Condition
Sleep Terrors
Sleep terrors are episodes of screaming, intense fear and thrashing during sleep, most common in children and usually outgrown by adolescence. Among supplements, 5-HTP has the most direct research: in one study of 45 children, sleep terrors became less frequent. That was a single small study, so the evidence is limited, as it is for magnesium, vitamin D and melatonin.
Sources: PMID 15146330
- Supplements studied
- 1
- Graded outcomes
- 1
- Trials
- 1
- People studied
- 45
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep Terror Frequency Reduced frequency of sleep terrors in children | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 1 study | 45 people | ||
Studies that measured sleep terror frequency | ||||||
Key findings
- Sleep Terror FrequencyImproves (the measure goes down)
The Sleep Terrors (Night Terrors) Support protocol
1 primary supplement · 3 supporting supplements
- MagnesiumChildren: 3–6 mg/kg; Adults: 300–400 mg at bedtime
Studies cited
9 studies from PubMed
- The effects of oral 5-hydroxytryptophan administration on feeding behavior in obese adult female subjects
- Eating behavior and adherence to dietary prescriptions in obese adult subjects treated with 5-hydroxytryptophan
- L -5-Hydroxytryptophan treatment of sleep terrors in children
- Effects of oral 5-hydroxy-tryptophan on energy intake and macronutrient selection in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients
- L-5-hydroxytryptophan induced increase in salivary cortisol in panic disorder patients and healthy volunteers
- Effects of 5-hydroxytryptophan on distinct types of depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Comparative study of efficacy of l-5-hydroxytryptophan and fluoxetine in patients presenting with first depressive episode.
- A functional-dimensional approach to depression: serotonin deficiency as a target syndrome in a comparison of 5-hydroxytryptophan and fluvoxamine.
- Efficacy and safety of 5-hydroxytryptophan on depression and apathy in Parkinson's disease: a preliminary finding.