What is 5-HTP?
5 HTP, 5HTP. or 5-HTP, is a supplement that converts in the brain into serotonin. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter involved in depression, behavior, appetite, impulse control, and sleep. Scientists have examined the role of 5HTP in anxiety, panic attacks, headache, and other conditions. 5HTP side effects are discussed below.

Q. What's the difference between 5HTP, 5 HTP and L 5 HTP supplements?
   A. All these terms, 5HTP, L 5HTP, 5 HTP and L 5 HTP are abbreviations of the same supplement, just different spellings. 5HTP stands for 5-Hydroxytryptophan. Tryptophan is an amino acid that converts into 5-hydroxytryptophan which then converts into serotonin.

High Quality products formulated by a medical doctor
Consider highly popular all natural products formulated by a world famous medical doctor, Ray Sahelian, M.D. These top quality products include Mind Power Rx with Acetyl-l-Carnitine for better mental focus, concentration, and mood; Diet Rx with 5HTP which helps you eat less. It really does curb appetite; Good Night Rx with 5-HTP and melatonin for better sleep; Eyesight Rx for better vision, often within days; MultiVit Rx a daily comprehensive multivitamin for more energy and vitality; Joint Power Rx for healthy joints; Prostate Power Rx for a healthy prostate gland; and Passion Rx for sexual enhancement, better libido, and improved performance and stamina in men and women.

5-HTP supplement 50 mg - Doses higher than 50 mg can cause 5 HTP side effects
Formulated by Dr. Ray Sahelian, M.D., author of 5-HTP, Nature's Serotonin Solution
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Click here to purchase 5-HTP supplement, Diet Rx with 5HTP appetite suppressant FREE BOTTLE, Good Night Rx with 5-HTP and melatonin for better sleep, Mind Power Rx for better mood and focus, Tryptophan supplements, hundreds of top quality products, or to subscribe to a FREE supplement research newsletter sent twice a month by email

Benefits of Diet Rx with low dose 5 HTP supplement
All natural appetite suppressant, decreases appetite so you eat less
Helps you maintain healthy blood sugar levels
Helps you maintain healthy cholesterol and lipid levels
Provides a variety of antioxidant from two dozen herbs and nutrients
Provides healthy fiber
Improves natural energy so you get motivated to take walks and burn more calories
Balances mood so you don't have the urge to eat to satisfy a need for a mood lift
Improves mental concentration and focus
Improves will power and choice of food selection

5-HTP and melatonin
Q. Can 5HTP be taken at night with melatonin? Will there be side effects?
   A. Depending on the dosage, the combination of 5HTP and melatonin could produce very vivid dreams, including nightmares.

5HTP source and manufacture
5HTP is made in the body from the amino acid tryptophan. Most of the 5HTP produced in the body comes from its manufacture in the intestines from tryptophan. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid; that is, the body does not have the capacity to synthesize it. All the supply of tryptophan must be gotten through foods that contain protein.
   5HTP sold over the counter is extracted from the Griffonia seed. The seeds come from an African tree grown mostly in Ghana and the Ivory Coast. 5HTP can also be made synthetically in the laboratory. The final product is the same as the one made by the body. Only a small (3 to 7) percent of the griffonia seed is made of 5HTP; therefore, consuming griffonia seeds is not an efficient way of getting 5HTP. 5HTP is not made from fermentation of bacteria.

5HTP drug interactions - 5HTP with SSRI drugs - 5HTP drug interactions - high dose 5THP contraindicated with SSRI drugs
The use of 5HTP in combination with SSRI drugs such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, and others has not been formally evaluated. Nor has the interactions of 5-HTP with most pharmaceutical drugs. Anecdotal reports indicate that many people tolerate small amount of 5HTP, 50 mg or less, with small amounts of SSRIs and other medications when used under the guidance of a medical professional. The effects of taking 5HTP along with a pharmaceutical antidepressant are sometimes difficult to predict. Since the SSRIs, like Prozac, block serotonin reuptake, and 5HTP converts into serotonin, it is possible that dangerously high levels of serotonin could occur, a condition called serotonin syndrome. Therefore, 5HTP contraindications include combination with high dose SSRI drugs.

