Needing a pick me up at the start of December I Googled for Notropics that can boost serotonin levels. 5-hydroxytriptan, better known as 5-HTP, is a supplement that some people use in an effort to support their mental health and immune system. After some reading I decided to give it a go, adding 200mg to my daily stack.
Preliminary studies indicate that 5-HTP may work as well as certain antidepressant drugs to treat people with mild-to-moderate depression. Like the class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which includes fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft), 5-HTP increases the levels of serotonin in the brain.
Much of the information available regarding 5-HTP’s use appears to be anecdotal, and the safety and effectiveness of this supplement is still under investigation. According to current medical literature, there are no circumstances under which a person must completely avoid taking 5-HTP. Reported side effects of 5-HTP like any supplement or drug are significant. Physical effects include heartburn, heart palpitations, headache, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, sexual problems, and muscle problems.
I tried taking 5-HTP from December 19th – January 23rd. It did not enhance my mood. In fact my mood has generally been worse. More worrying it did give me heart palpitations at night on a few occasions and make my sleep patterns worse. After checking with a doctor there was nothing to worry about but not a nice side effects so it’s time to say 5-HTP does not play nice with my body.
My regular supplement routine is Multi Vitamin, Fish Oil, Vitamin D3, ZMA and occasionally a MSM / Calcium boost. I wont be adding anything new for a while.