5HTP side effects and uses in medicine - 5HTP Benefit for Anxiety, Stress, Mood enhancement, and insomnia - what is the right 5HTP dosage?
 

Many people use 5HTP for anxiety reduction, mood improvement, or appetite control. 5HTP is a natural supplement that has many benefits since it converts in the brain into serotonin. Serotonin is an important brain chemical involved in mood, behavior, stress, appetite, and sleep. 5HTP has many health benefits, but it is important to use it wisely in order to avoid or minimize 5HTP side effects. The effects of 5-HTP supplements, as far as sleep, can often be noticed within a half hour or an hour if taken on an empty stomach in the evening.  If you wish to reduce your appetite and eat less without effort, consider a doctor formulated herbal appetite suppressant pill called Diet Rx. This natural product contains 5-HTP and two dozen additional nutrients and herbs that influence appetite.

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5HTP side effects, risks, safety
5HTP has been sold in the USA since 1994. Our understanding of the clinical benefit of 5HTP and its side effect profile is still fuzzy. We don't know as much as we should about the benefit of 5HTP and side effects of chronic 5HTP use. Therefore, until we learn more, the idea is to take 5HTP in the minimum effective dosage and to avoid its prolonged continuous use. Take breaks from the use of this nutrient to avoid potential 5HTP side effects (the frequency and length of breaks varies since each person is unique). As of 2007, and after more than a decade off 5HTP being available to the public, we are not aware of any reports in the medical literature of anyone who has encountered life threatening or other serious 5HTP side effects. Common side effects with 5HTP include nausea, stomach upset, loose stools or constipation, and headache. A common sexual 5HTP side effect in high doses is reduced libido or sexual urge. If you do experience reduce sexual drive, you may consider taking a break from 5HTP use until libido is restored. For a quick sexual enhancement, consider Passion Rx. For natural options on how to deal with low mood, see depression. For more information and the latest research on 5-HTP by noted author Ray Sahelian, M.D.

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Benefit of 5HTP for Anxiety
Since serotonin is involved in relaxation and mood balance, some people who take 5HTP for anxiety notice a benefit. It is difficult to say which supplements would benefit anxiety for any particular person. Other people may find kava to be helpful and still others will benefit from passionflower, tryptophan, valerian or hops. 5HTP is a good option for anxiety. If you wish to improve your sleep at night, consider Good-Night-Rx with 5HTP.

Q. I would like to take 5HTP for anxiety but don't know what time of day to take the supplement.
   A. It depends on several factors including whether you have a desk job or have a physically active job, what time of day your anxiety occurs, and whether you have other medical conditions or taking other supplements or medications. As a general rule, you can try half of a 5HTP 50 mg capsule twice a day morning and midday and then base further dosage increases or frequency depending on how you feel. 5HTP works well for anxiety in some people, but not everyone.

Q. Can 5HTP for anxiety be combined with Xanax or other benzodiazepines?
   A. It is difficult to predict the interactions of medications and supplements, much depends on the person who is taking them and the dosage of the medications and the dosage of the supplements and the time of day they are taken. No simple answers can be given.
 

5HTP and sleep terrors in children
L -5-Hydroxytryptophan 5HTP treatment of sleep terrors in children.
Eur J Pediatr. 2004 Jul;163(7):402-7. Bruni O, Ferri R, Miano S, Verrillo E. Centre for Paediatric Sleep Disorders, Department of Developmental Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Via dei Sabelli 108, 00185 Rome, Italy. Bruni O, Ferri R, Miano S, Verrillo E.
To test the hypothesis that the administration of L -5-hydroxytryptophan (L -5HTP) might exert beneficial effects on sleep terrors, we carried out an open pharmacological trial in a group of children with sleep terrors compared to a group of children with the same disorder but without 5HTP treatment. Participants in the trial were 45 children (34 males and 11 females; age range 3-10 years), referred to the Sleep Centre of the Department of Developmental Neurology and Psychiatry of the University of Rome "La Sapienza", affected by sleep terrors. After the first visit, 5HTP was administered (2 mg/kg per day) at bedtime to 31 randomly selected patients for a single period of 20 consecutive days. After 1 month of treatment, 29/31 (93%) of patients showed a positive response. In the comparison group without drug therapy, after 1 month, the episodes disappeared only in four children (28%) while ten children (71%) showed the persistence of episodes with the same frequency as before. After 6 months, 26/31 (83%) of children treated with 5HTP were sleep terror-free, while in five children (16%) sleep terror episodes persisted. Of the children in the comparison group, ten (71%) continued to show sleep terrors at 6-month follow-up. These results confirm our initial hypothesis and represent evidence that treatment with L -5-hydroxytryptophan 5HTP is able to modulate the arousal level in children and to induce a long-term improvement of sleep terrors.

