5-hydroxytryptophan is a chemical that helps boost serotonin levels in your brain. As a dietary supplement, 5-hydroxytryptophan is sold as 5-HTP. There is no specific recommended dosage of 5-HTP for any specific condition, including premenstrual syndrome, or PMS. Although 5-HTP has not been restricted or banned by the FDA, there are some safety concerns about 5-HTP as a dietary supplement. Consult your doctor before taking any new supplement for PMS or another condition.
About 5-HTP
Your body turns tryptophan into serotonin, and 5-HTP is an intermediate stage in this process. Tryptophan is naturally present in foods including chicken, turkey, pumpkin, turnip, collard greens, sunflower seeds, potatoes and milk. 5-HTP does not occur naturally in any foodstuffs, and it is not believed that increasing your tryptophan intake will significantly increase the amount of 5-HTP in your body.
PMS Symptoms
Premenstrual syndrome is experienced by roughly three-quarters of all menstruating women, according to MayoClinic.com. There are many possible symptoms associated with PMS, although most women experience only some of these symptoms at any given time. Emotional symptoms of PMS include general anxiety, tension, depression, mood swings, difficulty concentrating and insomnia. Physical symptoms include pain in the muscles or joints, fatigue, headache, bloating, tenderness of the breasts, acne and digestive upsets.
5-HTP and PMS
Expert opinion regarding the effectiveness of 5-HTP is mixed. Further studies are needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn about 5-HTP's potential positive effects on PMS symptoms. Limited evidence suggests that 5-HTP may be helpful in alleviating a variety of problems that are caused by low serotonin levels. These include the typical PMS symptoms of depression, anxiety, joint stiffness, insomnia and headaches.
Dosage
Recommendations regarding appropriate dosage of 5-HTP vary. The University of Maryland Medical Center indicates that 5-HTP is not appropriate for children. UMMC suggests an adult dosage of 50 mg taken once to three times each day, which equates to a maximum daily dose of 150 mg. At doses higher than 150 mg daily, 5-HTP has the potential to become toxic. Consult your doctor to establish a safe dosage of 5-HTP for you -- tell your doctor about any other medications or supplements you are taking, as 5-HTP may cause interactions.
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