Structure of 5-HTP

5-Hydroxytryptophan is not only a serotonin precursor, it also forms melatonin. Melatonin is the hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. It ensures that we fall asleep naturally. Therefore, 5-hydroxytryptophan, as a precursor of melatonin, can normalize sleep.

The drug is used for major depressive disorder in many European countries; Indications are low serotonin and depression.

The daily intake of 5-HTP has not been established; it is usually available in 50 mg tablets.

5-HTP is synthesized in the human body from tryptophan in the gut. Tryptophan, in turn, is an essential amino acid, i.e., the body does not have the ability to synthesize it on its own and receives it with protein foods: mushrooms, oats, bananas, dried dates, peanuts, sesame, pine nuts, milk, yogurt and cottage cheese.) This accounts for the increased appetite of a person with a lack of serotonin - the body seeks to make up for the lack of its precursors.

5-HTP is mainly extracted from the seeds of the African tree Griffonia simplicifolia. It can also be synthesized in the laboratory - the end product is identical to the 5-hydroxytryptophan produced in the human body. Griffonia simplicifolia seeds contain a small percentage (3% to 7%) of 5-HTP, so consuming the seeds is ineffective.

Action

Plasma concentration of 5-HTP

Mood elevation, decreased anxiety, decreased aggression, decreased appetite, increased release of beta-endorphins, increased pain threshold, alleviation of Parkinson's disease symptoms, alleviation of migraine symptoms and headaches.

Effects on sleep [1]: 

5-HTP has a positive effect on sleep length and quality. The improvement in sleep quality is related to the suppression of REM (rapid phase sleep), followed by a rebound, and this leads to an increase in the brightness of sleep in the morning hours. 5-HTP increases serotonin levels, which causes deeper and more restful sleep. Taking 100-150 mg is sufficient for quality sleep.

Tips for dosing, dosage

The best time to take 5-HTP is selected individually. If 5-HTP is taken as a sleeping pill, it should be taken in the evening, shortly before bedtime. If it is used as an antidepressant, it can be taken at any time during the day. If 5-HTP is taken for weight loss, in which case it should be taken with food. The average therapeutic daily dose for an adult is 50 mg (doses above 50 mg are considered high doses). The most common preparations containing 5-HTP are sold in dosages of 50 and 100 mg. It is also required to avoid meals with high content of protein before taking 5-HTP. If you use 5-HTP during the day, it is better to avoid doses over 25 mg, because higher doses can make you sleepy. 5-HTP is better absorbed by the body on an empty stomach.

Combined dosing with vitamin B6

The advantage of combining taking 5-HTP and vitamin B6 is that vitamin B6 promotes the conversion of 5-HTP to serotonin (most 5-HTP and tryptophan based food supplements already contain vitamin B6).

Precautions when taking

5-HTP should never be taken together with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs and with caution with serotonin production agonists to avoid serotonin syndrome. Excessive concentrations of serotonin in the brain can cause unpleasant perceptual changes. However, these effects are corrected by taking vitamins B3 and B6. In animal experiments, high doses of tryptophan in pregnant women resulted in reduced fetal size and an increased percentage of stillbirths. Extremely high doses (above 6 grams) can cause severe damage to the liver. Until the results of clinical use studies are known, it is worth refraining from taking high doses of 5-HTP and avoiding long-term use

Side Effects

When taking high doses of 5-HTP for a short time, the side effects manifest themselves as: nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, decreased libido (since serotonin inhibits sexual behavior), restless sleep, and delayed ejaculation during sexual intercourse. It is also worth noting that people who take 5-HTP for a long time may develop a tolerance to this drug. The side effects of taking it for a long time have not been fully investigated. According to the confirmed information about 5-HTP, it will be correct not to take the drug throughout pregnancy and a few months before it. It is also not a good idea to use the drug for schizophrenia.

Benefits of 5-HTP medications

Many of those who used 5-HTP preparations noted improvement of mood, decrease or complete absence of anxiety, improvement of sleep, and decrease of appetite (which eventually leads to the loss of excess weight). But not everyone is paying attention to the decrease in appetite as an effect of taking 5-HTP, since the main purpose of taking it is the prevention of various kinds of depression. 5-HTP may also help some people who suffer from headaches and migraines.

Compatibility with other medications

The use of 5-HTP together with antidepressants of SSRI group (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), such as Prozac (fluoxetine), Paxil (paroxetine), Zoloft (sertraline) and others has not been studied properly. There is unconfirmed evidence of combining low doses of 5-HTP, 50 mg or less, with low doses of these drugs (under close medical supervision). It has been suggested that co-administration of 5-HTP and selective serotonin blockers - such as fluoxetine - may lead to the development of serotonin syndrome.[2]

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