5HTP for weight loss
5HTP may be helpful for weight loss in some users, but a combination of hoodia, ginger, green tea extract and several other herbs, as found in Diet Rx, is even more effective.

5HTP capsules
Q. I have problems taking pills capsules etc. I also am taste sensitive, can I put 5HTP in my food or mix it in my oatmeal, does it change chemically if it is heated is what I think I am asking?
   A. 5HTP should be taken on an empty stomach. You could open a capsule and mix it with juice or water and drink it. Cooking 5HTP could potentially change the structure.

5HTP versus tryptophan
I was just wondering about the difference in the rate of side effects between 5htp and tryptophan. I know from Dr. Sahelian's website and personal experience that 5htp can have a debilitating effect on libido and sexual performance. I was wondering if there were similar reports from users of tryptophan? Is one less likely to have sexual side effects from the amino acid rather than 5htp? Thanks, and I appreciate the help when there is so much confusing information on supplements out there.
    We are not sure, but we suspect the libido reducing effect of 5HTP may be stronger than tryptophan but we can't be sure. This is, of course, comparing a 50 mg 5HTP dosage to a 500 mg tryptophan dosage.

Benefit of 5HTP and 5HTP side effects emails
Q. I read your 5HTP side effects regarding dosages larger that 50mg. I have been taking 100 mg of 5HTP for anxiety for a couple of years and I have never experienced this 5HTP side effect.

   A. We have had people email that they had nausea and dizziness after taking one 50 mg capsule and over the years we have had numerous 5HTP side effects reported on various dosages. Everyone is different.

Q. I have been using 5HTP for 4 years now. I initially started using it to wean myself off Paroxetine. There have never been any significant 5HTP side effects although over the last 18 months I have been experiencing occasional stomach cramps. I don't want to be dependent on 5HTP forever although I can't think of a natural alternative. I don't use 5HTP for depression, I use it to control anxiety related sickness and to help with my concentration which seems to be significantly affected when I try to reduce the dosage. I have been using 200 mg a day and am now trying 150 mg a day and I can really notice the difference. Just wondering if you have any info on long-term use?
   A. Unfortunately there has been little research with 5HTP and long term use. We often suggest to use a little 4HTP as possible and to take breaks.

Q. When I take 5htp before bedtime, I wake up at 4AM and can't get back to sleep. I've tried it a few nights in a row, to make sure it wasn't something else. Since 5htp effects the serotonin, I'm surprised at this " 5htp side effect ". Any ideas? Should I take 5htp at a different time of day? If so, does it cause drowsiness?
   A. it's a good to take breaks from 5HTP use since early morning awakening can happen. we have had reports of this before. Each person is unique, you may wish to try taking it several hours before bed, or taking a smaller amount, and also, most important, taking breaks from use since tolerance may develop, if you take a smaller amount than 50 mg, it should not cause much drowsiness.

Q. Hi, I am a 24 yr old female who has been suffering with back pain, lack of sleep, lack of libido, stomach problems, and depression for a few years now, and since conventional medicine is yet to figure out what is causing these problems, I was reading information about 5htp. My doctor told me that 5htp will increase the quality of my sleep and help to regulate my dreams, since I frequently have nightmares. In fact, nightmares are the only dreams I remember because I wake up totally panic stricken. On Dr. Sahelian's website, he states that nightmares are a 5HTP side effect. If someone who already has nightmares, and GI problems, be taking 5htp?
   A. One option is to take the 5HTP several hours before bed to avoid the nightmare side effect.
 

Q. I am a low thyroid patient with lite depression and insomnia. When I take 5HTP I get a good night's sleep and feel great all day. However, I recently read in a book that 5htp is dangerous for the heart over time. They recommend straight tryptophan but say it's not legal in the US. Can you help me get some current information and understand? Can 5htp be taken by itself or does it require a prescription call carbidoba?
   A. Thus far, after more than a decade on the market, no major 5htp side effects have been reported. At this time we have not seen enough evidence to recommend the use of carbidopa with 5htp.
 

Q.  I have the following benefits from 5htp that I didn’t have with l-tryptophan. 1. Positive uplifted mood, 2. speech and thinking improvements (sharper mind), 3. better reaction, 4. better focus and concentrating, 5. benefit of 5htp for motivations, 6. in love with everyone and everything. All this …just form 50mg before bed time, but the problem I have is bad almost crash withdrawal ( starts usually late afternoon). 1. melancholic mood, 2. speech and thinking worsen (dulling mind), 3. slower reaction, 4. worsen focus and concentrating, 5. feelings of not motivating, 6. shallow breathing( almost suffocating like oxygen deficiency), 7. tiredness and sleepiness, 8. nervousness & irritability.

