5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan)

 

5-HTP vs. SSRIs

Dr. W. Poldinger of the Psychiatrische Universitatsklinik in Basel, Switzerland (A functional-dimensional approach to depression: serotonin deficiency as a target syndrome in a comparison of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and fluvoxamine. Psychopathology. 1991,24:53-81) in a double blind, multi-center controlled study using patients diagnosed with depression found that after week 6, both the patients taking 100 mg. 5-HTP 3 times per day and those taking 150 mg. fluvoxamine (an SSRI) 3 times per day, had equal numbers showing about 50% improvement with 5-HTP proving to be better tolerated than the SSRI and having about a 11% lower failure rate than the SSRI group.

 

 

5-HTP is the direct precursor to serotonin

According to University of Mississippi researcher Ronald F. Bore, Ph.D., in his article: Serotonin: The Neurotransmitter for the 90’s. Drug Topics. 1994, October 10:108., serotonin is "The Neurotransmitter of the 90’" "Of the chemical neurotransmitter substances," "serotonin is perhaps the most implicated in the etiology or treatment of various disorders, particularly those of the central nervous system, including anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, stroke, obesity, pain, hypertension, vascular disorders, migraine, and nausea."

 

5-HTP as therapeutic supplement

5-HTP, which is found in infinitesimal amounts in certain foods like turkey and cheese, is often sold as an over-the-counter therapeutic supplement. In this case, it is usually sourced from the seeds of the Griffonia simplicifolia plant. Production of 5-HTP as a supplement increased when a similar serotonin-altering supplement, L-tryptophan, was banned in the United States because of a tainted batch which caused serious side-effects in users. 5-HTP has many advantages over L-tryptophan: besides being safer to produce and arguably more potent, it can cross the blood-brain barrier more easily than L-tryptophan. 5-HTP in supplement form is usually sold in gelatin capsules. These capsules typically contain either 50mg or 100mg of 5-HTP per capsule. It is recommended to take it on an empty stomach before falling asleep, or in smaller doses throughout the day.

Research

Some studies of 5-HTP have been completed which indicate that 5-HTP has potential in the treatment of depression and possibly anxiety, panic disorder, sleep disorders and obesity. In fact, a survey of all published studies of clinical outcomes with 5-HTP indicate that it yields similar results to those obtained for small scale studies of prescription SSRI antidepressants. Additionally, one open study suggests that people with anxious depressive syndrome may see better results from 5-HTP than from an SSRI.

It is unfortunate that the studies to date are incomplete, even if promising, for the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Reviews of these studies do indicate that potential exists for 5-HTP in the treatment of depression, but further trials are stressed as necessary before arriving at any firm conclusion. Some caution and diligence should be exhibited regarding 5-HTP barring further study and review.

Uses

In recent years 5-HTP has been sold by health food companies as an alternative treatment for depression and mood disorders. Its role as an intermediary in the biosynthesis of serotonin indicates that this chemical may indeed be effective in treating these and other serotonin-related disorders, but there is some debate on the conclusions of the clinical trials which have been carried out using the drug.

5-HTP is also used as a supplement by users of MDMA to help replenish depleted serotonin, in an attempt to alleviate to a degree the depression and overall mental unsettlement in the days following MDMA usage. 5-HTP is less commonly used immediately before the use of MDMA as a means to both further reduce the negative psychological effects of depleted serotonin, and as an attempt to boost the effects of MDMA. Anecdotal reports seem to indicate this is largely placebo with some users reporting a moderate muting of the MDMA effect.

5-HTP also has mild psychoactive effects on REM sleep.

5-HTP supplements instead of SSRI

Natural healing professionals often recommend 5-HTP supplements instead of standard SSRI/MAOI prescriptions as 5-HTP allegedly accomplishes the same goal without resorting to disturbing the brain's natural metabolic procedures. Instead of interrupting the recycling of serotonin as in the case of SSRIs, and instead of preventing the end consumption of serotonin as in the case of MAOIs, 5-HTP supplements provide more raw material that may be used in the body's natural serotonin production process, as shown in the illustration above.

The body's usual source for manufacturing 5-HTP is tryptophan, an amino acid found in many foods, turkey being the most cited example. Tryptophan was also sold as a supplement in health food stores until a contaminated shipment, which resulted in 1500 cases of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome and over 30 deaths, prompted the United States Food and Drug Administration to ban it as an over-the-counter supplement. As a response to this ban, health supplement producers decided to market 5-HTP in its place. Recently, however, as noted above, pharmaceutical grade L-tryptophan has become available "over the counter" in the U.S.

Dosage

Though there is no official dosage, most supplement providers recommend 50 mg or 100 mg 5-HTP, one to three times per day. Some suggest 5-HTP should be taken just before bed because it often causes drowsiness. In theory, an overdose could cause serotonin syndrome, although there are no reported cases of hospitalizations due to excessive ingestion of 5-HTP.

Side effects

Promoters of 5-HTP claim that it causes fewer side effects than traditional antidepressants. Side effects of 5-HTP may include nausea, constipation, gas, drowsiness, or a decreased sex drive. It can also have adverse interactions with other natural and traditional drugs.