Natural Factors 5-HTP 200 mg Time Release (60 Tablets)

Natural Factors 5-HTP 200 mg packs 200 mg of L-5-hydroxytryptophan into each timed-release tablet, with 60 tablets per bottle. Helps promote healthy mood balance. It is the higher-strength 5-HTP in the Natural Factors line, at twice the amount in the brand's 100 mg caplet.

What 5-HTP 200 mg is licensed for

It is licensed for sale by Health Canada and bears NPN 80124165. The licence also lists:

• Helps relieve sleep disturbances associated with mood imbalance.
• Helps relieve symptoms of fibromyalgia.
• Helps reduce the severity and duration of migraine headaches when taken as a preventative (prophylactic).

What is in each tablet

5-HTP, short for 5-hydroxytryptophan, is an amino acid compound that sits one step after tryptophan in the body's own chemistry. Natural Factors extracts it from the seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia, a woody climbing plant native to West Africa.

Each tablet holds 200 mg of L-5-HTP. The non-medicinal ingredients are carbohydrate gum, cellulose, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, glycerin and magnesium stearate. The tablet is film coated and made for timed release, so it dissolves gradually instead of all at once. Natural Factors lists it as non-GMO, suitable for vegetarians and vegans, and third-party tested by ISURA.

How to take it

Adults 18 and over take it with food, and the dose depends on the use. For mood, or for sleep disturbances, take 1 tablet a day; for sleep, take it 60 to 90 minutes before bed. For fibromyalgia symptoms, take 1 tablet twice a day. For migraine headaches, take 1 tablet three times a day.

Give it at least 2 weeks. Start at a lower dose and work up over the first 2 weeks to limit stomach upset. Do not use if you have scleroderma. Do not use if you are taking antidepressants. Ask a health care practitioner first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or take carbidopa or other products with serotonergic activity. It may cause drowsiness, so take care with driving. The full directions and cautions are under How to Take.

How long a bottle lasts

At 1 tablet a day the 60 tablets cover two months. At 2 a day they cover a month, and at 3 a day about 20 days. If you are on the three-a-day schedule, the 120-tablet bottle of Natural Factors 5-HTP 200 mg Time Release is the same tablet at twice the count.

Who it suits

Adults who have used a 100 mg 5-HTP and want the same amount in fewer tablets, or who have been advised to take 200 mg at a time. The 60-count is the smaller bottle to start on.

Natural Factors 5-HTP 200 mg FAQ

Where does the 5-HTP come from?

From the seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia, a West African plant.

Should I take it with food?

Yes. The label says to take each dose with food.

What does time release mean?

The film-coated tablet releases its 200 mg gradually instead of all at once.

Can I take it with an antidepressant?

No. The label says not to use it if you are taking antidepressants.

Shop more Natural Factors supplements or the full 5-HTP range. Orders over $99 ship free in Canada.