I used to take 5-HTP when my mercury was still in because I had a horrible time sleeping. It took me about 2 hours to get to sleep each night.

The problem for me was a "racing mind"; having such active thoughts that I could not stop and therefore could not get to sleep.

5-HTP helped somewhat for a while but it's effects diminished over time as my body seemed to "adjust" to the supplementation. It has worked well for others I know but I never really found anything that completely solved my racing mind except to remove my amalgams.