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Monday, December 16, 2013

5-HTP Review

5-HTP -- which also goes by the name oxitriptan, comes from the bean of plant Griffonia simplicifolia in Africa --  is an amino acid used for its positive mood effects.







How 5-HTP Works

5-HTP does its job in the central nervous system and in the brain where it increases serotonin production. Serotonin is a chemical that affects our appetite, sleep, sexual behavior, temperature, and even pain sensations.

What 5-HTP is Used For

5-HTP is used for depression, insomnia, anxiety, migraine and tension-type headaches, fibromyalgia, binge eating associated with obesity, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and along with prescription drugs to treat seizure disorder and Parkinson's disease.



This site (Nlm.Nih.Gov)  states that there is some evidence that 5-HTP might be as effective as some prescription drugs in treating depression.

The same site states that taking 5-HTP appears to improve fibromyalgia symptoms such as pain intensity, morning stiffness, sleeplessness.


My Experience
My first experience was with 5-HTP Gold, a supplement that's said to support positive mood, relaxation, restful sleep, overall emotional well-being, and again, appetite control. 

I have had some successful days taking 5-HTP Gold and some not-so-successful ones. Sometimes I'll experience stomach discomfort and other times I'll be fine. 

The positive results I've experienced with 5-HTP Gold include: improved rest, a subtle increase in my ability to focus, and often times, I'll notice an improvement where my anxiety is concerned.  



Pro's 
  • 100% natural source of 5-HTP

  • Made with organic, food based, whole-food, and clinically-proven ingredients.
  • No GMOs, artificial ingredients, preservatives, allergens, stearates, sulfates, laurates or dioxides. 

  • Free of "Peak X," a contaminant linked to EMS-like illness that's been found in commercially available 5-HTP supplements. According to the NutriGold website, "5-HTP Gold™ is manufactured using a pure extract that is guaranteed by an independent, third-party lab to be Peak-X free."
Con's
Side effects of 5-HTP could include nausea, constipation, reduced libido and gas.Occasionally, I've had stomach pains and felt nauseous after taking it.




Precautions
5-HTP affects serotonin and is not supposed to be used in combination with other anti-depressants or MAOI inhibitors. There's the risk of "serotonin syndrome," which is serious.

5-HTP also should not be taken with some OTC cold remedies, or with products containing ephedrine or pseudo-phedrine.

I shouldn't have to, but let me do the disclaimer thing:  
you should consult your doctor before taking things... including advice. Just kidding. 

You should make sure that it's okay to take supplements like 5-HTP with whatever other meds you are on.
To learn more about 5-HTP's interactions with other drugs, I recommend going here. If you scroll towards the bottom, you'll find information on using 5-HTP with other drugs and the effects.












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Extra disclaimer (I know, I hate them, too, but these days you kind of can't afford to note post them.):
I am not a specialist or any other kind of doctor or expert. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information/suggestions to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with the company mentioned. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's unless otherwise stated, and put in quotations (such as product descriptions or claims).  I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advise of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.  This is a sponsored post. I was provided with a product in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I receive no monetary compensation for writing this, and you can rest assured that my post (and all of them) is in compliance with the FTC's Guidelines.

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