5-HTP Side Effects

5-HTP side effects read like the list on the side of an SSRI anti-depressant like Prozac. People have reported the following side-effects from taking 5-HTP:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach Upset
• Cramps
• Nightmares
• Sleep Disturbance

In reality, you don't need to worry as much about the side-effects of 5-htp as you do about the side-effects from SSRI's such as Prozac and Celexa. Although the list may look similar to the one you find on an anti-depressant packet generally people feel the side-effects from 5-htp much more mildly. Some people do not feel any side-effects at all and only get benefits.

It should also be noted that side-effects from 5-htp are normally seen in people who supplement more than 100mg a day. If you start off on a low dose and work your way up slowly to the dose you need, you will be able to see how 5-htp effects you without taking too much. At any rate, at a dose of 100mg or less, in the vast majority of cases any side-effects will be mild and should disappear soon after discontinuation of 5-HTP.

There is one side-effect however that is potentially more damaging and more problematic. 5-HTP can convert to the neurotransmitter Serotonin prematurely. This conversion happens in the liver and causes much higher levels than normal of Serotonin in the bloodstream. This wayward Serotonin can potentially damage heart valves. This risk has not been proven to be true and it might just be a case of the pharmaceutical industry spreading malicious rumors to stop their precious patented drugs becoming less profitable.

Given the lack of research in this field all we can do is suggest talking to your doctor and making sure you take the least dose possible. Also, keep an eye on any updates and have regular check-ups.

What is 5-HTP?

5-HTP, or to give it the full scientific name 5-Hydroxytryptophan, is a precursor to the neurotransmitter Serotonin. Serotonin is important because it is one of the chemicals in the brain that deal with mood, so if levels drop to low we can feel depressed, suffer from anxiety and panic attacks, have other mental disorders such as self harming, insomnia, eating disorders, phobias like agoraphobia, chronic fatigue or be over aggressive. 5-htp then is often used as a substitute for medical anti-depressants like Prozac or other SSRI's.

As Serotonin is connected with feelings of fullness and satisfaction after eating, 5-htp is often marketed as a dieting aid. It is thought that by boosting Serotonin levels we feel fuller and have less of an appetite. Also, because 5-htp improves mood we have less stress and therefore less need to comfort eat. Through both of these weight loss can be achieved.

Although we all get Tryptophan (the substance our body normally uses to make Serotonin) from the protein in our diet, supplementing with 5-htp is thought to be a better way of making sure Serotonin is kept topped up everyday. Our bodies find it difficult to get tryptophan into the brain where it is needed, but 5-htp is much more easily absorbed.

People disagree on how much 5-htp you should use each day, but in reality it depends on what you are using it for and how severe your symptoms are. Someone using it as a minor sleep aid might well get away with significantly less than someone who has depression which has been with them for years. The short answer to the question "how much 5-htp do I need?" is: start with a small dose and work your way up until you get the effects you want. You should not overdose though, following doctor's and manufacturers instructions is best. If you don't get the results you want then try something else, nothing works for everyone and although lots of people swear by 5-htp nothing works for everyone, there is no silver bullet.