5-HTP and Celexa drug interaction
Q. Can I take 5htp for depression if I am on Celexa (citalopram), a SSRI drug? I would like to know more about 5 HTP drug interactions.
   A. Celexa was approved in 1998. Celexa is being marketed as a less expensive and very selective SSRI (one which only targets serotonin, not other neurotransmitters). Since 5-htp increases serotonin levels, one has to be cautious taking it with Celexa since hypothetically serotonin syndrome could occur.

Q. Is 5HTP better than the drug Celexa for depression? What do 5HTP studies say on this topic?
   A. Some people respond to a natural supplement, others prefer prescription medications. It is difficult to predict whether a person would benefit more from 5 HTP or a drug. We don't have good 5HTP studies comparing the natural supplements to the depression drugs.

5-HTP and citalopram drug interactions
Q. I have spent last 2 years on citalopram (an SSRI drug) for depression, anxiety and OCD. I have felt most of the time that I can hear myself think and that has caused me great deal of anxiety in social settings where I would start getting all sorts of unpleasant thoughts. I started taking 5 HTP and two days later feel like new, able to steady my mind and my mind is much less noisy. I did ask my MD whether I should take serotonin supplement whilst on SSRI and she suggested not to combine but I took my own risk, researching about possible downfalls such as serotonin syndrome and decided to take a larger dose of 5HTP (150 mg spread over the day in 3 doses) and my SSRI in the evening until I feel free of my symptoms and then to use small dose as and when required to compliment the use of SSRI drugs until full recovery. I am vegetarian and have neglected my diet, eating mostly junk food as I can see now, and not valid substitutes for healthy foods such as fish etc. I believe this was the reason why I wasn't producing enough serotonin to start with and it seems that with 5HTP I can compensate as a first aid. it does really help although I do feel a bit nauseous after taking it on an empty stomach but in every other aspect it works. Having said that I don't know what its impact is on my liver or bladder.

5HTP and Lexapro escitalopram combination - 5HTP drug interactions
Q. i am suffering from anxious depression and i need medication to treat it what do u think about this: Escitalopram - 5mg (normal dose is 10mg or more) plus 5-HTP - 50 mg. I plan to take only 5 mg of s-citalopram in order to minimize the side effects and potentiate with 5-HTP. It is safe to mix both in that doses? Do you expect the combination of 5HTP and escitalopram Lexapro to be effective?
   A. One serious side effect of high dosage selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use is serotonin syndrome. Excessive stimulation of serotonin receptors is usually a result of administration of a high dose serotonin agonist to a patient who is already receiving a drug capable of enhancing the serotonin pathways. This could occur as a result of decreased serotonin re-uptake (from tricyclic antidepressants), decreased serotonin metabolism (from monoamine oxidase inhibitors), or excessive administration of serotonin precursors or agonists (trazodone, L-tryptophan, 5-HTP). The risk for serotonin syndrome increases as the dosage of the SSRI drugs and 5 HTP increases. There may be little risk when low dosages of Lexapro and 5-HTP are combined, but each person is different on how they tolerate this combination. It is not our role to say that the combination of Lexapro and 5-HTP will be safe or not safe in your particular case.

5-HTP and Paxil drug interactions
Q. I recently started taking 50 mg of 5htp and I find that if I take it before bedtime I wake up in a flash at about 4am. When I was taking Paxil, I had a similar effect at first. What do you suppose is the biology of this? All I can think of is that some of the serotonin is used for processing the day's experiences and that if there is more serotonin, less processing time is needed, and the body naturally wakes. It is somehow not a restful awakening though, something else doesn't get to finish because I feel totally groggy the rest of the day. My solution is simply to take 5htp in the morning.
   A. Yes this can occur, perhaps the 5htp converts quickly into serotonin and melatonin but wears off quickly, hence causing the awakening, or 5htp may stimulate the production of other brain chemicals or receptors that lead to alertness. We are not sure, but we have had other people mention early morning awakening with 5htp. Taking 5htp earlier in the day, or taking a smaller amount in the evening could be tried.

