5-HTP

Alt. Names: 5-HTP, 5-Hydroxytryptophan, Oxitriptan

5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) is an extract of Griffonia simplicifolia seeds from coastal West Africa. It has been used clinically for more than 30 years for its ability to increase production of serotonin, which is very important to all of the body’s systems. Serotonin deficiency has been implicated in mood disorders, appetite control, premenstrual syndrome, autism, eating disorders, fibromyalgia, appetite control, the pain phase of migraine, and other conditions and disorders. Some serotonin is converted by our pineal gland into melatonin, the hormone that controls our sleep cycle. Thus, serotonin deficiency is also linked to insomnia and other sleep disorders. According to medical journals and reviews it is proven that 5-HTP helps improve moods of depressed patients and may aid in weight loss, improve sleep patterns and help panic attacks.

Historical or traditional uses:

5-Hydroxytryptophan or 5-HTP is a naturally-occurring amino acid, a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin and an intermediate in tryptophan metabolism. It is marketed in the United States and other countries as a dietary supplement for use as an antidepressant, appetite suppressant, and sleep aid.

Common uses

• Depression (bipolar/unipolar)
• Heart disease
• Insomnia
• Obesity

Benefits may include :

• Balances mood
• Cuts time to fall asleep in half without disturbing sleep patterns
• Reduces aggression
• Reduces appetite
• Increases beta-endorphin release
• Creates a more relaxed waking state within 45 minutes
• Increases pain threshold
• Reduces severity of Parkinson's Disease symptoms
• Reduces severity of migraine headache symptoms

In recent years 5-HTP has been sold by health food companies as an alternative treatment for depression and mood disorders. Its role as an intermediary in the biosynthesis of serotonin indicates that this chemical may indeed be effective in treating these and other serotonin-related disorders, but there is some debate on the conclusions of the clinical trials which have been carried out using the drug.

Though there is no official dosage, most supplement providers recommend 50 mg or 100 mg 5-HTP, one to three times per day. Some users report high doses (300 mg and over) can produce nausea and vomiting.

• Don't take 5-htp with Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) inhibitors.
• High tryptophan supplementation in pregnant animals has led to reduced litter and increased mortality rates, magnified by protein-rich diet.
• Excessive tryptophan levels in the brain can cause perception and mood change

5-HTP is also used as a supplement by users of MDMA (ecstasy) to help replenish depleted serotonin, in an attempt to alleviate to a degree the depression and overall mental unsettlement that sometimes occurs in the days following MDMA usage. A temporary decline in serotonin levels is only one of several factors in post-MDMA use cognitive disruptions; neuroadaptive changes in receptor density likely play a larger long-term role. 5-HTP is less commonly used immediately before the use of MDMA as a means to both further reduce the negative psychological effects of depleted serotonin, and as an attempt to boost the effects of MDMA. Anecdotal reports seem to indicate this is largely placebo with some users reporting a moderate muting of the MDMA effect.