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Potential 5-HTP side effects are an important factor to consider before taking this mood enhancing supplement.
5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan or Oxitriptan) is a natural supplement that people often use for boosting the mood, enhancing sleep, and for anxiety and depression.
As a precursor to Serotonin, 5-HTP is rated as Possibly Safe when used properly by healthy individuals.
However, as with many other supplements, 5-HTP side effects can occur if it is taken in excessive dosages, combined with certain drugs, or if used by individuals with outstanding health problems.
This article will review the possible negative side effects of 5-HTP that can occur with use and discuss safe usage practices.
Mood
Sleep
Weight Loss- Increases Serotonin levels in the brain
- Enhances mood and alleviates stress
- Improves sleep and regulates appetite
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While some people may be concerned with the side effects of 5-HTP supplements, they may not know that some 5-HTP is already naturally produced in the body.
5-HTP is a compound that is created from the breakdown of Tryptophan. Tryptophan is an amino acid found in many high protein foods including poultry, eggs, red meat, lentils, and beans.
Tryptophan from the diet or supplements is broken down in the liver into 5-HTP and other metabolites like Vitamin B3 (niacin). 5-HTP travels through the bloodstream to the brain. 5-HTP is able to pass through the barrier that separates the bloodstream and the brain, and enters the brain.
Once in the brain, 5-HTP is converted into Serotonin. Serotonin is often nicknamed the “happiness neurotransmitter” because it is present in elevated amounts during times of positive emotion such as happiness, relaxation, and calm.
5-HTP is also metabolized into the hormone Melatonin which helps to regulate sleep cycles by maintaining proper circadian rhythm (sleep/wake cycles) in the body.
In the USA, Canada, and other countries around the world, 5-HTP is sold as a dietary supplement sourced from the seeds of the Griffonia simplicifolia plant. In native Africa medicine, Griffonia seed extract, powder, and tea have traditionally been taken for mood disorders and general light ailments.
One of the main things people use 5-HTP for is depression. 5-HTP has been rated by the Natural Medicines database as Possibly Effective for improving the symptoms of depression. Research has shown that 5-HTP is significantly better at improving symptoms of depression than placebo.
Other studies have compared 5-HTP to conventional antidepressants. One study found that 400 mg of 5-HTP was comparable to 40 mg of fluoxetine at improving the symptoms of depression. Other studies have seen similar results when 5-HTP was tested against fluvoxamine and imipramine.
Fibromyalgia is a condition that is thought to be related to low levels of Serotonin in the body. Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, anxiety, morning stiffness, and insomnia (often due to pain). Preliminary clinical studies have shown that taking 100 mg 5-HTP three times per day may improve symptoms of Fibromyalgia.
5-HTP is also used as an appetite suppressant and has been promoted as a weight loss product. Research has shown that high levels of Serotonin can have an appetite suppression effect.
One study found that 300 mg 5-HTP taken three times per day before each meal improved satiety and decreased caloric intake in obese female patients compared to placebo patients. Another study showed that 5-HTP use was associated with greater weight loss compared to placebo both when the diet was calorie restricted and unrestricted.
Research on the effects of 5-HTP on anxiety, insomnia, weight loss, and other conditions is lacking, and more research still needs to be done. At this time, the FDA has not approved 5-HTP as a drug to prevent or treat any conditions.
Safety and Dosage of 5-HTP Supplements
5-HTP has been rated by the Natural Medicines database as Possibly Safe for oral use in adults. 5-HTP should not be used by pregnant and nursing women, as use in these cases is considered Possibly Unsafe. Some studies have shown that 5-HTP use causes seizures in some individuals with Down’s syndrome, and use should be avoided.
Most individuals who use 5-HTP will experience no side effects. As with any dietary supplement or medication though, side effects are possible. This is especially true if it is taken incorrectly, at a high dosage, or used without consulting a medical professional first.
5-HTP supplements are used for a number of medical conditions and for a variety of health-boosting properties. Each of these uses may require a different dosage range. Dosage will also depend on personal needs, sensitivities, biochemical make-up, age, weight, etc.
Knowing the appropriate dose for you is critical and can prevent or eliminate the risk of side effects. Below are some of the side effects that can occur as well as drug interactions and contraindications.
Gastrointestinal Side Effects
Gastrointestinal issues may occur when taking 5-HTP due to elevated Serotonin levels. 5-HTP increases Serotonin synthesis in the brain, but it can also be metabolized into Serotonin in the intestines. Mild gastrointestinal side effects are the most common 5-HTP side effects reported by users.
Under normal circumstances, Serotonin is released from the cells lining the stomach and small and large intestines when food enters the digestive tract. This release of Serotonin causes the intestinal walls to contract. This is a process known as peristalsis, and these wavelike muscle contractions help to move food through the digestive system.
If Serotonin levels are increased suddenly to higher than normal levels, it may lead to the muscles contracting more than usual. This can produce side effects such as stomach-ache, vomiting, or diarrhea.
The solution is often just to use a smaller dose or to take the 5-HTP pills with food so that the ingredient is metabolized at a slower rate.