5HTP or Prozac for depression?
The choice of whether to take natural supplements for depression or pharmaceutical medicines is a personal one along with consultation with a health care professional. There are quite a number of factors, too many to list, that have to be considered. Those with mild depression may wish to try natural antidepressants first whereas those with moderate to severe depression would likely need a strong pharmaceutical medicine, at least initially. Some other natural antidepressants to consider include SAM-e and St. John's wort.
   Prozac and other SSRIs have been tested more thoroughly than natural antidepressants. 5HTP is trickier to use, tolerance may develop, long-term safety not known as well, but works well for many people in improving mood, reducing appetite, and improving sleep. It's very difficult, if not nearly impossible, to predict how each person will react or respond to a medicine or nutrient. Sometimes the best method is trial and error.

Q. Can 5-HTP and Prozac be taken together?
   A. 5-HTP or 5-hydroxy-tryptophan is a nutrient that, not long after taken as a supplement, goes to the brain and gets converted into serotonin. The biochemical sequence is as follows: The amino acid tryptophan converts into 5-HTP, which in turn converts into serotonin. At night, serotonin converts into melatonin.
   To put it simply, Prozac, along with its cousins Zoloft, Paxil, and the other SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) help lessen depression by making more serotonin available in the brain. Even though the mechanism of action of the SSRIs is different than 5-HTP, the end result is that there is more serotonin available in brain tissue, resulting in better mood balance. There is a condition known as serotonin syndrome which results from too much serotonin. Some of the symptoms include confusion, sweating, elevated blood pressure, and rapid heart beat. Serotonin syndrome sometimes occurs when the dosage of the SSRIs are too high, or when they are combined with other medicines that increase serotonin or brain chemical levels. Hence, tryptophan and 5-HTP, if taken in very high doses along with SSRIs, could potentially lead to serotonin syndrome. Having said this, it is possible that the combination of 5-HTP and Prozac could be helpful in some people if the dosage of the Prozac is reduced (let's say by half) and the initial amount of 5 HTP is started very conservatively at half of a 50 mg capsule and symptoms are monitored closely. The dosage of 5 HTP can be gradually increased if needed. Here is an example where the approach of combining a drug and nutrient could be quite useful, as long as one proceeds cautiously, with medical supervision, and temporarily stops the medicines at the first sign of serotonin excess.

5-HTP and Zoloft drug interactions
Q. Could you please explain to me the essential differences between Zoloft and 5 HTP? After reading a book called 5HTP: Nature's Serotonin Solution, it would seem that 5 HTP alone is not as effective as Zoloft and other SSRIs for major depression. Can you explain the reason for this? If depression is caused by low levels of serotonin in the brain, why can't increasing doses of 5 HTP alone raise this level and "erase" the depression?
   A. Perhaps in some people with severe depression 5-HTP may work as well as Zoloft. Zoloft and the SSRI drugs don't work exactly the same way. Zoloft prevents the reuptake of serotonin between nerve cells in the brain and allows more serotonin to stimulate receptors on nerve cells, which are called neurons. In contrast, when a 5-HTP supplement is taken, it converts into serotonin in the brain hence increasing serotonin in this manner. Zoloft and the other SSRI medications may not be 100 percent selective for serotonin. They may also, perhaps in a minor way, influence other brain chemicals. We have not seen research comparing 5-HTP versus SSRI medicines in the treatment of depression, hence we don't know whether the drugs or the natural supplement is more effective.

5-HTP interaction with other medicines
It is difficult to predict the drug interaction of 5HTP with lithium, MAO inhibitors, anti-anxiety agents, beta blockers, birth control pills, and other pharmaceutical medicines.

