can I tell you my recent experience with 5htp, I had read about them a long time ago and bought them online ,took them for about a week then chucked them in the drawer as you do, then sometime later got them out as they were pricey thought no harm trying again and have been taking them until they ran out. All summer I have been saying to hubby I feel different and my pain in my back and hips are much better ,his reply was it is the sunshine. I thought 5htp was ineffective so when they ran out wasn't bothered until about 3 days later the pain started again and the black mood returned , severe fatigue I couldn't work out was different then it clicked the only thing I had changed in my regime was 5htp so thought no harm in trying again. Ordered a different brand same strength and took them the next morning, at about 3am the following morning I was wide awake came downstairs and I could have cleaned my house from top to bottom and all day so much energy ,I felt alert I was hyper. When I read the label they should be taken at night . I don't know what happened but I definitely will be taking these from now on but I have decreased the dose . I don't know wether it was this particular brand or what