Mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.Disorders that have been successfully treated with natural nootropic supplements include: Nootropic treatment of mood disorders and sleep problems is based on the fact that natural amino acids such as 5-HTP and L-Tryptophan can help to resolve certain adverse health conditions by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin works in the body by facilitating the transfer of signals between nerve cells, and by altering the brain functions that control sleep and mood states. The benefits of 5-HTP can be summed up in one phrase – increased serotonin production.
What are the uses and benefits of 5-HTP for sleep, anxiety and depression? If you are taking any of these medications, check with your doctor before taking 5-HTP. Tramadol (Ultram), another prescription pain reliever.Pentazocine (Talwin), a pain medication.Meperidine (Demerol), a synthetic pain medication.Dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant found in Robitussin DM, and other meds.Carbidopa (Lodosyn), a drug used to treat Parkinson's disease.Moderate negative interactions have also been found between 5-HTP and the following: The reason is that these medications also increase serotonin levels, and combining them with 5-HTP can cause serious side effects including heart problems, shivering, and anxiety. If you are taking prescription medications to counter depression such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), amitriptyline (Elavil), sertraline (Zoloft), clomipramine (Anafranil), or imipramine (Tofranil), you should not take 5-HTP supplements. So it's best to allow at least six hours to pass between taking 5HTP and drinking alcoholic beverages.īecause 5-HTP increases the levels of serotonin in the brain, and because some drugs administered during surgery also affect serotonin, doctors recommend that you stop taking 5-HTP at least two weeks before any surgery. It's important to know that alcohol can interact with the 5HTP and reduce its effectiveness. This is because an over-dose in 5HTP can spike serotonin levels, leading to unwanted side effects such as anxiety, shivering and in rarer cases, heart problems.ĥ-HTP should not be mixed with alcohol. It is less effective and considered unsafe in larger doses. Is 5-HTP safe?ĥ-HTP, when taken orally as a supplement, has been shown to be safe in clinical studies in doses up to 400mg per day. If 5-HTP has been prescribed for you as part of a treatment for other conditions, follow your doctor's orders.įor dosages on specific issues, such as anxiety and insomnia, read further on in this guide. When taking 5-HTP for sleep, the recommended maximum dosage of 5-HTP is 90mg. This is important, because it means that you can use natural 5-HTP amino acid supplements as a nootropic (brain-enhancing) agent to increase your brain's supply of 5-HTP, and thus serotonin. So because the serotonin created in the intestines can't cross the blood-brain barrier, the brain synthesises its own, much smaller amounts of serotonin from 5-HTP, which can cross the barrier. This is a membrane that separates the blood from the cerebrospinal fluid, creating a barrier to the passage of cells, particles, and large molecules. In addition, your body synthesises 90% of its serotonin in the intestines, but this doesn't help it get to the brain, because serotonin cannot cross the blood-brain barrier. Tryptophan -> 5HTP -> Serotonin -> Melatonin So the internal chemical process that produces serotonin looks essentially like this: It has to first go through an intermediate stage in which it is converted to 5-HTP. The problem with getting all the serotonin you need from your diet is that the L-Tryptophan in your food cannot be converted directly into serotonin. L-Tryptophan is typically found in foods such as turkey, lamb, chicken, egg whites, oats, milk, nuts, and cheese, and in so-called "superfoods" such as seaweed and spirulina. L-Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, meaning that it cannot be synthesised by the body, and must be obtained from one's diet. Share Share on Facebook Tweet Tweet on Twitter Pin it Pin on Pinterest What is 5-HTP?ĥ-HTP, also known as 5-Hydroxytryptophan, oxitriptan (INN), HTP-5, and 5HTP, is a naturally-occurring amino acid that your body synthesises from L-Tryptophan.īoth 5-HTP and L-Tryptophan are metabolic intermediates or chemical precursors to serotonin, the body's "happiness hormone." A deficiency in serotonin is linked to anxiety and depression, but serotonin is also important because it regulates bodily functions such as sleeping, eating, and digestion.
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