5-HTP
Also called 5-hydroxytryptophan
What Huberman said
Huberman says that when he takes 5-HTP he falls deeply asleep and then wakes up (about 90 minutes later in one account, three or four hours later in another), and that his sleep on it was dreadful. He says he is never a fan of taking things very close to the chemical you are trying to increase for long periods; maybe for occasional use. He notes that some people love these things.
Cautions he mentions
- Taking it early in the night can disrupt the pattern of sleep and the depth of sleep.[1]
- He is never a fan of taking things very close to the chemical you're trying to increase for very long periods of time; maybe for occasional use.[1]
- Can create problems in endogenous (self-made) serotonin production.[1]
- His sleep with increased serotonin by way of tryptophan or 5-HTP was dreadful: 90 minutes later he woke up and couldn't sleep.[4]
Safety notes from independent sources
- Too much 5-HTP may cause serotonin syndrome. D'Mello et al. 2020, Int J Mol Sci (review)
- Serotonin syndrome most often happens when two or more medicines that affect serotonin are taken together. If you take antidepressants such as SSRIs, SNRIs or MAOIs, or triptans for migraine, speak to your prescriber before using 5-HTP. MedlinePlus: Serotonin syndrome
Where he said it
- 1
“I have the problem that if I take serotonin supplements, 5-HTP, I fall asleep.”
How Foods and Nutrients Control Our Moods
Episode · 00:44:30 · 2021
- 2
“I'm never a fan of taking things very close to the chemical you're trying to increase for very long periods of time.”
How Foods and Nutrients Control Our Moods
Episode · 00:44:30 · 2021
- 3
“Or if I take 5-HTP or L-tryptophan, I fall deeply asleep and then I wake up.”
Find Your Temperature Minimum to Defeat Jetlag, Shift Work & Sleeplessness
Episode · 01:33:48 · 2021
- 4
“the sleep that I had with increased serotonin by way of tryptophan or 5-HTP was dreadful.”
Using Science to Optimize Sleep, Learning & Metabolism
Episode · 01:04:30 · 2021
Related
This page reports what Andrew Huberman has said. It isn’t medical advice and NSDR.co isn’t affiliated with Huberman Lab. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist first if you take medication, are pregnant or have a health condition. Safety information