NOW Supplements, L-Tryptophan 1,000 mg, Double Strength, Encourages Positive Mood*, Supports Relaxation*, 60 Tablets (Pack of 2)

I started taking these supplements based on an article about insomnia out of Johns Hopkins, a chapter on insomnia from Power Juices Super Drinks by Steve Meyerowitz, and some customer reviews on this site. I take this product along with GABA, L-Tyrosine, L-Tryptophan. I also take 5-HTP. However, it is a form of Trytophan, which I think you can leave off. (I will post this same review on those product pages.) For a decade plus, I have struggled with insomnia and accompanying fatigue and anxiety. Over the past several years, I have done numerous sleep studies and have pleaded with my doctors for help only to be told that insomnia is something with which I must live even in the face of diminished mental functioning. I’ve tried all the natural sleep remedies such as Valerian Root and melatonin with no success. I’m currently on an anti-depressant Remeron, which while it helps me sleep and stay asleep, I am not getting quality sleep. I no longer dream, and if I do, I cannot see or remember my dreams when I wake up. While asleep, my dreams appears in B&W so dim that I can only make out the outline of images. A new development in my insomnia is driving-while-drowsy, which only happens when I get behind the wheel which is a lot living in Los Angeles and working in catering and events. Almost immediately, I begin to get drowsy and my eyelids become heavy. Knowing what is happening, I immediately take actions such as rolling down all of my windows and slapping my face to stay awake. As I’m driving, eventually, the back of my neck starts to hurt and I get a mild headache because my brain is signaling my body that it need to shut down. (Now if I were to get off the freeway and pull over to the side of the road to take a quick cap my drowsiness goes away.) It was at that point that I realized I might be dealing with something neurological, which is where L-Tryptophan comes in. For the past six months, I have been taking L-Tryptophan, GABA and L-Tyrosine three times a day, and one 5HTP capsule at bedtime. The quality of my sleep, my overall neural functioning, my stress and my anxiety have come full circle. I am no longer experiencing drowsiness while driving, and my overall mental functioning, stress levels and anxiety have disappeared. (GABA and L-Tyrosine are both neurotransmitter support.) If you’re struggling with insomnia, I cannot recommend these three supplements enough. Had I not refused to believe that insomnia was something with which I would just have to live, I might never have found these products. Before taking any over the counter medication, I always try to find a natural supplement to address whatever health issues I’m dealing with rather than going the pharmaceutical route. Give this regiment a try. And let me know if it works for you.

. Finding a sleep aid can be a Goldilocks experience -- sometimes it's necessary to try a few before you find one that's just right. For me, L-Tryptophan is just right, and it has been for years. Unlike a "sleep aid," which more or less puts you to sleep and keeps you asleep, L-Tryptophan lets you fall asleep and stay asleep. For me, that's an important difference! L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid, which means the body can't make it, so it has to be consumed through foods or supplements. It can be helpful for persons (like me) who have difficulty "turning off" to sleep. It can help generally with feeling anxious or wound-up, and when you're more relaxed you breathe more easily, which means you relax more, and so forth. Ultimately, tryptophan converts to serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps with mood and sleep. You might be wondering why one would take L-tryptophan, with its roundabout way of producing serotonin, rather than just take melatonin, which is one of the better-known sleep-assisting supplements. Well, some folks -- like me -- get nightmares and night terrors on melatonin. I've tried several times over the years to take it, each time with the result that I have horrifying night terrors. I've never had a negative response to L-tryptophan. I've also used NOW products for years. The NOW brand meets my requirements for any supplement that I consume. It's manufactured in a cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practices) facility. In fact, it was one of the first manufacturers to pursue GMP certification (which means, consequently, that its facility is FDA-approved). And they do extensive product quality testing. So, having used this product for years, I can recommend the NOW Foods L-tryptophan without hesitation. As with any supplement that you're taking for the first time, it's important to do your homework to ensure that what you're ordering, and from whom, seems like a good match for whatever symptom you hope to address. In this case, from long experience, I can say that I've found L-tryptophan to be consistently helpful for sleeping without side effects.

Powerful Amino Acid with Multiple Pathways! 💊 L-Tryptophan isn’t just for sleep—it plays roles in several key pathways in the body: 🔬 Kynurenine Pathway (major, ~95%) L-Tryptophan → N-formylkynurenine → Kynurenine → metabolites like quinolinic acid & NAD⁺ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide). ⚡️ This is the main catabolic route, essential for energy and cellular health. 🌙 Serotonin / Melatonin Pathway (minor, ~5%) L-Tryptophan → 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) → Serotonin → Melatonin. 😌 Supports mood, calmness, and healthy sleep cycles. 🦠 Indole Pathway (gut microbiota) Gut bacteria convert tryptophan into indoles and related compounds. 🛡️ These influence metabolism and immunity. ✅ Overall: versatile, science-backed, and vital for wellness.

the tablets are too big for me to swallow...they get stuck in my esophagus,and I have to follow with lots of water.

great product and value!

Excellent

A quality product and I am getting great benefits

I like NOW products reliable and effective

Excellent

Waste of money, don’t buy it. I though it would make me feel relaxed but it makes me feel anxious. Rather buy l-tyrosine than this.