In 2005, about 5 million adults in the United States had fibromyalgia, according to the Centers for Disease Control. With fibromyalgia, you experience pain at points of your body called tender points. For example, you can have pain in that starts in your knees, shoulders, lower back and elbows that spread outward. Treatment for fibromyalgia focuses on reducing pain. An alternative to prescription medication is 5-hydroxytryptophan, or 5-HTP. Before taking 5-HTP for fibromyalgia, consult your doctor.
Function
If you have fibromyalgia, you may have low levels of serotonin in your blood. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter responsible for multiple functions in your body, including mood, sleep and pain. Having lower levels of serotonin makes you more sensitive to pain. The supplement 5-HTP is a precursor to serotonin: your body takes 5-HTP and converts it into serotonin. Taking 5-HTP increases your levels of serotonin, as does the traditional fibromyalgia treatment of antidepressants, which may help reduce symptoms.
Benefits
While the research on 5-HTP and fibromyalgia is preliminary, 5-HTP may help with the pain symptoms, as well as other symptoms of fibromyalgia. The New York University Langone Medical Center cites a study that included 50 patients with fibromyalgia who took either a placebo or 5-HTP. The study conducted by I. Caruso and colleagues, which was published in the "Journal of International Medical Research," found that patients who had taken 5-HTP had less pain, improvements in their sleep, as well as reduced fatigue, morning stiffness and anxiety.
Administration
Your doctor will tell you how much 5-HTP you should take for your fibromyalgia. You should not take more than your doctor recommends, as high amounts of 5-HTP can become toxic. Taking 100 mg of 5-HTP orally three times a day may help reduce your symptoms.
Considerations
While 5-HTP may help with your fibromyalgia symptoms, it does have some risks. Some people who used the supplement developed eosinophilia-myalgia, or EMS. With EMS, you have blood abnormalities and muscle tenderness. Another issue that may arise with taking 5-HTP is the development of serotonin syndrome, a serious condition in which your serotonin levels become dangerously high. Serotonin syndrome may occur if you take 5-HTP along with another medication or supplement that increases serotonin levels, such as St. John's wort, tramadol or antidepressants. Tell your doctor about all the medications and supplements you take before beginning a 5-HTP regimen for fibromyalgia.
References
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Fibromyalgia
- University of Michigan Health System: Fibromyalgia
- University of Maryland Medical Center: 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)
- New York University Langone Medical Center: 5-HTP
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Arthritis -- Data and Statistics -- Arthritis Related Statistics
- MedlinePlus Supplements: 5-HTP
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