Spacedust8 Vitamin C was replaced with 5-htp. Sos

[Spacedust8]

I'm in a pickle. My roommates son was playing in the bathroom one day and was messing with our supplements. He emptied out my Vitamin C capsules & replaced with 200mg 5-htp instead. I'm sensitive to serotonin & had a bad experience a number of years back which had serious consequences for me. I haven't taken meds since.

 

For about a month I'd been getting really ill. I'd be spacey & lethargic then foggy minded, I lost my sense of taste. I thought I had Covid & got tested. Test was negative. I noticed I was more anxious and almost paranoid so I cut coffee out. Nothing was improving. I started feeling flat, having hallucinations then numbness in various places. I went to the ER in panic. After tests & deep investigation and my roommate complaining about her supplements not working we figured it out. (5-htp increases serotonin for anyone that doesn't know.)

 

Its been a month off & I can't sleep, I have electric jolts in my head and body, I can't eat, it's attacking my whole gi system. I feel utterly dead inside. Everything that made me feel good or happy now has the opposite effect, I feel extremely sickened by it. It's a weird sensation to try and explain. I need help 

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @Spacedust8

 

Well, that's an unusual story. It appears you inadvertently became dependent on 5-htp taken daily and now have withdrawal symptoms.

 

If I were you, I'd take a little 5-htp as a reinstatement. I'd put perhaps 10mg 5-htp in empty gelatin capsules and take that for a couple of weeks, then go off. 

 

We usually don't address 5-htp withdrawal, but a few people here have reported it. Use search to see the discussions.

 

Please let us know how you're doing.

[Spacedust8]

Thank you! I will look into it.