The supplement 5-hydroxytryptopham, or 5-HTP, may help relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety and fibromyalgia. This is welcome news to sufferers of these disorders hoping to try a natural alternative to antidepressant and other drugs. 5-HTP, however, isn't safe or effective for everyone, and may interact dangerously with some medications. Speak with your doctor before starting 5-HTP supplements to make sure they are the right choice for you.
5-HTP
5-HTP is manufactured in the body when the amino acid tryptophan builds protein. The presence of 5-HTP is is necessary to the manufacture of serotonin, which helps regulate mood. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, eating tryptophan-rich foods such as turkey, milk, chicken and seaweed doesn't appear to raise 5-HTP levels as well as supplements made from the seeds of the African plant Griffonia simplicifolia. Taken consistently, 5-HTP may raise serotonin levels in the brain. Results are not consistent, however, and some problems have emerged with drug interactions, side effects and contamination.
Contraindications and Side Effects
Typical side effects of 5-HTP include nausea, stomach pains, gastrointestinal upset such as diarrhea and vomiting, drowsiness, sexual dysfunction and muscle control. People with diabetes, high blood pressure and liver disease, and pregnant or nursing women should never take 5-HTP. Medline Plus of the National Institutes of Health describes reports of seizures in people with Down's syndrome who took 5-HTP. There is very little information about the long-term effects of 5-HTP supplements on human health.
Serotonin Syndrome
Serotonin syndrome occurs when excess serotonin is present in the brain. Its symptoms can include agitation, rapid heartbeat, sweating, shivering, spikes in blood pressure, fever, and even coma and death. If you are taking an SSRI or MAOI for depression, or any medication that affects serotonin, such as the pain medications tramadol or meperidine, adding 5-HTP may put you at risk of this serious condition. A study published in the "Journal of the American Veterinary Medicine Association" in 2000 showed that dogs exhibited symptoms of serotonin syndrome after consuming massive amounts of 5-HTP supplements without SSRIs. It is not known whether humans might be at risk of a similar reaction to large doses of 5-HTP.
Peak X Contamination
Tryptophan, the amino acid responsible for making 5-HTP, is also available in supplement form. In the 1980s thousands of people using tryptophan as a sleep aid contracted a serious blood disorder called eosinophilia myalgia syndrome, or EMS. An unknown substance was discovered in the supplements, now referred to as Peak X, which was apparently introduced by accident during the manufacturing process. New York University's Langone Medical Center points out that while Peak X may have been responsible for the illnesses, there is still some debate about the actual causes. EMS has not been reported with 5-HTP use, but since 5-HTP and tryptophan are chemically related, the National Institutes of Health recommends avoiding 5-HTP until it has been proven that no risk of EMS exists.
