As a GP, hardly a day goes by when I don’t see a patient in my surgery that is suffering from mild depression.

It may therefore come as no surprise that I have been actively looking for an alternative to prescription medicines such as Prozac, but with fewer side effects. Some months ago, I decided to contact Healthspan suggesting that they consider launching a 5-HTP product with a number of other nutritional additions to improve its effectiveness. Their new 5-HTP product is the result of this collaboration.

5-HTP is a substance that is naturally produced in the body. It can also be produced commercially by extracting it from the seeds of the African plant Griffonia simplicifolia and has been used in this form clinically for over 30 years. The clinical efficacy of 5-HTP is due to its ability to increase production of serotonin in the brain. In the central nervous system, serotonin levels have been implicated in the regulation of sleep, depression, anxiety, aggression, appetite, temperature, sexual behaviour and pain sensation.

For those readers with some clinical knowledge, 5-HTP is the intermediate metabolite in the production of serotonin from tryptophan. Absorption of 5-HTP from the gut does not require a transport molecule and is therefore not affected by other amino acids so it can be easily taken with meals.

Since the early 1970s at least fifteen studies have shown 5HTP to be an effective anti-depressant. A large Swiss study in 1991 at Basel University compared it with fluvoxamine (an SSRI - like Prozac) and it was shown to be as effective and better tolerated.

A Cochrane review in 2001 concluded that ‘in settings where depression is mild, and the use of traditional antidepressants is unacceptable to the patient, 5-HTP may be considered as a treatment alternative’.

5-HTP is safe – it can be taken with other foods with no interference. It is well absorbed from an oral dose (approx 70% ending up in the blood stream) and easily crosses the blood brain barrier into the central nervous system.

Therapeutic administration of 5-HTP has not only been used effectively in treating depression, but also fibromyalgia (characterised by general musculo-skeletal aching, multiple tender points, fatigue, morning stiffness and sleep disturbances), insomnia, binge eating associated with obesity, migraine and chronic headaches. Although a number of other drugs have been shown to be effective in migraine prevention, all have significant side effects. 5-HTP in contrast is very safe.

5-HTP should not be confused with the essential amino acid L-Tryptophan (LT) which is currently available only on prescription.

INTERACTIONS

Prescription antidepressants – either SSRI or MAOI drugs can cause serotonin syndrome characterised by confusion, agitation, rapid heartbeat, sweating and changes in blood pressure. Should this be suspected, 5-HTP and any other antidepressants should be stopped immediately. Because of the possibility of serotonin syndrome, 5-HTP should not be used with SSRI or MAOI drugs without medical supervision. It should also not be taken during pregnancy or lactation. There are no known adverse reactions when taken with St John’s Wort.

This is general advice on 5HTP only and is not a substitute for any clinical advice given by a doctor to an individual.

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