Q. i know it is not recommended to take 5-htp with SSRI drugs because of serotonin problems and drug interactions. What about 5-htp with Wellbutrin XL which does not affect serotonin?
   A. We are not familiar with any studies in this area, so it is difficult to say how a person would handle the combination of Wellbutrin and 5HTP. The dosage and timing could make a significant difference, as well as each person's unique biochemistry. Dosages should be kept low when a pharmaceutical medicine for depression is combined with 5-HTP.

Q. My son takes 3 anti seizure meds: Keppra, Carbatrol and Lamictal. is there any problem taking 5HTP or tryptophan supplements with these medications?
   A. We have not seen any studies regarding the combination of 5 HTP with Keppra, Carbatrol or Lamictal. Drug / supplement interactions are complicated and when three medications are used together it is very difficult to predict the interactions when combined with 5-HTP or tryptophan, which influence serotonin levels.

Carbidopa and 5HTP
There's a pharmaceutical medicine called carbidopa which blocks the metabolism of 5HTP in the blood stream allowing for more to be present in the body. The question as to whether it is preferable to take carbidopa along with 5HTP is not clear at this time but could be considered under medical supervision. Taking carbidopa would most likely reduce the dosage required for 5HTP since less 5HTP would be broken down in the bloodstream and more would be available to enter the brain.

Imitrex and 5 HTP pills
Q. I am very interested in taking 5-HTP for anxiety, stress and headaches. In my readings I came across a warning that 5-HTP pills should not be taken with Imitrex, which I occasionally take for migraines (25 mg, a couple of times a month). Would this preclude me from taking 5-HTP supplement product?
   A. If the 5HTP is taken on days when the Imitrex is not being used, we don't see how there would be any interactions of any concern. If your doctor approves, you can take the 5HTP supplement on the days when you are not taking Imitrex. It is best not to take more than 50 mg of 5HTP a day.

5-HTP and pregnancy
Q.  I'm wondering if it's safe to take 5htp while pregnant? I'm having a really hard time finding out the answer to that question of 5htp and pregnancy.
   A. The reason you are having problems finding information in this area is because the role of 5htp supplements in pregnancy has not been studied, so we really don't know the safety of 5htp in women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. We think it would be best not to use 5htp during pregnancy unless your doctor approves and thinks other alternatives are less safe.

5HTP as antioxidant
5-hydroxytryptophan is a more potent in vitro hydroxyl radical scavenger than melatonin or vitamin C.
J Pineal Research. 2005 Jan;38(1):62-6.
Hydroxyl radicals are involved in direct damage of important biomolecules. Potent radical scavengers such as vitamin C and indoles of the tryptophan family can avert the potential damage. Melatonin and its precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan ( 5HTP ) were compared with water-soluble vitamin C. 5HTP showed highest hydroxyl radical scavenging effects.

5 HTP books
5-HTP: Nature's Serotonin Solution
5-HTP: The Natural Way to Overcome Depression, Obesity, and Insomnia.

5HTP and alcohol
Q. Can I take 5 htp and alcohol?
   A. Alcohol is a drug that has unpredictable effects when combined with certain herbs, nutrients, and medicines. A small amount of alcohol, such as an ounce or two of wine should not be a danger, but we caution against drinking too much.

5-HTP review
The bottom line is that a 5-HTP supplement has many health benefits for a number of conditions. Medical science is slowly discovering these 5HTP benefits and it is quite likely that the popularity of 5HTP will increase over time for the treatment of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and other conditions. We will update this 5-HTP review page as more research is published.

5 HTP 100 mg capsule
We don't recommend the routine use of 5HTP 100 mg since many people will get side effects from taking 100 mg. The most common side effect will be nausea.