Q. I seem to be suffering from the ever common depression accompanied with aggression (depending on my cycle). I am very interested in 5HTP as a natural solution to this problem. However- I don't want to lose my sex drive (as I experienced with taking Zoloft). Is it safe to take Passion Rx along with 5HTP to combat this?
   A. It is really difficult for us to make any suggestions since one person may do fine with the combination of 5HTP and sex herbs while another may not. We certainly don't recommend taking these products the same day.
 

Q. I have read a lot of information about increasing sex drive. But nothing on a supplement to achieve low sex drive. I want to be able to lower my sex drive. My drive and my wife's are not compatible. I am VERY frustrated and would like to be able to achieve low sex drive. This problem is affecting our relationship. Do you know of anything I can take?
   A. You may consider taking a look at 5HTP that increases serotonin level. One benefit of 5HTP is in those who have overactive sex drive. 5HTP dampens libido.
 

Q. Are there any cautions taking 5HTP and Phenylephrine HCI.
   A. Phenylephrine can cause heart rate to go faster. We don't see the need to use phenylephrine and 5htp together.
 

Q. I would like to take 5htp to benefit fibromyalgia and tension headaches. I have read that 5htp is contradicted in people with allergies. What does this mean? Are they talking about food allergies or hayfever? How does one know if they have severe allergies ? How does 5htp affect allergies?
   A. We have not come across any studies regarding the interaction of 5htp and allergies.

Q. Q. in your melatonin page, i read that melatonin may affect the sex glands, and if 5htp is converted into melatonin, then would u say that 5htp may affect sex glands also?
   A. We are not sure if 5 htp effects sex glands or not, but it is clear that the use of 5 htp leads to a quick decrease in sex drive, most likely due to an immediate effect of serotonin itself. Whether 5htp use has a long term effect on sex glands is not clear to us.

Q. I read that supplementing with 5htp causes a significant release of insulin as well cortisol in the body. If someone has hyperinsulinism, (hypoglycemia) and elevated cortisol, wouldn't 5htp supplement be counterproductive for them, as it could lead to even lowered blood sugar, carbohydrate cravings and weight gain through excess insulin and cortisol? Everything else I have been reading says 5htp supplement is great for weight loss, depression and controlling carbohydrate cravings.
   A. Here are studies we found in rodents:
The acute effects of 5HTP, fluoxetine and quipazine on insulin and glucagon release in the intact rat.
Horm Metab Res. 1979 Feb;11(2):90-4. 5-hydroxytryptophan 5HTP, the immediate precursor of serotonin, induces a release of insulin and glucagon in the intact rat. These effects of 5HTP, which have previously been shown to be blocked by L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase inhibition, were also prevented by methysergide (a serotonin receptor antagonist). Quipazine (a serotonin receptor agonist) did not alter pancreatic hormone release. Fluoxetine, a serotonin neuronal reuptake blocker did not effect insulin secretion and had a slight glucagon stimulatory effect, however the effects of 5HTP on insulin and glucagon release were not potentiated by fluoxetine pretreatment. Alpha and beta-adrenergic receptor blockade did not alter the pancreatic effects of 5HTP.

Further studies on the effects of 5-hydroxytryptophan on plasma glucose and insulin in the mouse.
Diabetologia. 1980 Oct;19(4):386-90. The effects of 5htp on plasma concentrations of glucose and immunoreactive insulin were examined in conscious mice. Blood samples were obtained after anaesthetizing the mice lightly with ether at the desired time. Large doses of 5HTP (200-400 mg/kg IV) produced a dose-dependent hypoglycaemic response in fasted mice. This response was preceded by a significant elevation in the plasma immunoreactive insulin concentration. It is concluded that the hypoglycaemic response to 5HTP in normal mice is mediated at least partly through an elevation in the plasma insulin concentration, although it is likely that additional mechanisms are involved.

      We don't know the dosage given to the rats, but the dosage given to mice is extremely high, 200 mg per kilo whereas in humans it is a bout 1 mg per kilo. We have not seen any studies regarding the influence of low dosages of 5htp, such as 50 mg or 100 mg a day on cortisol or insulin release in humans. Here is one human study with 5htp and diabetes patients.

