An Important Safety Point This Product’s Description Doesn’t Mention
This formula combines KSM-66 ashwagandha (standardised to 5% withanolides) with L-theanine, L-tryptophan, vitamin B6, and black pepper extract for absorption.
The most important thing to know before starting: L-tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin, and combining it with antidepressant medication — particularly SSRIs, MAOIs, tricyclic antidepressants, or other serotonergic medication — carries a genuine risk of serotonin syndrome, a potentially serious and in rare cases life-threatening condition. This is the same underlying risk associated with 5-HTP (a related compound one metabolic step further along the same pathway), and it applies here just as seriously. If you take any antidepressant medication, do not start this product without your GP’s direct involvement — this is not a minor caveat.
L-tryptophan also has a major interaction with sedative medications (including benzodiazepines and some sleep medications), where combined use can cause excessive sleepiness — relevant given this product is specifically marketed for bedtime use. If you take any sedative or sleep medication, this combination needs your GP’s guidance, not independent experimentation. L-tryptophan has a historical, largely resolved association with eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS), a rare but serious condition linked to manufacturing contamination in the late 1980s — modern manufacturing and testing have greatly reduced this risk, but it’s worth choosing a product from a reputable, tested source.
Separately, ashwagandha can affect thyroid hormone levels, so if you have a thyroid condition or take thyroid medication, this needs a GP conversation before starting. L-theanine is generally well tolerated and studied for promoting relaxation without drowsiness through a different, non-serotonergic mechanism.
Ingredients: ashwagandha KSM-66 extract, L-theanine, L-tryptophan, magnesium stearate, black pepper extract, vitamin B6. Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free (produced in a facility that handles dairy). Take one capsule daily with a full glass of water, ideally one hour before bedtime. Not suitable for under-18s. Speak to your GP before starting if you take antidepressant, sedative, or sleep medication, have a thyroid condition, liver or kidney disease, are pregnant, or breastfeeding.
The Research Behind This Product
Mood & Stress Support
Ashwagandha Benefits: What UK Research Actually Shows
What research shows about ashwagandha for stress, sleep and performance — plus an important, often-overlooked note on its effect on thyroid hormones.
Get the Full Guide
