Possible Risks or Side Effects
Because 5-HTP has not been thoroughly studied in a clinical setting, possible side effects and interactions with other drugs are not well known. However, it is noteworthy that many published reports of serious side effects exist, despite that 5-HTP is freely available as a nutraceutical. This could indicate that serious side effects are not unheard of with 5-HTP, at least in moderate doses. On the other hand, acute moderate gastrointestinal effects, such as diarrhea and vomiting, are common upon administration of 5-HTP, probably due to rapid formation of serotonin in the upper intestinal tract.
Injected serotonin has been shown to increase the risk of heart valve disease in animals. 5-HTP has not been subjected to this test. Oral 5-HTP results in an increase in urinary 5-HIAA, a serotonin metabolite, indicating that 5-HTP is peripherally metabolized to serotonin, which is then metabolized. This might cause a false positive test in tests looking for carcinoid syndrome.
5-HTP was found to increase plasma renin activity in rats, when not co-administered with a peripheral aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor, such as carbidopa or benserazide.
Direct and indirect evidence for possible yet unproven risks and side effects associated with 5-HTP when overdosed:
- Heart valve damage or disease (cardiac fibrosis).
- When combined with MAOIs or SSRIs, 5-HTP can cause acute serotonin syndrome.
- When combined with carbidopa (as a treatment for symptoms of Parkinson's disease), 5-HTP causes nausea and vomiting; however this can be alleviated via administration of granisetron. As mentioned above under pharmacology, cases of scleroderma-like illness have been reported in patients using carbidopa and 5-HTP.
It has been suggested that 5-HTP may cause eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS), a serious condition which results in extreme muscle tenderness, myalgia, and blood abnormalities. However, there is evidence to show that EMS was caused by a contaminant in early 5-HTP supplements, before the introduction of the current Good Manufacturing Practices by the United States FDA in 2007. Many countries now employ similar regulation.
Read more about this topic: 5-Hydroxytryptophan
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