If you remember from my review, New Mood is a multi-faceted supplement that can be used for much more that just helping you fall asleep and stay asleep.
I have used New Mood to help me nap, fight jet lag, and to combat anxiety, even on high-stress days. How often you should take New Mood depends entirely on whether you are using it as a sleep supplement, a travel-day aid, a mood-booster, or a combination of some or all of those things.
If you are taking New Mood as a sleep supplement, I generally like taking 2 capsules 30 minutes before bed, preferably on an empty stomach. If staying asleep is a big problem for me, I stack it with some time-release melatonin. There are some weeks when I take it every day, and I’ll even take it a few weeks in a row; so far, I haven’t felt any negative side effects, though I do generally like to cycle off supplements at least periodically.
If you are taking New Mood to help you cope with travel stress or jet-lag, I like 2 capsules of New Mood before starting a journey (I take mine 30 minutes before heading to the airport), and then 2 capsules the first full night at the destination if I think jet lag is going to be an issue.
If I’m taking New Mood to help deal with anxiety or stress, I take 2 capsules 3 times daily, for up to a few days in a row (though I haven’t necessarily found a reason to stop there; again, see my comment above). The important thing the manufacturer (Onnit) recommends is to not to take more than 6 capsules in a 24-hour period.
While Onnit suggests there is no need to cycle this product, it is always a good idea to take the occasional break from supplements, not only to reset your baseline, but also to give you a chance to observe what happens to your body (and mind) when you are not on New Mood. Because New Mood is a serotonin-boosting supplement (largely because of the 5-HTP content), there are some online who have wondered if New Mood should be cycled to keep the body from adapting and beginning to naturally produce less on its own. I personally haven’t experienced any side effects from continued use of New Mood, but if you’re concerned about preventing this adaptation, there’s a very simple fix: cycle off of it occasionally! I do this for one week every month or two weeks every two months. Like I said earlier, it’s normally good to do this with supplements!
For me, how often I take New Mood depends on what I have going on at work and how well I’m sleeping. I suggest experimenting with both timing and frequency while taking New Mood until you find a regimen that is just right for you! This flexibility has made it a frequent go-to in my supplement routine.