5-HTP and Serotonin Syndrome
A
nother known side effect of 5-HTP overdoses is a condition called Serotonin Syndrome. This does not typically occur when taking 5-HTP on its own at normal doses, but it can occur when taken at very high dosages, or when combined with certain drugs.
5-HTP is documented to have negative interactions with antidepressant drugs of the MAOI (Monoamine oxidase inhibitor) or SSRI (Selective Serotonin re-uptake inhibitor) classes.
When 5-HTP is used in conjunction with these drugs, it may lead to Serotonin Syndrome. This condition occurs when there is too much Serotonin in your system. The severity of this syndrome depends on concentrations of Serotonin and can range from having mild symptoms to being potentially life-threatening.
Symptoms may appear very quickly and can affect different parts of the body. Below are some of the possible side effects:
- Headaches
- Agitation
- Hypomania (state of euphoria and/or hyperactivity)
- Confusion
- Coma
- Myoclonus (involuntary twitching of the muscles)
- Hyperreflexia (excessive reflex responses)
- Tremors
- Shivering
- Excessive sweating
- Hyperthermia
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Tachycardia (increased heart rate)
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
If left untreated, in severe cases Serotonin Syndrome can be fatal. If you are currently taking antidepressants or other drugs that influence Serotonin production in the brain, it is important to speak to a doctor before taking 5-HTP to prevent side effects.
5-HTP Drug Interactions
5-HTP can also interact negatively with certain medications prescribed for patients with Parkinson’s disease. This includes the medication Carbidopa, also known as Lodosyn, which inhibits aromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylase. This is an enzyme that is involved in the synthesis of the neurotransmitters Dopamine and Serotonin.
If 5-HTP is used in conjunction with Carbidopa, it may cause nausea, vomiting and symptoms similar to scleroderma (contraction or hardening of the skin and connective tissues).
Other medications that may have a negative interaction with 5-HTP include, but are not limited to: lorazepam (Ativan), phenobarbital (Donnatal), clonazepam (Klonopin), zolpidem (Ambien), cough medicine containing dextromethorphan (e.g. Robitussin), meperidine (Demerol), and tramadol (Ultram).
It is recommended to speak with your doctor for personalized advice regarding possible negative interactions between 5-HTP and any medications you may be taking.
Carcinoid Syndrome False Positive
Using 5-HTP may lead to a false positive result in tests for carcinoid syndrome. This does not mean that 5-HTP causes or increases the risk of carcinoid syndrome. Rather 5-HTP can cause certain detection tests for this syndrome to return a positive result when it should in fact be negative.
This syndrome is associated with carcinoid tumors, a rare type of tumor that can develop in the intestinal tract and secrete Serotonin and other chemicals into the bloodstream.
The way to detect these tumors in your intestines is to observe elevated Serotonin levels. Since a 5-HTP supplement can also elevate Serotonin levels in the body, it may produce a false positive on these tests. If you are taking 5-HTP and need to be tested for carcinoid syndrome, your doctor will most likely advise you to stop taking 5-HTP before your test.
Eosinophilia–Myalgia Syndrome
It was initially thought that 5-HTP and other L-Tryptophan supplements could cause Eosinophilia Myalgia Syndrome (EMS).
EMS is a serious disease that can lead to blood abnormalities, muscle tenderness, pain, and potentially death. Around 1500 people who took Tryptophan related supplements in the early 1990s contracted EMS.
However, it was later determined that Tryptophan and other related supplements like 5-HTP were not directly responsible for the development of this condition. FDA officials found that EMS was most likely caused by batches of Tryptophan and 5-HTP supplements that contained a toxic contaminant.
Stricter regulations on manufacturing practices for supplements in the United States have now eliminated the risk of EMS as a 5-HTP side effect.
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Article last updated on: May 15th, 2018 by Nootriment
4 Comments
I took htp on the recommedations of a friend ,had terrible side effects but did not connect the two for some time and took 5 htp for a couple of months..have had heart palpitations since the DO NOT TA K E It , very dangerous. for some people like myself
Hi Rose, I also have been taking this for around three months and had heart palpitations and tachycardia. Have now developed stomach problems so have decided to stop and see what happens. This morning after no 5htp, I can say I feel relaxed without my head and heart racing. I was also becoming very anxious and agitated which, in turn made me depressed. I will monitor for a few days and see what happens. Sometimes these supplements are not right for everybody.
First night I took the advanced sleep melatonin with 5 HTP I slept good BUT the next 3 nights I took it, a very severe throbbing headache woke me up at midnight. My head hurt so bad that I was alarmed. I will no longer take this medication.
I took this for nearly a year, the effect was fantastic, subtle but beautiful.
The only side effect was (after several months) I noticed my penis was slightly smaller. Scary hehe . I know this can acour with people who use
amphetamines and there does seem to be a link between mood enhancing substances and sexual behaviour.
I have also read that 5-htp can cause sexually deviant thoughts, can’t remember the name of the condition but worth baring in mind if you are predisposed to that way of thinking.