Comment · Sat, November 8, 2014
5-HTP helps my IBS and anxiety/depression but I'm worried about the side effects.
Original post in this thread
[deleted] · 4 points
I've read on /r/nootropics and this sub that 5-htp can potentially damage the heart's valves and cause imbalances of other neurotransmitters.
I have ibs-c which has been linked to low levels of serotonin, I find that 5-htp really boosts my mood and gets my peristalsis rolling which seems like a win-win, but I'm worried about long term effects of using it.
Currently I'm taking 200mg once daily with 100mg EGCG.
Does anyone have experience or thoughts on this? thanks
What they were answering
Bajawah · 1 points
If I remember what /u/MisterYouAreSoDumb said correctly,
5-HTP will cause you to have less dopamine in the long run because the process in which serotonin is made uses the same precursor dopamine does. So, in essence, 5-HTP hijacks all that and lowers the amount of dopamine being made.
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb
Both L-DOPA and 5-HTP use the same rate-limiting enzyme, aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase. If you flood your system with too much 5-HTP, it will lower dopamine over time, since they compete for the enzyme.