Dinah, good question! We do have a blog post on "How to Take 5-HTP for Fibromyalgia" that might interest you. Also, on page 12 of the Healthy Savings catalog, there is a section that addresses "How to Take 5-HTP" to get the full benefits. Timing is one of the necessary factors. Since 5-HTP can make some people drowsy, we suggest you try your first dose about an hour before bed. If you do not notice any difference (some people do not), then you are free to take it during the day. Since 5-HTP does not stay in the system long, the sustained release will help you with your dosing quite nicely! Some studies suggest people over 50 may do best on doses closer to 300 mg/day.
One more note, both D3 and magnesium (found in Fibro-Care) support 5-HTP metabolism into serotonin, the neurotransmitter that helps with sleep, pain and mood. So if you find 5-HTP "not working" for you, you may want to check to see if you are low in either of those two nutrients (see the article "2 Nutrient Tests Everybody Needs" in the TyH Health Library). Hope this information helps! Thanks for your question.