Have I done too much???

Hi all,

Just worried if I have overdone it with the treatment of my SAD. A couple of weeks ago I got a 10,000 lux Brite Box. And as a result of it I started to feel better almost over night, so to speak. Then a week ago my dawn simulator came and I was feeling on top of the world.

I decided to try some 5-htp tablets thinking that would help even more. They came on Monday and I took my first tablet that night and.... Bang, my bubble burst. Yesterday I found it difficult to goto work, even though I had 45 mins in front of the lamp. I took another tablet last night and today I couldn't even get enough ooooomph to get dressed for work. I have been around the house doing nothing, what a waste of a perfectly good day...

Is it possible that the 5-htp has boosted my seratonin too hight, because I remember reading somewhere that too much is as bad as too little?

Is that true? Any ideas welcome.

I think it's possible your body isn't quite ready for (or doesn't actually need) supplemented 5-htp. I know there's such a temptation to "try everything" when you're sleeping badly or feeling rotten but in my experience it can be very counterproductive. I've come to the conclusion that if something's working, keep doing it and give it a good chance to "build up" before adding in something else. And if something gives you a bad reaction just stop it and wait for your body to recover.

I didn't take the tablet lastnight and this morning I felt like normal again. I was tired but the light tratment brought me back up to normal. Will save the 5-htp though for later in the winter, perhaps things will get worse then.

Hi Colin37, I haven't been on for a wee while as my laptop was in laptop hospital lol.
I have just read your post with great interest, I too tried 5-htp a couple of years ago and had the exact same reaction as you did, I couldn't function at all, it was horrendous, I guess it's like many things what works for one, is not going to work for everyone.
I find I have the same reaction whenever in the past I have tried anti-depressants and therefore I stay clear of them too.
Glad your Brightbox and Dawn Simulator or working well for you.

I agree that SAD is progressive, Colin.
This week I took a huge nosedive. I had been managing okay, but this past week--especially the last few days have been almost unbearable. Crying, Tired, Reclusive. Not fun :(

I bought my light box off ebay and saved over half the cost of a new one. It was worth the expense. I did research firdt snd found the box I wanted and waited till it appeared on ebay.

Dont be tempted to buy one of the cheap LED ones off ebay. There are a lot there which dont work. I know I bought one last year and it didnt help. only when I did research and bought a good quality box did I notice a huge difference in my mood. I reasoned that if it didnt work I could always relist it on ebay and get a chunk of my money back.

Another option is to try a dawn simulator. I got one of those too (a bodyclock from lumie, I bought one of the reduced ones and the only thing wrong with it was that the box was badly bashed, but the clock's perfect) and it helps a lot.

You can buy one try it for a month and if you dont get on with it lumie will refund it within a month and you have only lost the re-stocking fee.

oi nick,

És brazileiro ou ingles? Como é que consegiu viver lá em Brazil tanto tempo? Minha esposa vem de Portugal e por isso eu aprendi a idioma dela.

obrigado pelo conselho.