Consumer Drug Information

5-hydroxytryptophan

Generic Name: 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-hye DROX ee TRIP toe fan)
Brand names: 5-HTP

What is 5-hydroxytryptophan?

5-hydroxytryptophan, also known as 5-HTP, is a dietary supplement made from the seeds of the African plant Griffonia simplicifolia.

5-hydroxytryptophan has been used in alternative medicine as an aid to relieve the symptoms of anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, insomnia, chronic headaches, premenstrual syndrome, binge-eating related to obesity, attention deficit disorder, and chronic headaches. 5-hydroxytryptophan has also been used in treating certain seizures and symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Not all uses for 5-hydroxytryptophan have been approved by the FDA. 5-hydroxytryptophan should not be substituted for medications prescribed for you by your doctor.

5-hydroxytryptophan is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

5-hydroxytryptophan may also be used for other purposes not listed in this product guide.

What is the most important information I should know about 5-hydroxytryptophan?

Not all uses for 5-hydroxytryptophan have been approved by the FDA. 5-hydroxytryptophan should not be substituted for medications prescribed for you by your doctor.

Use 5-hydroxytryptophan as directed on the label, or as your healthcare provider has prescribed. Do not use this product in larger amounts or for longer than recommended.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking 5-hydroxytryptophan?

Do not use this product if you are allergic to 5-hydroxytryptophan or if you have:

Before using 5-hydroxytryptophan, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, herbalist, or other healthcare provider about all of your medication conditions. 5-hydroxytryptophan may cause seizures in people with Down syndrome.

It is not known whether 5-hydroxytryptophan is harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use this product without talking to a healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. 5-hydroxytryptophan may pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Ask your healthcare provider before using 5-hydroxytryptophan if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without the advice of a doctor.

How should I take 5-hydroxytryptophan?

When considering the use of herbal supplements, seek the advice of your doctor. You may also consider consulting a practitioner who is trained in the use of herbal/health supplements.

If you choose to take 5-hydroxytryptophan, use it as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider. Do not use more of 5-hydroxytryptophan than is recommended on the label.

Take this product with a full glass of water.

If your condition does not improve, or if it appears to get worse, contact your doctor.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using 5-hydroxytryptophan. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time. Store 5-hydroxytryptophan at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Consult your doctor, pharmacist, herbalist, or other healthcare provider for instructions if you miss a dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of 5-hydroxytryptophan.

Symptoms of a 5-hydroxytryptophan overdose are not known.

What should I avoid while taking 5-hydroxytryptophan?

Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. 5-hydroxytryptophan may increase the sensitivity of your skin to the sun. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable.

5-hydroxytryptophan side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your healthcare provider at once if you have a serious side effect such as skin rash, bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, or muscle weakness.

Less serious side effects may include:

stomach pain;
nausea, vomiting;
gas, heartburn; or
loss of appetite.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect 5-hydroxytryptophan?

Do not take 5-hydroxytryptophan without the advice of a healthcare provider if you are using any of the following medications:

dextromethorphan (cough medicine);
St. John's wort;
an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), citalopram (Celexa), clomipramine (Anafranil), doxepin (Sinequan), fluoxetine (Prozac), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), trazodone (Desyrel), and others;
an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate);
medicine to treat Parkinson's disease, such as carbidopa/levodopa (Atamet, Lodosyn, Sinemet); or
prescription pain medication such as meperidine (Demerol), pentazocine (Talwin), or tramadol (Ultram, Ultracet).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with 5-hydroxytryptophan. Tell your healthcare provider about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your healthcare provider.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor, pharmacist, herbalist, or other healthcare provider may have more information about 5-hydroxytryptophan. You may also consult the National Academy of Sciences "Dietary Reference Intake" or the U.S. Department of Agriculture's "Dietary Reference Intake" listings for more information.

Consultation with a licensed healthcare professional is advisable before using any herbal/health supplement. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial and coordination of treatment among all healthcare providers involved may be advantageous. Remember, keep this and all other prescription drug products, over-the-counter drug products, and herbal/health supplements out of the reach of children.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.