BulkSupplements.com 5-HTP Powder - 5-Hydroxytryptophan, 5 HTP Supplement - 5-HTP 200mg, Mood Support Supplement - Gluten Free, 200mg per Serving, 50g (1.8 oz) (Pack of 1)

So far it seems to be working and I do feel a little relief from my joints I've only been taking it for a little while so I don't know if it gets any better but so far I do have a little relief

I love this supplement company. I love how fast the product gets to me and the quality of every powder I have purchased from them. I'm a happy returning customer and will be continuing to buy from BulkSupplements for as long as I can.I purchased 5-HTP to try for my anxiety. I've read for years how effective and quick this stuff is supposed to be but I've spent a lot of money trying to find something to help calm me to only come up empty. I'm very introverted and I work with the public; I've been needing to find something that would act quickly during those times when getting away from the source of the stress is not an option. I've not been disappointed by the other products I have bought from them so I decided to give this one a try.Here's what I have found out in the weeks since (please keep in mind this is how I do it because this is how it works for my body/particular chemistry/issues; what works for me may be opposite of what you need to do):~ I measure out about 100 MG to dissolve under my tongue (I find the taste pleasant and it dissolves FAST; this powder does not linger in water) and feel it in about 20-30 minutes. It is a very calming effect. Not acute; not euphoric (I experience euphoria with L-Tryptophan and wasn't sure if the same thing would happen with this product) but nice and mellow.~ I take about 400 MG at night to help me sleep. Works like a charm. It's an all over relaxation; gone are the racing thoughts and the physical tension I carry. Anything over and I find it hard to get out of bed the next day. I dosed too high the first week I had it and each early morning was torture. That was my fault, however. I got a little zealous with the product. I highly recommend you play around with the powder to see what the sweet spot is for you.~ I have read about taking it with B6 and without B6 and I don't have anything intelligent to add to the debate. I've tried both and couldn't tell a difference either way. To be fair, however, I only tried it with B6 once. Maybe it would have felt different if I gave it more time. I'm considering dumping the powder into my green tea to see if what I read about ECGC turns out to be true. I will update when/if I have anything to add.~ I cycle the powder just out of caution. I was doing five days on and two off but I have L-Tryptophan powder now and so I've been doing one night/day with one and the next with the other. So far so good!~ I'm one of those that experiences some pretty unpleasant nausea if I don't put something on my stomach with the 5-HTP. It doesn't have to be a lot (I've taken to eating an apple with it because of reading that you need to take the powder with a carb to help it do its thing) and it doesn't matter if I take the powder before/after eating it just matters that I don't take it on an empty stomach. It's a nasty stomach ache like none other I've ever had before. I was hoping I wouldn't be one of those that experiences it and I've tried lowering the dose- it still hurts my stomach. I read food can slow/block the full absorption and that makes me a little sad (I hate the idea of 'wasting' my supps!) but all I need to do to remind myself why I need to take it with food is try it without. The stomach issues are common to the product and is the closest thing to a 'complaint' I have.I will be ordering again when I am out. Thanks for all the hard work, guys! You rock!

I got off antidepressants using 5-HTP and L-Tyrosine in a 1:10 ratio, per recommendation of my naturopath. This was really amazing because when I tried to taper my antidepressants without supplements, I went from feeling good to feeling some of the absolute worst depression I've experienced, and I've struggled with depression most of my life. Once I added 5-HTP and Tyrosine I was able to taper off the antidepressants with minimal side effects.5-HTP helps the body produce serotonin, while L-Tyrosine helps the body produce dopamine, which somehow balances that out. It's important to take them together because supplementing one in high levels like I am without adding in the other can create an imbalance in your brain chemicals. 5-HTP on it's own has a slightly sedating effect, so it's good to take it at night, but I take part of my dose in the morning with Tyrosine and don't have a problem.Taking the supplements in pill form was getting expensive (much more so than the antidepressants), so I decided to try BulkSupplements, which are significantly cheaper than getting them in capsules. I have no interest in trying to make my own capsules, so I just mix the powders with water and drink it fast while holding my breath. It works! Figuring out the dosage was a little tricky, but here is what I do:In the a.m. (right after I get up) I mix 1/16 tsp (approx. 100 mg) 5-HTP + 1 tsp (approx. 2000 mg) TyrosineIn the p.m. (just before I go to bed) I mix 1/8 tsp (approx. 200 mg) 5-HTP + 1/2 tsp (approx. 1000 mg) TyrosineI do the different dosages because Tyrosine is slightly energizing while 5-HTP is slightly sedating. I tried doing the entire dosage of Tyrosine in the morning and the entire dosage of 5-HTP at night and felt very irritable during the day. When I reduced the dosage slightly I noticed a difference in my mood, so I know it's having a significant effect.The 5-HTP powder has a slightly sweet flavor. It's not very pleasant, but I take it in such small amounts and so quickly that it doesn't really matter to me.I'm taking a relatively high dosage because, as I said, I'm using them to replace anti-depressants. I'd recommend talking to a naturopath about dosages and what might be right for you, and I definitely recommend taking 5-HTP with a 1:10 ratio of Tyrosine. When I asked about 5-HTP for depression to my primary care doctor, she had no idea what I was talking about, and instead put me on anti-depressants. She also recommended tapering antidepressants in a way that was incredibly harmful to me, so be wary of primary care doctors when it comes to this sort of thing. General physicians well trained on a lot of things, but supplements and diet are generally not among them.If you are more of a do-it-yourself-er, then I'd highly recommend the book The Mood Cure by Julie Ross:http://www.amazon.com/Mood-Cure-4-Step-Program-Emotions--Today/dp/0142003646/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1400876462&sr=1-1&keywords=the+mood+cureIt details how to figure out what supplements you may need and how much. Overall, this is a high quality and effective supplement.

I tried this with another brand on the "advice" of a brain health book during a very stressful time in my life. I felt more focused and euphoric... too euphoric and not right. I had taken only 1 pill (I think they were 100mg pills) and the "dose" said two. I tried again until I figured out that 1/4 pill was close but still too high of a dose for me (it was OK taken every other to every third day). I then found a brand that had only 10 mg, but I think this might actually be a bit low and they are expensive in comparison. I am now trying this. I need to be very careful in dosing this out.5HTP is reported as being a building-block of serotonin and is thought to raise the level of serotonin in the brain by a small amount. It is supposed to be more effective when taken with vitamin B6. After taking this I feel like the level of serotonin in my brain has always been just a little bit too low; it just feels 'right', but I must be extra sensitive to it as taking what is the usual dosage makes me feel 'wrong'.This is an odorless powder (I was hoping for the wonderful turkey-like aroma from the tablets I used to have -- maybe it was the B6).The packaging does not state where it is made.Made in ??? origin ???