Nested Naturals 5-HTP 100 mg (5-hydroxytryptophan) - Sleep and Mood Support - 5HTP Supplement for Naturally Sourced Serotonin - 120 Non-GMO, Vegan Capsules

I initially started taking this for depression symptoms such as fatigue and lack of concentration, but I found use for it in many areas of my life. 5-htp is the building block for serotonin and melatonin which are both responsible for your sleep, waking and eating cycles among other things. It took a few weeks to notice the subtle differences but it does make a difference. I’d suggest starting slow as taking to much can make you feel dizzy, unfocused and overly tired and sleepy. I’d really suggest taking no more than 2 a day max if you want to avoid uncomfortable and unnecessary side effects; less is more. I also used this along with l-theanine and ashwagandha to quit a massive vaping habit and this had a major role to play in lessening my withdrawal symptoms. I just implore you to please do your research before taking any new nootropic supplements, as some can have serious side effects and even be addicting. However I’d say this is on the safer end of the spectrum, this isn’t addicting nor does it cause dependence in my experience. If you were looking for a way to sleep, this is also great because instead of giving your body way to much melatonin like the majority of melatonin supplements, this gives your body the building blocks for your body to make exactly the amount that it needs. It also means you won’t have severe rebounds if/when you take an extended break like with melatonin; side effects such as sleeplessness, irritability and vivid dreams/nightmares are all common when quitting melatonin, but not when quitting 5-HTP. I’ve also noticed this helps with my headaches and migraine headaches specifically, it’s not imitrex but it is technically a triptan. After having taken 5-htp for many years this is probably the best brand I’ve come across, it’s been consistent and never wavered in quality. Best of luck for whatever you need this for!

My experience with this so far is not 5-star, but I am giving this 5 stars because it is potent and I can actually tell that it is doing things, unlike many other supplements where I can't really tell or it might take me a while to notice a difference. I'm still in the process of figuring out the best timing and dosage for me.A functional doctor had put me on a pretty extensive regimen of supplements but I did not feel any immediate effects until I introduced this 5-HTP on his recommendation, after weaning off of Zoloft. My very first change - and this happened the night I started 5-HTP - was that my peri-menopausal night sweats just abruptly STOPPED! I had been waking up in the middle of the night virtually every single night for the previous 3 months, drenched in sweat. Sometimes I would have to change my pajamas twice...And then, just like that, nothing. My temperature felt cool, and I woke up completely dry.The flip side, though, was that I slept less deeply and that night I had kind of the sleep that you have when you have a fever - just sort of shallow and fitful. At least when I was having night sweats, I would sleep super deeply (until the sweating came). I felt more agitated after taking this before bed.So I experimented - instead of taking it at night I tried taking it in the morning, or afternoon, or late afternoon. I would also decrease the dosage by opening up the capsule and taking 50 or 60% of it. Each adjustment yielded something different - for example, when I skipped it one day my sweating came back, but I slept better. I was blown away by how dramatic the effect was.The next thing I noticed was that my mood would lift once I took it, but this was more subtle and it took me a little while to notice because for me it doesn't come as a jolt. But I'll notice a change - usually within minutes! - because I'll suddenly feel less blah, and I'll find myself tying my shoes to go out for a walk or finally folding my 2-week old laundry when just a little while ago I did not feel like doing anything and was feeling kind of down.Where this is not helping me is sleep - I cannot say that I have slept better because of this. At best it doesn't change anything, and at worst it makes me feel slightly agitated and anxious - not a great feeling. So I have to keep experimenting with dosage and timing, so that I can find the sweet spot between sleeping well, feeling up and calm, and not having night sweats. I just know for me that I cannot take the full dosage. If you are new to 5 HTP, I recommend starting with a smaller dose and then working your way up if you need it.

I like this product. I use it as a sleep aid and a mood stabilizer in place of prescription medication. 5-htp has less side effects for me. It’s a little less effective than the prescription medication - it doesn’t put me to sleep but it does help me actually feel tired. It’s also more noticeable if I don’t take it - with prescriptions I could last a couple days off, but 5-htp seems to not last in my system more than a day. I like that it’s natural, I don’t need to see a doctor and go through that whole process to get it, and it helps stabilize my mood - which is the exact reason why I got it. I’m glad I tried it.