The fact that serotonin induces an increase in the emission of prolactin is very interesting.
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We are all different people so what works for someone may not work for another. If it’s working for you, then awesome! You know your body best so listen to it. If it’s working, then it’s a good match for you. There are tons of 5-HTP reviews where people said it worked wonders.
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Just to say, I did not mean to be overly aggressive or combative with you @Rb26dett . We are all in this together and I am absolutely not looking for arguments or ill-feeling through my participation on PH. I am very sorry for everything that you and anyone else who has ended up here is going through, so if my earlier posts didn’t give that impression, I do apologise.
So now for the update (some good, some not so good). I have taken 50mg of 5htp at 10pm for the past four nights (Tues, Weds, Thurs, Fri), as well as at 10am on Thursday and Friday. I am writing this on Saturday afternoon, having not taken a daytime dose today, for future readers.
I got very satisfying sleep on Tues and Weds, waking up between sleep cycles, but getting back to sleep with ease, and I also felt incredible when I took it on Thursday daytime. Very positive, singing to myself all day, lots of energy, work went fast and well. However, my body temperature was also quite high (everyone in my office was in at least a sweater and I was sitting in a t-shirt), I felt like my heart was beating a little faster or harder (I took my pulse and it was normal) at times and I had a bit of an energy crash in the afternoon. I actually think that crash and the heart rate was also heavily related to caffeine as I had three coffees that day. Sleep on Thursday night was not so satisfying, I didn’t get to sleep quite as easily and when I woke around 6.30, I did not get back to sleep for the final cycle I had slept the nights before. Friday daytime I still took it again and a couple of hours later felt quite a high body temperature and faster heart rate, as well as some elevated underarm odor and edginess. I felt like I was having adverse effects, though I also think that some paranoia I had after popping the tablet (based on the warnings here) probably contributed to my feeling. And again, this seemed to come on most after drinking a bulletproof coffee. By the mid afternoon I was feeling much better and more positive, so I do think that the combination of 5htp and caffeine is not ideal. Last night (Friday) I got better sleep than Thursday (in part I think because the worse night of rest the night before meant I went to bed pretty tired) but still woke up earlier than I would like.
So there is definitely some rough and smooth with this. It certainly seems that the daytime dosage contributed to the nighttime dosage not having the same beneficial effect, meaning I am likely to only pursue this as a sleep aid going forward, if I do continue. I have decided to take a few days off of it.
However, something I did not mention before is that it does seem to have resulted in some pretty impressive gains in terms of nocturnal erections and morning wood. I took a cialis on Monday (I don’t take it regularly, but while sorting through some supps just popped one, because I think it is good to take cialis / viagra every now and then to get the blood flowing down there). So when I noticed some increased activity on Wednesday morning (not a full erection, but engorged with blood unlike I am used to these days) I didn’t want to attribute it to the 5HTP, in case it was due to the cialis. However, that morning activity has continued, and in fact got better and better each morning. In my experience with cialis, it lasts two days, so I am well clear of that now. And this morning I actually had morning wood to the extent that even after I got up to pee, it persisted, and I masturbated twice within the space of about half an hour this morning (like old times), producing more than my new standard dribble of semen, too. So that is EXTREMELY positive.
However, I do feel like my heart is beating a little harder and faster (though, I also feel like this could be me being ultra sensitive, seeking out adverse side effects – certainly my pulse remains very normal).
Either way, I have resolved to take a little break from it for a few days. I was intending to start a two week tribulus cycle on Monday, so I might even wait till after that. If/when I do return to use, I think I will stick with just 50mg at night, and likely every other night to begin with, and see if I can get back that very nice sleep I had on Tuesday and Wednesday.
I think that 25/50mg 5 days per week, can help some of us.
I know that 5-htp made me crash, but i was taking it on 200mg, immediatly after stop Paroxetine.
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I might actually try to cut my pills and only have 25mg, to see. But they are capsules, so it is going to be messy.
Just another update (some graphic masturbation stuff, in case you don’t like that)
I did not take 5htp at all yesterday (Saturday) day or evening or today (Sunday). I did massively fall off the wagon in terms of the lifestyle I have been following, eating processed meat in buns and drinking numerous beers (probably about 5 pints in total between 8pm and 1am) at a hockey game and subsequent bar afterwards, followed by chicken burger, fries and chicken nuggets at a well known fast food joint. All shit that I should not be putting into my body, given I am certainly now gluten intolerant. I woke up in the middle of the night feeling awful and had to make myself sick and my bowel movements have been uncomfortable and indicative of gut inflammation today.
However, I woke up feeling not actually that bad, a bit ropey as would be expected from drinking., but not on death’s door. It must also be said, I felt pretty damned good at the time. I have been used to drinking a beer or two every now and then (last night is the first time in about 3 months), realising it was not doing me good (and also not really getting me drunk properly) and stopping at one or two with regret for even drinking that. But last night I was loving it, getting very vocal at the game, absolutely smashing it at karaoke in the bar afterwards. A great night overall.
Then this morning, while I didn’t have morning wood and actually initially thought I couldn’t get it up (I have basically got myself to the point that I have convinced myself of that), I then found myself able to get it up fantasizing about this hot girl I met years back and used to fantasize about pre-PFS, but who couldn’t inspire much more than a semi- since. So I masturbated and produced a much greater volume of semen and forceful ejaculation than I have become used to (even though I did the same yesterday), and I just masturbated again and had a really great orgasm and actually drifted into that semi conscious state that finishing always used to bring.
