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5-HTP: Alternative for Depression
Author: Prion
Simple biochemistry to get every one up to speed: 5-hydroxytryptophan is a metobolic intermediate to seritonin. The amino acid L-tryptophan is converted to 5-HTP then to seritonin through the use of specific enzymes in the CNS, chromaffin cells of the gut, and enteric cells.
5-HTP has been show to be as effective as prozac in clinical studies with fewer side effect. The idea is by increasing the levels of 5-HTP the body will convert/metabolize the compound in to seretonin thus effecting mood.
Common doages of 5-HTP is 50mg three times a day after a two week trial the dose can be raised to 100mg three times daily. The maximum dosage being 900mg (extreme).
"The most common use for 5-HTP is to treat depression. Preliminary research has shown that 5-HTP may be as effective as antidepressants, with fewer and less severe side effects. In a six week research study, 63 people were given either 5-HTP (100 mg three times a day) or an antidepressant in the Prozac family (fluvoxamine, 50 mg three times a day). They were found to be equally beneficial."[1]
Like other antidepressants, 5-HTP can be used to treat the following conditions:
Insomnia - because serotonin is converted into melatonin, a compound essential for sleep
Migraine headache prevention - to decrease the frequency and severity of migraines
Fibromyalgia - to decrease symptoms of fibromyalgia
Weight loss - 5-HTP is believed to be involved in sending the brain the signal to stop eating
Contraindications to use are as follows: Pregnant or nursing women, people with liver or kidney disease, and children with down's syndrome. The following drugs are contraindicators as well:
Anti-depressant drugs
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI's e.g., Prozac)
Tricyclic medications
Weight Loss medications (i.e., dextenfluramine)
Anti-parkinson medications (e.g., L-dopa, carbidopa)
Barbiturates and other tranquilizing drugs
Antihistamines and cold medications
Alcoholic beverages
Intravenous (illegal I.V.) drugs
Cancer chemotherapy or antibiotic medications
Pain medication Tramadol
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References:
Serotonin a la carte: Supplementation with the serotonin precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan.
Pharmacol Ther. 2005 Jul 13; [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 16023217 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Safety of 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan.
Toxicol Lett. 2004 Apr 15;150(1):111-22. Review.
PMID: 15068828 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
One on one. Can a supplement of 5-HTP help relieve my depression?
Mayo Clin Womens Healthsource. 2001 Jun;5(6):8. No abstract available.
Tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan for depression.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(1):CD003198. Review.
Author: Prion
Simple biochemistry to get every one up to speed: 5-hydroxytryptophan is a metobolic intermediate to seritonin. The amino acid L-tryptophan is converted to 5-HTP then to seritonin through the use of specific enzymes in the CNS, chromaffin cells of the gut, and enteric cells.
5-HTP has been show to be as effective as prozac in clinical studies with fewer side effect. The idea is by increasing the levels of 5-HTP the body will convert/metabolize the compound in to seretonin thus effecting mood.
Common doages of 5-HTP is 50mg three times a day after a two week trial the dose can be raised to 100mg three times daily. The maximum dosage being 900mg (extreme).
"The most common use for 5-HTP is to treat depression. Preliminary research has shown that 5-HTP may be as effective as antidepressants, with fewer and less severe side effects. In a six week research study, 63 people were given either 5-HTP (100 mg three times a day) or an antidepressant in the Prozac family (fluvoxamine, 50 mg three times a day). They were found to be equally beneficial."[1]
Like other antidepressants, 5-HTP can be used to treat the following conditions:
Insomnia - because serotonin is converted into melatonin, a compound essential for sleep
Migraine headache prevention - to decrease the frequency and severity of migraines
Fibromyalgia - to decrease symptoms of fibromyalgia
Weight loss - 5-HTP is believed to be involved in sending the brain the signal to stop eating
Contraindications to use are as follows: Pregnant or nursing women, people with liver or kidney disease, and children with down's syndrome. The following drugs are contraindicators as well:
Anti-depressant drugs
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI's e.g., Prozac)
Tricyclic medications
Weight Loss medications (i.e., dextenfluramine)
Anti-parkinson medications (e.g., L-dopa, carbidopa)
Barbiturates and other tranquilizing drugs
Antihistamines and cold medications
Alcoholic beverages
Intravenous (illegal I.V.) drugs
Cancer chemotherapy or antibiotic medications
Pain medication Tramadol
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
References:
Serotonin a la carte: Supplementation with the serotonin precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan.
Pharmacol Ther. 2005 Jul 13; [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 16023217 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Safety of 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan.
Toxicol Lett. 2004 Apr 15;150(1):111-22. Review.
PMID: 15068828 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
One on one. Can a supplement of 5-HTP help relieve my depression?
Mayo Clin Womens Healthsource. 2001 Jun;5(6):8. No abstract available.
Tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan for depression.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(1):CD003198. Review.
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