before trying 5HTP.
I understand that you cannot give specific suggestions, but it would be great to know if I’m at the right starting point to explore the other suggestions you’ve made.
Thank you!
Mae
So pleased you enjoyed the Anxiety Summit and are taking action!
The Lidtke Tryptophan Complete contains folic acid and I like the Tryptophan only for this reason. If you need to increase the amount you could end up getting too much folic acid and I prefer the folate form to the synthetic folic acid form. I don’t know what you mean by unsettling days but it may also be that 500mg tryptophan is too much or you may do better with 5-HTP. I don’t like my clients to continue when they are having adverse symptoms.
There is a live Q and A for the Plus group next week Wednesday so do join us with any additional questions you may have.
Dear Trudy,
Thank you kindly for your response. I just checked this site now, am so sorry to have missed the live Q&A!
I changed to Lidtke Tryptophan instead of staying on the Trptophan Complete; have been on Trptophan (500mg-1000mg, taken in the evenings before bedtime) for a week. Mood has been very low/apathetic.
I’m also following your protocol for pyroluria at the same time, with P5PB6 (Lidtke, 50mg), EPO (120mg), B complex (Thorne), zinc (50mg) for pyroluria. Mood has been incredibly low, almost debilitating the past few days.
I’m not sure if I should be addressing the pyroluria first or the depression. I will revisit your homestudy course to see if it will shed some light on my issues.
Thank you for the work that you do–it offers me hope that there is a solution to my mood disorders!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hello Trudy,
First of all I would like to thank you for given people like me hope. I have and read your book and also the Mood Cure Book. I have tried tryptophan and have switched to 5HTP. My question for you is can I do both at the same time? When would I take 5htp and when would I take tryptophan? I am getting results, I no longer have thought that I am dying of some form of illness or go to worst case scenario. I still do have thought and am afraid of having a panic attack(not as much as before) and of driving on my own. I know everyone is different in dosage. What is the highest save dose to take? What is side effect of to much 5htp or tryptophan.
I have also been taking Inositol 3/4 tsp, (It helps) What can I increase to or in what increments?
I also have a 17 year old who get stressed, has a hard time falling a sleep and get nervous/ anxious(No anxiety). She reminds me a lot of me. What would be a good amino to start her on?
Once again thank you.
Cori
It’s wonderful to hear you’re doing so much better. I can’t consult via the blog but can share that some of my clients do well on both 5-HTP and tryptophan, but always taken at different times of the day. It’s a matter of finding out what works for you. They are best taken mid-afternoon/evening but some folks need them earlier too.
Too much of any of the aminos can cause an opposite effect.
For your 17 year old, have her do the amino acid questionnaire and a trial of the applicable amino acid since there is no one size fits all. However I do find that daughters often do well with similar protocols to mom.
Dear Trudy,
I’ve been very successfully taking 5HTP since November (2015) following listening to your webinar & reading the book. You have mentioned that a period of about 6 months should be sufficient but when I have reduced/cut out the 5HTP I feel symptoms return quite immediately – is it safe to continue indefinitely if I am benefitting?
Also, my mood is very good in the mornings but around 2-3pm I find that energy and mood wane and positive thoughts and motivation do too. I take my 5HTP first thing in the morning to avoid my sleep being disturbed later on, but do you think it would be beneficial to take later on in the day as well as or instead of in the morning?
I would appreciate any feedback.
With kind regards and just to say that your book has really had a huge impact on me (and subsequently those around me) and as a psychotherapist I am recommending to many of my clients.
Hello Trudy,
Your website is very informative! I have a question. I think I am allergic to 5HTP. Is there other alternatives to 5HTP for anxiety?
Please tell me more – why do you think you’re allergic to 5-HTP? and what symptoms led you to try 5-HTP? and how much did you try and how often?
I think I had taken 150 mg. And started itching. This why I thought I might be allergic to 5htp.and I only tried it once.
Theresa
The starting dose for 5-HTP is typically 50mg so it’s possible 150mg may be too much. If someone has a true reaction I use tryptophan (and only use the Lidtke brand (my supps info is here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-pyroluria-supplements/)
Hi Trudy
I just came across your book today on Wellness Mama and loved your interview with Katie. I am perimenapausal and suffering from depression and low moods. I have always been in control of my weight until recently when I turned 50. I find more belly fat and I’m turning to comfort eating in the evenings. I live in Ireland and we can’t get 5htp but a friend from the states sent me some. I just started today with 1 tablet of 50 mg. I am also a vegetarian with 30 years and find eating protein difficult. Do you have any tips for me moving forward? I just ordered your book today and can’t wait to read it. How soon should I wait before moving on to 100 mg of 5htp?
Thanks
Kelly
I can’t offer specific advice via the blog but can share I have clients increase based on their response. If they are doing great they don’t increase, if some improvements but not enough we may increase each week until no further improvements. You’ll find a wealth of information in the book and more about the benefits of quality animal protein – low zinc and/or pyroluria can be a factor when someone finds eating protein difficult.