Not on meds but need to improve my anx, depress, insomnia. want to take otc 5-htp & fish oil / omega 3. any objections?

Won't help: None of these supplements will help with anxiety, depression or insomnia. Omega 3 has been shown to be helpful in lowering your bad cholesterol (ldl). 5-htp supplements have not been proven to be beneficial in any way as of now. Consult your physician to get to the root of your problem as soon as you can.

5-HTP: 5-htp is converted to serotonin, a brain chemical involved in mood and appetite. It may help increase serotonin levels in the brain. But you should not take 5-htp with antidepressant meds like ssri as it can cause a dangerous condition called serotonin syndrome. Another condition called eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome is a rare allergic disorder associated with consumption of l-tryptophan and 5-htp.

Fish oil/omega 3 + D: Taking fish oil/omega 3 fatty acids 1000-4000mg daily is usually safe and may help relieve symptoms of depression although evidence is mixed. Vitamin d3 600-2000 units daily may be helpful in relieving depressive symptoms especially during the winter months. If your level of 25(oh)d, a precursor of active vitamin d, is low, you could take even higher doses of vitamin d under physician supervision.

Fish oil/ Omega 3: Fish oil/omega 3 fatty acids may reduce triglycerides, and modestly help with low HDL (good cholesterol). But it does not reduce LDL (bad cholesterol). It may be helpful for cardiovascular health as it has anti-inflammatory effects.

Yes: Krill oil and fish oil are the new snake oil, both are high in omega 3 fatty acids which are extremely fragile. Omega 3 fish oils reduce triglycerides by impairing the liver's ablility to make them. However the oxidative stress caused by fish oil actually raises LDL cholesterol. Some day we may use the phrase "this is just more fish /krill oil" or "here comes the fish/krill oil salesman".