In your brain, several neurotransmitters affect your behavior and mood. One type of neurotransmitter is serotonin, which plays a role in your mood, sleep and how you feel pain. Irregular levels of this neurotransmitter can result in different disorders, including depression. One way to increase serotonin levels is with the dietary supplement 5-hydroxytryptophan, or 5-HTP, which your body turns into serotonin. Before taking 5-HTP for any condition, consult your doctor.
Mechanism
To make serotonin, your body takes an amino acid and converts it using enzymes. For example, your body can take the amino acid tryptophan, which is the precursor to 5-HTP, and make serotonin. You cannot get 5-HTP directly through food; instead, you can take a dietary supplement, for which manufacturers use the seeds from the Griffonia simplicifolia plant. Once you ingest 5-HTP, your body uses the enzyme 5-HTP decarboxylase to convert it to serotonin.
Uses
The supplement 5-HTP has several uses, though there is more evidence for 5-HTP's effectiveness in treating some conditions than for others. For example, MedlinePlus notes that 5-HTP is a possibly effective treatment for depression and fibromyalgia. Depression, a mood disorder, causes symptoms that include a low mood, inappropriate guilt, changes in sleep and appetite, and possibly thoughts of depression. Sufferers of fibromyalgia experience pain, which 5-HTP may help reduce. The University of Maryland Medical Center adds that one study found that 5-HTP helped with insomnia, but it required six to 12 weeks to start working. You may use 5-HTP for other conditions, such as for anxiety or weight loss, though not enough evidence exists on how effective 5-HTP is for these conditions. Talk to your doctor before taking 5-HTP for any condition.
Dosage
Your doctor will recommend the appropriate dose of 5-HTP for your condition. Do not take more than what she recommends, as the University of Maryland Medical Center notes that large amounts of the supplement can become toxic. For depression or fibromyalgia, 300 mg of the supplement taken daily may help reduce your symptoms, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Consult your doctor about the amount of 5-HTP that you should take a day. Children should not take 5-HTP.
Safety Concerns
While 5-HTP may help reduce your symptoms, the supplement does have some safety concerns. MedlinePlus warns that 5-HTP may be an unsafe treatment, as the supplement has caused cases of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, also called EMS. With EMS, you experience an abnormal count of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, and muscle problems. This condition may result from a contaminant called Peak X, which has been found in some supplements, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center. Talk to your doctor about possible safety concerns with 5-HTP and whether the supplement is right for you.
Considerations
If you take other medications, talk to your doctor before taking 5-HTP as the supplement may interact with one of your medications. For example, if you suffer from depression, do not combine 5-HTP with an antidepressant or an herb or supplement that increases serotonin, such as St. John's wort, as this can raise your serotonin levels to a dangerous degree. This condition, called serotonin syndrome, can also occur with other medications that affect serotonin levels, such as tramadol, meperidine, dextromethorphan and pentazocine, according to MedlinePlus.
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