5 HTP review
Q. Is there an independent site for 5 HTP review of the different products out there?
   A. We are not aware of an independent site that reviews 5HTP supplements. Most websites that discuss or review 5HTP are either promoting a product or a medical site where the reviewers evaluate the medical research with 5HTP but have little clue on the clinical uses.

5-THP and children
Q. Do you think that 5-HTP is safe for a seven year old girl to take to treat low levels of serotonin?
   A. The use of 5-HTP supplements in children should be kept to a low dosage and only for a brief period of time under medical supervision. Most supplements have not been studied well in children.

Q. How much 5HTP can be given to an eight year old child for occasional insomnia?
   A. A 5 HTP dose of 20 to 30 mg can be give to a child this old a couple of hours before bed once or twice a week. How much to give on other nights depends on the initial night's response. 

5-HTP questions
Q. Do you think 5HTP will help with anxiety and depression. I take Luvox 50 mg but don’t want to gain weight. Went off Zoloft that worked great but had weight gain.
   A. 5HTP has helped many people with anxiety and depression but it is difficult to predict in any one individual whether 5-HTP would be effective or not for the treatment of anxiety or depression. Diet Rx has mood balancing properties and decreases appetite. The only way to tell if supplements will help is through trial and error. There is no blood test or other test that can be done to predict which supplement, combination of supplements, or combination of supplements and medications will help. It is a good idea, when starting a new supplement or drug, to begin with low dosages.

Q. Is 5 HTP a vitamin?
   A. 5 HTP is not a vitamin, rather it is the hydroxy form of the amino acid tryptophan.

Q. I am taking a 5 HTP supplement and wanted to know when I buy 5 HTP again, what is the best 5HTP pharmaceutical grade brand and where to buy 5HTP for the best price?
   A. You will find most or all of the top manufacturers to have high quality 5HTP supplements, therefore we can't say what is the best 5-HTP supplement. They are generally equivalent in effectiveness so taking any 5HTP supplement should provide you with benefits. As to where to buy 5-HTP, the internet is a good option, so are health food stores. You can find a pharmaceutical grade 5-HTP product at the top of this page.

Q. What do you think of taking GABA and 5HTP together?
   A. We have not found GABA to be as effective as 5-HTP. We don't have any experience combining the two supplements.

Q. What is the half life of 5HTP?
   A. We have not seen specific studies in regards to 5 HTP half life, but based on our experience it is only a few hours.

Q. Does liquid 5HTP offer advantages over regular 5 HTP capsule?
   A. A 5 HTP capsule works very well, we don't see any obvious advantages of liquid 5 HTP.

Q. l have ordered 5-htp and would like to know if it is beneficial or safe to take Passion Rx or other sex enhancing aphrodisiac formulas at the same time.
   A. We suggest not to use 5-HTP and Passion Rx or other sexual herbs together. 5-HTP increases serotonin which blunts the sexual response and it would make it more difficult for the Passion Rx to be effective. You can use Passion Rx for a few days (but not more than 2 days in a row) and take a break and use 5-HTP for a few days.

Q. I have been taking 5 htp for about 3 months, after having come off Zoloft and Xanax. I take 50mg each night. I am very unsure as to prescribing information. Can i take a 5 HTP supplement for 6 months or a year straight? Second, I have read that I should take breaks from the 5-htp. Why is this, and when should I take these breaks and for how long? Thank you so much for your help. It is so wonderful to have a site that I can turn to that helps me deal with my panic attacks and depression naturally (as opposed my old Doc who had me on Xanax for 10 years!).
   A. The use of a 5 HTP supplement for prolonged periods has not been tested in humans and thus we prefer the cautious approach of taking breaks from use rather than finding out years from now that the continuous use of this supplement caused unforeseen side effects. There are no definitive guidelines on how often or how long these breaks should be. A general guideline is to use a 5 HTP supplement at as low a dose that works and for as brief a period as needed.

