5-HTP, or 5-hydroxytryptophan, is a chemical derived from the amino acid tryptophan that your body needs to make a crucial neurotransmitter called serotonin, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. Serotonin, which helps brain cells communicate, plays an important role in setting your mood. 5-HTP may be beneficial for depression and other uses, but it is unproven and may cause potentially fatal side effects. Talk to your doctor before taking 5-HTP.
Benefits
5-HTP may be just as effective as some antidepressants for mild to moderate depression because 5-HTP increases the level of serotonin in the brain, according to UMMC. 5-HTP may also help people with fibromyalgia by alleviating symptoms like pain, stiffness in the morning and fatigue. However, both of these findings are based on limited research evidence and more and larger studies are needed to prove that 5-HTP is an effective treatment for either depression or fibromyalgia, according to UMMC. If you are taking antidepressants for either depression or fibromyalgia, you should not take 5-HTP because the combination could increase serotonin levels too much, which can be dangerous.
Other Uses
5-HTP is sometimes used for a number of other conditions, but the research evidence is too weak to know whether the supplement works or not, according to MedlinePlus. These conditions include insomnia, migraines and other headaches, obesity, hot flashes, Alzheimer's disease, anxiety, weight loss, menstrual difficulties, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and others.
Risks
5-HTP may be unsafe for use because some people who have taken it have suffered a potentially fatal condition called eosinophilia-myalgia (EMS), according to MedlinePlus. EMS can damage the skin, blood, muscles and organs. It is possible that some cases of EMS were caused by a contaminant in some 5-HTP supplements, but it is also possible that the 5-HTP itself caused the problem, and there is not enough evidence to know for sure one way or the other. There are also reports of people with Down syndrome experiencing seizures after taking 5-HTP. High doses of 5-HTP may cause too much serotonin to build up in the brain, which can cause heart problems, coma and other serious side effects, according to UMMC.
Side Effects
5-HTP can cause some digestive side effects including stomach pain, feeling full, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, heartburn and diarrhea. There is also a risk of drowsiness, sexual side effects and muscle problems, according to MedlinePlus.
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