Effects of oral 5-hydroxy-tryptophan on energy intake and macronutrient selection in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients.
Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1998 Jul;22(7):648-54.Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
In obese patients, brain serotonergic stimulation via orally administered 5HTP, the precursor of serotonin, causes decreased carbohydrate intake and weight loss. Since diabetes mellitus is associated with depressed brain serotonin, hyperphagia and carbohydrate craving, we hypothesized that in diabetic patients, orally administered 5HTP stimulates brain serotonergic activity and thus normalizes eating behaviour. To test this hypothesis, we investigated whether in diabetic patients: 1) predicted brain serotonin concentrations are depressed as a result of decreased availability of the precursor, tryptophan; and 2) oral 5HTP is effective in reducing energy and carbohydrate intake. 25 overweight non-insulin dependent diabetic outpatients were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, and randomized to receive either 5HTP (750 mg/d) or placebo for two consecutive weeks, during which no dietary restriction was prescribed. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm the role of the serotonergic system in reducing energy intake, by predominantly inhibiting carbohydrate intake, and suggest that 5HTP may be safely utilized to improve the compliance to dietary prescriptions in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

Q. Here's my problem. I do much experimenting, and 3 weeks ago I decided to take 50 mg a day of 5htp -- I did this for one full week. I wasn't taking anything else but the 5HTP during that time. By mid week I could see I was getting more impatient and depressed. Obviously I have no libido left whatsoever, so I went off the 5htp cold turkey. After I stopped, I thought my libido would revert to what it was before, but it never did. I also have less sensation in my penis -- well, you know those contractions you can feel when you jerk off or have sex ? Well, I don't have them anymore, and this came on from the 5htp, no doubt in my mind, cause I can definately trace a line in time where this began to happen. Now, I've tried tyrosine standalone to attempt to counteract 5htp ill effect, but it doesn't seem to work. Do you honestly know why the 5htp caused this ? How can this be resolved ?
   A. 5HTP converts into serotonin which inhibits libido and sensation of genital organs. You may consider reading the page on libido.

Q. I have a problem with 5htp that I haven't been able to find the answer to. I suffer from depression, anxiety, and insomnia. My pharmacist (fills my bio-identical HRT RX) recommended 5htp, but when I take it, I start having major menopause symptoms, especially hot flashes, so I have to discontinue. I've tried several times, then tried tryptophan instead, was OK for a few days, then the hot flashes started again. They both seem to interfere with my estrogen somehow. This is very frustrating to me, I absolutely do not want to start SSRIs. Any explanation?
   A. Perhaps you are sensitive to the 5HTP dosage and half the amount you take may work better. Or perhaps 5HTP is not the right medicine for you.

Q. I noticed that some products with 5HTP just list 5-Hydroxytryptophan as the ingredient and then I've seen it listed as 5-hydroxytryptophan (from griffonia simplicifolia) (seeds). Is there a difference and if so what is it and is one form better than the other?
   A. All these terms, 5HTP, L 5HTP, 5 HTP, L 5 HTP, are abbreviations of the same supplement, just different spellings. 5HTP stands for 5-Hydroxytryptophan. 5-Hydroxytryptophan (from griffonia simplicifolia) (seeds) is the same as 5-hydroxytryptophan even when not listed as from griffonia seeds.

Q. I'm depressed over several things ranging from a grieved spirit to anxiety to loneliness. I have been taking St. John wort off and on for several months and although I feel better when I take it regularly depression continue. I just read from a site that 5HTP sometimes work in a few hours and some of it's benefits and side affects interest me. Should I consider switching from St. John wort to 5HTP or could they both be taken together, every other day of course? I'll awake your response before changing over. Also, if changing is encourage, should I start taking 5HTP the very next day (I will take a dose of St. John wort before lying down and another tomorrow if I remember) or should I be off St. John wort for a few days before taking 5HTP? And, since 5HTP can reduce sexual drive, when I begin to date again can/will Passion Rx restore my sexual drive; or will I need to take it whenever I desire to be sexual? Lastly, is 5HTP available over the counter because I lack insurance.
   A. It is often best to learn how each supplement works by itself before combining. When combined, both the St. John's wort dosage and the 5HTP dosage should be kept low in order to avoid potential side effects. Passion Rx can restore sexual drive and can be used as needed, it normally takes a few days for it to be most effective. Passion Rx should not be taken the same day as 5HTP or St. John's wort. As to the specifics on how to switch, that is the role of your health care provider since each person may have a different response and it is not possible for us to know how you will respond to the switch. We wish you well. 5HTP is available over the counter.

Q. Is it ok to take 5 htp with small doses of melatonin the same day? Also, are either of these supplements indicated for OCD?

   A. it is best to first learn how 5htp and melatonin work for you individually before combining low dosages. 5HTP may be helpful in some people, but we don't know doubt melatonin is helpful for OCD.