Q. I found your site searching for SSRI alternatives. My reading on the internet shows that 5-HTP is not recommended as an SSRI alternative. L-Tryptophan is the recommended supplement. 5-HTP can cause serotonin syndrome. The brain does not have a system for regulating 5-HTP. L-Tryptophan, on the other hand, is regulated by the body so that it only converts to the needed amount to 5-HTP, it does not cause an excess of 5-HTP. Unless the person has a defective Tryptophan regulating mechanism and needs to supplement with 5-HTP directly, the L-Tryptophan is the proper choice. The same is true of St John's Wort. L-Tryptophan is a more stable way of supplementing a serotonin deficiency. I can not cite the research because I did not save the information.
A. There are a number of opinions on the internet regarding the benefits of 5-HTP versus tryptophan for the treatment of depression or other conditions. Some people prefer using 5-HTP, others prefer using tryptophan, and still others find more benefit from St. John's wort. It's a matter of personal preference.

Additional links of interest
AHCC name information on ahcc supplement
Acetyl l Carnitine brain enhancing supplement information and proper dosage
Acetylcysteine antioxidant supplement used to protect the liver from toxic compounds such as acetaminophen
Advance Physician Formulas is a vitamin company that sells high quality supplements formulated by a medical doctor.
Insomnia cures with 5HTP and other natural supplements
Ray Sahelian, M.D. web site for more information on natural healing, 5HTP supplement, and natural ways to increase serotonin.
7-Keto-DHEA is sometimes used as an alternative to DHEA. However it has side effects.
Tongkat ali web site has information on sexual enhancing herbs and aphrodisiacs
Tribulus terrestris extract website has information on tribulus herb for libido enhancement
Yohimbe bark comes from a tree in Africa used for impotence or erectile dysfunction

Q. I noticed that some products with 5HTP just list 5-Hydroxytryptophan as the ingredient and then I've seen it listed as 5-hydroxytryptophan from Griffonia simplicifolia) seeds. Is there a difference and if so what is it and is one form better than the other?
   A. All these terms, 5HTP, L 5HTP, 5 HTP, L 5 HTP, are abbreviations of the same supplement, just different spellings. 5HTP stands for 5-Hydroxytryptophan. 5-Hydroxytryptophan (from griffonia simplicifolia seeds) is the same as 5-hydroxytryptophan even when not listed as from griffonia seeds.

Additional links, substances found in plants that may have medicinal value
Abelmoschus moschatus contains myricetin, a flavonoid
Agnuside is found in vitex agnus, also known as chaste berry
Anthocyanidin found in berries are related chemically to anthocyanins
Arabinose sugar molecule
Bacoside from bacopa monnieri plant used for mental enhancement
Boswellic acid from boswellia plant.

Q. I have been taking 5HTP 300 mg a day with 900 mg. St. John's wort for over 8 months now. I read an article by Dr. Ray Sahelian that St. John's wort triggers mania in bi-polar patients; therefore, I discontinued it and I lowered my dosage of 5HTP to 100 mg a day. I have just ordered Lithium orotate and rish oil from LifeLink in the hopes that it will help me with bi-polar depression. Is it ok to take 5HTP with the Lithium orotate? I currently do not see a doctor since I have always had bad reactions to psychiatric medicines. 5HTP seems to do well with the depression, but it does not take away some of the mania I experience.
   A. We have not seen any studies regarding the combination of 5 HPT and lithium orotate. It is best to first learn how each supplement works by itself before combining, and when supplements are combined a safer approach is to use less of a dosage of each initially to determine how the combination is influencing your body and mind.

More links
Emodin is a naturally occurring anthraquinone present in the roots and bark of numerous plants of the genus Rhamnus.
Ergosterol is found in the cell wall membranes of fungi
Furfural from bran, oats, corncobs
Gingerol from ginger plant has many health benefits
Guggulsterones found in guggul herb.
Gymnemic acid in gymnema sylvestre plant is found in Diet Rx weight control and appetite control product.


This 5hpt 5-htp 5 htp side effect and benefit page was last updated 2008.