Now I remember reading the post below about feeling better after drinking alcohol due to inhibited prolacitin, so I want to keep that on the table as having contributed to this today, but I cant help feeling that what I have experienced (enjoyable drunkenness, improved sexual function over two days) MUST have something to do with the 5HTP. I am starting a tribulus cycle on Tuesday (I have decided to do a two day water fast today and tomorrow after last night’s excesses – I was overdue my regular monthly one), and I do not intend to be doing 5HTP and tribulus together. But I am now wondering whether to try one more 5HTP dose tonight, to see if I can get that same nice sleep again like last Tuesday and Wednesday, or maybe to try splitting the capsule and taking just 25mg.
Strongguy has provided some very good information on why 5HTP might be unwise, and I was inclined to avoid it for now, but these improvements over recent days make me feel like I am onto something promising.
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I chose not to go with that 5HTP dose last night and I am glad of it, because not only did I sleep fine, but I was feeling kind of edgy and restless today, I couldn’t focus on studying, my eyesight was worse than normal.
Now, bearing in mind I was on day two of a water fast, that likely had something to do with it, as well as the alcohol from Saturday given that I have not eaten since the fast food. So I am confused as to what is going on and not keen to take more 5HTP in case it makes me feel worse (plus, I wanted to see how easy I can sleep tonight). On the one hand I seem to have seen some significant sexual improvement, while on the other I have symptoms like edginess, restlessness and high body temperature, which I have had in the past and are not very enjoyable and quite unproductive.
While I could not figure out if these symptoms are those of high serotonin, high prolactin, or high estrogen, or what, I decided to get some B6 (a known prolactin suppressant) and see if it made me feel better. I took it, on an empty stomach as I was still fasting, and did not notice a big difference within about two hours. If anything I felt like I was a bit worse, although that could also be because I was attempting to study, which is when I feel the worst in all cases, and I am sure a part of that is through anxiety related to fear of failure in my studies due to PFS. Then I took some gingko biloba and although I initially didn’t feel much better, I went in for my half day at work and, after a small black unsweetened coffee I should add, started feeling really good and actually equalled my daily target record in half a day. Again this has left me confused as I haven’t given myself the chance to know what is causing the positive effects, although I am pretty sure that the dopamine from coffee and the generally positive effects gingko has were most significant. I am going to use them both again tomorrow.
I should also add, in the morning I took zenflore, a probiotic that has given me consistent positive mental results, as well as dopa macuna, fish oil, a double dose of vitamin D (I had misplaced my bottle so hadn’t taken any in a few days) and lutein & zeaxanthin (for eyesight). Though I did not notice any particularly positive effects until a couple of hours after taking the gingko and drinking the coffee.
Not particularly enlightening because of the confusing array of supps, I know, but I figure I should chart what I am doing on this little 5HTP run.
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Good feedback man. Any impact to your muscles such as twitching or aches? Did it impact digestion?
How have you been getting on with 5htp? It’s been in one of my sleep aids so I have been using it for the last month or so and so far it’s been pretty good
Sounds like it works for you! I took four doses (50Mgs each) over 4 days and it immediately did not work for me. Again it really depends on the person. It might be a good match for you my friend.
It has complex actions, including raising dopamine (e.g. the striatum can use it as an alternative to dopamine I think), and of course acts also on serotonin receptors. Actually I’ve always found it pro-sexual temporarily, but the positive effect becomes downregulated and the less desirable serotonin effects become more noticeable. It varies a bit.
Sorry to drag this one back but if a lot of our symptoms are from high serotonin would using this to flood with serotonin not crash receptors and therefore reduce influence of serotonin on our systems?
High serotonin is part of our symptoms ? Sure doesn’t feel that way!! 
As in it causes low libido no?
Not too sure if it does ?? First I heard of it !
I know mechanisms in the SSRIs cause it for sure , I always had anorgasmia on SSRIs …
I was more referring to the idea that serotonin gives you feelings of contentment , wellness, relaxation , regulates hunger, sleep, mood etc
None of the things I feel with PFS bassically !
Ah I see, mine is mainly low physical libido/sensitivity and variable sleep
Ah right yeah I have those too - sleep is the worst symptom , it’s pretty much non existent .
I never thought that one day I would be suffering as much as this , I couldn’t have imagined it in my wildest dreams.
Have you tried anything that’s been of help? Are you considering 5HTP?
I am currently taking 5-HTP. It can increase serotonin. It appears to be a risky supplement for us. From what I read it helps some while hurting others. So like with most things for us proceed with caution
Maybe knowing what your serotonin levels are before taking it would be helpful. For the record my serotonin was low before taking this. So maybe this is why it helps me. It helps me specifically with constipation. Most serotonin is produced in the gut
Yeah in reply to the post I’ve been debating it but aware it’s got mixed reviews. Seems tryptophan might be a safer place to start
I use ZMA for sleep and sometimes phosphatidylserine if I wake up anxious in the night. Niacinimide can also help in terms of getting to sleep
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I had it a little bit last summer as it was in a sleep supplement- 50mg of it.
It didn’t seem to do any harm then …
Mate - I’m in this for the sleep fix, that’s all I care about !
If it doesn’t hurt sleep but improves it then I’m in with 5htp !