5-HTP Precautions & Side Effects

5-HTP side effects are few and is available without prescription and is generally considered safe and may be beneficial to many individuals. Contraindications to 5-HTP use or conditions under which 5-HTP use should only be under the supervision of a physician, to monitor side effects, are:

• Cardiovascular Diseases (high blood pressure, post-stroke, post-heart attack)
• Extremely Elderly Persons
• Parkinsons Disease, Cancer or Autoimmune Diseases (Scleroderma, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus)
• Lung Diseases
• Chronic Alcoholism
• Liver diseases (hepatitis or cirrhosis)
• parasitic infection
• AIDS
• Anorexia Nervosa
• Low protein Diets
• Allergies (severe)
• Myalgia (persistent pain and weakness of the muscles)
• Peripheral Neuropathy (pain weakness of the muscles)
• Rash or Flushing
• Edema
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Sickle cell anemia
• hemophilia
• Pregnancy

Concurrent drug use: 5-HTP should not be used if taking:

• 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)
• Barbiturates and other tranquilizing drugs
• Antihistamines and cold medications
• Alcoholic beverages
• Intravenous (illegal I.V.) drugs
• Cancer chemotherapy or
• antibiotic medications

Alcohol and 5-HTP should not be taken together. Allow at least six hours between use of alcohol and 5-HTP.

Warning: 5-HTP can increase the effect of some tranquilizing drugs.