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🧬 What is 5-HTP?

  • Full Name: 5-Hydroxytryptophan (also called oxitriptan)

  • Origin: A naturally occurring amino acid; extracted commercially from the African plant Griffonia simplicifolia

  • Function: Intermediate between tryptophan and serotonin in the body

  • Main Action: Increases serotonin levels in the brain and central nervous system

🧠 Why Serotonin Matters

Low serotonin is associated with:

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Sugar/carbohydrate cravings

  • Obesity

  • Insomnia

  • Headaches

  • Fibromyalgia

  • PMS

🌿 Where 5-HTP Is Found

  • Not present in significant quantities in food

  • Tryptophan (precursor to 5-HTP) is found in:
    Turkey, milk, potatoes, pumpkin, greens

✅ Common Uses / Benefits

Condition How 5-HTP May Help
Depression Boosts serotonin levels, may work similarly to SSRIs
Fibromyalgia Improves sleep, reduces pain and anxiety
Insomnia Helps induce sleep, delay wake time
Migraines/Headaches Reduces frequency and severity
Obesity & Carbohydrate Cravings May reduce appetite, especially for carbs

💊 Dosage Guidelines

  • Typical range: 50–100 mg/day

  • Higher doses (e.g., 300 mg) used in some depression studies

  • Start low: Many begin with 20–50 mg

  • Best taken: On an empty stomach

  • Alternate methods: Sublingual use (under the tongue) reported by some users

⚠️ Side Effects & Precautions

Risk Description
Common side effects Nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, diarrhea, sexual issues
Serious concern Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS) – possibly linked to contaminants
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Possibly unsafe – avoid use
Down syndrome Linked to seizures in some users – avoid use

❌ Drug Interactions – DO NOT COMBINE with:

Drug Category Examples Why
SSRIs / Antidepressants Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Elavil Risk of serotonin syndrome
MAOIs Nardil, Parnate Dangerous serotonin overload
Cough meds with Dextromethorphan Robitussin DM Can lead to serotonin syndrome
Painkillers Meperidine (Demerol), Tramadol (Ultram), Pentazocine (Talwin) Increased risk of serotonin-related side effects
Carbidopa (used for Parkinson’s) Lodosyn May cause behavioral side effects like anxiety, rapid speech

📂 Additional Resources

  • PDFs: 5HTP Anti-Stress Guide, 5-HTP for Sleep, Mood, and Weight Loss

  • Related Videos:

    • “Benefits and Side Effects of 5-HTP”

    • “John Gray on 5-HTP for Stress & Anxiety”

    • “Low Serotonin Affects Mood – Dr. Meg Jordan”

