What is 5-HTP?

5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) is a transitional compound produced when the body converts the amino acid tryptophan into other compounds such as serotonin and melatonin. By increasing levels of the brain chemical serotonin, 5-HTP is believed to work in a similar way to many antidepressants such as Prozac, by keeping serotonin flowing between brain cells.

Sources of 5-HTP

5-HTP is manufactured from the seeds of an African plant (Griffonia simplicifolia).

Common Doses

A dosage of 50 mg of 5-HTP three times a day is typical. After two weeks, the dose can be increased to 100 mg three times a day if needed. The maximum total daily dosage of 900 mg should never be exceeded.

Why Do People Take 5-HTP?

The most common use for 5-HTP is to treat depression.

Preliminary research has shown that 5-HTP may be as effective as antidepressants, with fewer and less severe side effects. In a six week research study, 63 people were given either 5-HTP (100 mg three times a day) or an antidepressant in the Prozac family (fluvoxamine, 50 mg three times a day). They were found to be equally beneficial.

Like other antidepressants, 5-HTP can be used to treat the following conditions:

• Insomnia - because serotonin is converted into melatonin, a compound essential for sleep
• Migraine headache prevention - to decrease the frequency and severity of migraines
• Fibromyalgia - to decrease symptoms of fibromyalgia
• Weight loss - 5-HTP is believed to be involved in sending the brain the signal to stop eating

Safety

In 1998, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported having detected a chemical compound known as "peak x" in some 5-HTP products. Peak x had been previously associated with the supplement tryptophan, which is made into 5-HTP in the body. Tryptophan was taken off the market when thousands of people developed a severe blood disorder called Eosinophilia - Myalgia Syndrome (EMS). The cause was later traced to a contaminant found only in batches of tryptophan manufactured by one Japanese company, Showa Denko. Showa Denko, the source of up to 60% of all the tryptophan sold in the United States, had used an untested manufacturing process that reduced the amount of activated charcoal used to filter fermented raw tryptophan. Some reports suggest that purity may be a potential problem for 5-HTP as well. No cases of EMS resulting from 5-HTP use have been reported, however.

Potential side effects of 5-HTP include nausea and mild digestive disturbance during the first few weeks of use. Rarely, allergic reaction to the supplement may occur.

Who should not take 5-HTP

Pregnant or nursing women, people with liver or kidney disease, and children with Down's syndrome.

Drug Interactions

People taking the following drugs should not use 5-HTP:

• Anti-depressant drugs

• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI's e.g., Prozac)

• Tricyclic medications

• Weight Loss medications (i.e., dextenfluramine)

• Anti-parkinson medications (e.g., L-dopa, carbidopa)

• Barbiturates and other tranquilizing drugs

• Antihistamines and cold medications

• Alcoholic beverages

• Intravenous (illegal I.V.) drugs

• Cancer chemotherapy or antibiotic medications

• Pain medication Tramadol