Posted by fachad on April 13, 2002, at 23:05:23
In reply to Can 5-HTP help with SLEEP?, posted by Janelle on April 13, 2002, at 16:19:26
Janelle,
I'd be careful about 5-HTP because it can cause serotonin syndrome if you are taking anything that increases serotonin. Since you are already taking Effexor, you should ask your pdoc before you take 5-HTP.
The best OTC sleep med I've found is doxylamine. It is much more powerful, to me anyway, than benadryl (diphenhydramine). It comes in 25 mg tablets. If you look for it, be sure it is doxylamine, because dihpenhydramine is a much more common ingredient, and it doesn't work nearly as well as doxylamine.
Anyway, if you get some it says take 1 tablet, but I have found several places where it says it's ok to take up to 4 tablets (100mg). I usually take 1 or 2.
I'm taking it now with my lorazepam because it makes me sleepy, whereas lorazepam does not.
> I have TERRIBLE insomnia - cannot get to sleep at night until the wee hours, then I drag all the next day, and I'm growing increasingly anxious about this situation. A concerned friend said that rather than add yet another *drug* to my mix, that I should try 5-HTP which is *natural* and can be bought in a health food store and that this helps with sleep.
>
> Anyone here know if this is true? Anyone with any experience with it? Any input greatly appreciated.
poster:fachad
thread:102970
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020408/msgs/103002.html