Research studies / References

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a b Turner EH, Blackwell AD (2005). "5-Hydroxytryptophan plus SSRIs for interferon-induced depression: synergistic mechanisms for normalizing synaptic serotonin". Medical Hypotheses 65 (1): 138-44. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2005.01.026. PMID 15893130.
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0306-9877(05)00068-X.
arw
Swiss Pharmaceutical Society (2000). Index Nominum 2000: International Drug Directory (Book with CD-ROM). Boca Raton: Medpharm Scientific Publishers. ISBN 3-88763-075-0. http://books.google.com/?id=5GpcTQD_L2oC&lpg=PA1528&pg=PA773#v=onepage.
arw
a b Shaw K, Turner J, Del Mar C (2002). "Tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan for depression". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Online) (1): CD003198. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003198. PMID 11869656.
arw
Rahman MK, Nagatsu T, Sakurai T, Hori S, Abe M, Matsuda M (1982). "Effect of pyridoxal phosphate deficiency on aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase activity with L-DOPA and L-5-hydroxytryptophan as substrates in rats". Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 32 (5): 803-11. doi:10.1254/jjp.32.803. PMID 6983619.
arw Bouchard, S; Bousquet, C; Roberge, AG (1981). "Characteristics of dihydroxyphenylalanine/5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase activity in brain and liver of cat.". Journal of neurochemistry 37 (3): 781-7. PMID 6974228.
arw Gomes P, Soares-da-Silva P. (1999). "L-DOPA transport properties in an immortalised cell line of rat capillary cerebral endothelial cells, RBE 4.". Brain Res. 829 (1-2): 143-150. doi:10.1016/S0006-8993(99)01387-6. PMID 18445233.
arw Bouchard S, Roberge AG (1979). "Biochemical properties and kinetic parameters of dihydroxyphenylalanine--5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase in brain, liver, and adrenals of cat". Can. J. Biochem. 57 (7): 1014-8. doi:10.1139/o79-126. PMID 39668.
arw Amamoto T, Sarai K (1976). "On the tryptophan-serotonin metabolism in manic-depressive disorders. Changes in plasma 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels and urinary 5-HIAA excretion following oral loading of L-5HTP in patients with depression". Hiroshima J. Med. Sci. 25 (2-3): 135-40. PMID 1088369.
arw "5-HTP: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions and Warnings - WebMD". http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-794-5-HTP.aspx?activeIngredientId=794&activeIngredientName=5-HTP. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
arw "Health.com: 5-hydroxytryptophan : Information on Uses, Dosage & Side Effects on Health.com". http://tools.health.com/natstandardcontent/5-htp-1#H7. Retrieved 2009-10-05.[dead link]
arw Magnussen I, Jensen TS, Rand JH, Van Woert MH (1981). "Plasma accumulation of metabolism of orally administered single dose L-5-hydroxytryptophan in man". Acta pharmacologica et toxicologica 49 (3): 184-9. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0773.1981.tb00890.x. PMID 6175178.
arw Birdsall TC (1998). "5-Hydroxytryptophan: a clinically-effective serotonin precursor". Alternative medicine review : a journal of clinical therapeutic 3 (4): 271-80. PMID 9727088.
arw Sternberg EM, Van Woert MH, Young SN, et al. (1980). "Development of a scleroderma-like illness during therapy with L-5-hydroxytryptophan and carbidopa". N. Engl. J. Med. 303 (14): 782-7. doi:10.1056/NEJM198010023031403. PMID 6997735.
arw "5-Hydroxytryptophan". University of Maryland Medical Center.
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arw Caruso I, Sarzi Puttini P, Cazzola M, Azzolini V (1990). "Double-blind study of 5-hydroxytryptophan versus placebo in the treatment of primary fibromyalgia syndrome". The Journal of International Medical Research 18 (3): 201-9. PMID 2193835.
arw Trouillas P, Serratrice G, Laplane D, et al. (May 1995). "Levorotatory form of 5-hydroxytryptophan in Friedreich's ataxia. Results of a double-blind drug-placebo cooperative study". Archives of Neurology 52 (5): 456-60. PMID 7733839. http://archneur.ama-assn.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=7733839. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
arw Birdsall TC (August 1998). "5-Hydroxytryptophan: a clinically-effective serotonin precursor". Alternative Medicine Review : a Journal of Clinical Therapeutic 3 (4): 271-80. PMID 9727088. http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/3/4/271.pdf. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
arw De Benedittis G, Massei R (1985). "Serotonin precursors in chronic primary headache. A double-blind cross-over study with L-5-hydroxytryptophan vs. placebo". Journal of Neurosurgical Sciences 29 (3): 239-48. PMID 3913752.
arw a b Gustafsson BI, Tømmerås K, Nordrum I, Loennechen JP, Brunsvik A, Solligård E, Fossmark R, Bakke I, Syversen U, Waldum H (March 2005). "Long-term serotonin administration induces heart valve disease in rats". Circulation 111 (12): 1517-22. doi:10.1161/01.CIR.0000159356.42064.48. PMID 15781732.
arw a b Xu J, Jian B, Chu R, Lu Z, Li Q, Dunlop J, Rosenzweig-Lipson S, McGonigle P, Levy RJ, Liang B (December 2002). "Serotonin mechanisms in heart valve disease II: the 5-HT2 receptor and its signaling pathway in aortic valve interstitial cells". Am. J. Pathol. 161 (6): 2209-18. doi:10.1016/S0002-9440(10)64497-5. PMC 1850896. PMID 12466135.
http://ajp.amjpathol.org/cgi/content/abstract/161/6/2209.
arw PMID 18209781 Joy T, Walsh G, et al. Increase of urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid excretion but not serum chromogranin A following over-the-counter 5-hydroxytryptophan intake. Can J Gastroenterol. 2008 Jan;22(1):49-53.
  Barney CC, Threatte RM, Kikta DC, Fregly MJ. (June 1981). "Effects of serotonin and L-5-hydroxytryptophan on plasma renin activity in rats.". Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 14 (6): 895-900. doi:10.1016/0091-3057(81)90380-4. PMID 7019933.
arw Ma Z, Zhang G, Jenney C, Krishnamoorthy S, Tao R. (July 2008). "Characterization of serotonin-toxicity syndrome (toxidrome) elicited by 5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan in clorgyline-pretreated rats.". Eur J Pharmacol. 588 (2-3): 198-206. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2008.04.004. PMID 18499101.
arw Izumi T, Iwamoto N, Kitaichi Y, Kato A, Inoue T, Koyama T. (2006). "Effects of co-administration of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and monoamine oxidase inhibitors on 5-HT-related behavior in rats.". Eur J Pharmacol. 532 (3): 258-264. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2005.12.075. PMID 16488409.
arw Jacobs G, Kamerling I, de Kam M, et al. (Nov 2008). "Enhanced tolerability of the 5-hydroxytryptophane challenge test combined with granisetron". J Psychopharmacol. (Oxford) 24 (1): 65-72. doi:10.1177/0269881108094299. PMID 18719048.
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"5 HTP". Web MD. http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-794-5-HTP.aspx?activeIngredientId=794&activeIngredientName=5-HTP. Retrieved 8 April 2011.

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