5HTP and Weight Loss - Prozac and 5HTP - Depression and 5HTP

5HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan or 5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan) is a natural supplement that converts in the brain into serotonin. Serotonin is an important brain chemical involved in mood, behavior, appetite, and sleep. 

5HTP supplement 50 mg
Formulated by Formulated by Ray Sahelian, M.D.
FREE Diet Rx Bottle
 Click here to purchase 5HTP supplement, Diet Rx with 5HTP for appetite suppression, Good Night Rx with 5HTP for better sleep, Mind Power Rx for better mood and focus, or to subscribe to a FREE newsletter

 

5HTP Weight Loss information
There are many supplements that are marketed for weight loss, and 5HTP is actually one of the few that actually does decrease appetite. Whether the decrease in appetite due to the use of a 5HTP supplement leads to weight loss over the long term has yet to be determined. The dose of 5HTP for weight loss can range from 50 mg a day to 50 mg three times a day, used on an empty stomach.

High Quality products formulated by a medical doctor
 Mind Power Rx for better mental focus, concentration, and mood; Diet Rx which helps you eat less. It really does curb appetite; Good Night Rx for better sleep; Eyesight Rx for better vision, often within days; MultiVit Rx a daily comprehensive multivitamin for more energy and vitality; Joint Power Rx for healthy joints; Prostate Power Rx for a healthy prostate gland; and Passion Rx for sexual enhancement, better libido, and improved performance and stamina in men and women. See also Alfalfa.

5HTP Depression Side Effects
When 5HTP is used for depression, side effects could include nausea, dizziness, and if 5HTP is used at night, nightmares could occur. Taking Prozac and 5HTP for depression needs to be done carefully since a condition known as serotonin syndrome is theoretically possible. If you are using Prozac and want to switch to 5HTP, consult with your doctor and gradually reduce your dose of Prozac over a period of a week and towards the end of the week you can begin taking half a 50 mg dose of 5HTP and then over the next few days increase to 50 mg or more while getting off the Prozac. The switch from Prozac to 5HTP should be done only for mild or mildly moderate cases of depression, not severe cases of depression. For more 5HTP information.

5HTP questions
Q. I have 5HTP from Natrol brand. Is Natrol 5HTP reliable?
  A. We have no reason to believe that Natrol 5HTP brand is of any concern. It should be a good quality.

Q. Can 5HTP and Prozac be taken together?
    A. 5HTP, after taken as a supplement,, goes to the brain and gets converted into serotonin. Prozac, along with its cousin Zoloft, Paxil, and the other SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) help lessen depression by making more serotonin available in the brain. Even though the mechanism of action of the SSRIs is different that 5HTP, the end result is that there is more serotonin available in brain tissue, resulting in better mood balance. There is a condition known as serotonin syndrome which results from too much serotonin. Some of the symptoms include confusion, sweating, elevated blood pressure, and rapid heart beat. Serotonin syndrome sometimes occurs when the dosage of the SSRIs are too high, or when they are combined with other medicines that increase serotonin or brain chemical levels. Hence, tryptophan and 5HTP, if taken if very high doses along with Prozac, could potentially lead to serotonin syndrome. Having said this, it is possible that the combination of 5HTP and Prozac could be helpful in some people if the dosage of the Prozac is reduced (let's say by half) and the initial amount of 5HTP is started very conservatively at half of a 50 mg capsule and symptoms are monitored closely. The dosage of 5HTP can be gradually increased if needed.

Q. Is 5htp effective for depression?
   A. The connection of 5htp and depression is clear. 5htp converts into serotonin thus those whose depression is due to a shortage of serotonin are improved. But since depression can come from many causes, and since serotonin is only one of them, not all depression is improved by 5htp.

Q. Do you consider 5htp 5 htp a weight loss pill?
   A. 5htp, can, in some people, lead to appetite suppression and weight loss. You may also consider hoodia extract.
 

Q. I have a great interest in 5HTP. I am interested in information regarding when to take it, what to take it with, how much to take, whether to take it with meals or on an empty stomach, whether to take it with caffeine, how to minimize daytime sleepiness, how to avoid tolerance, how to incorporate other supplements with 5HTP, and whether to take vitamin B-6 with 5HTP. Note the questions were found in a review of the book... I cannot locate the book for purchase.. Any suggestions as I am interested in purchasing the product now... if the questions are answered.

 

Q. I have depression accompanied with aggression (depending on my cycle). I am very interested in 5HTP as a natural solution to this problem. However- I don't want to lose my sex drive (as I experienced with taking Zoloft).
   A. 5HTP converts into serotonin which inhibits sexual urge. Please see suggestions on depression for additional options to treat low mood that do not blunt sexuality.

 

Q. I noticed difficulty with erection if i use 5htp for long periods. Is there a connection?
   A. Yes, high doses of 5htp over time can lead to impotence which is reversed when the 5htp is stopped.

 

Q. Q. l have ordered 5-htp and would like to know if it is beneficial or safe to take libido enhancing aphrodisiac formulas at the same time.
   A. We suggest not to use 5-HTP and sexual herbs together. 5-HTP increases serotonin which blunts the sexual response and it would make it more difficult for the libido herbs to be effective. You can use the sexual herbs for a few days and take a break and use 5-HTP for a few days.

 

Q. I was on 5HTP for a few years and then went off. I've noticed a big change in feeling depressed and not clear in thinking. So I found your website and just ordered some more 5HTP supplement. So you do recommend taking 1-2 days off and maybe a week off each month? So I could NOT take it on Sunday and Wed. (or should it be two days side by side?) Also I got the Diet Rx free. Take that with the 5HTP in the morning?
   A. It is a good idea to take breaks from the use of 5HTP, and it does not make too much difference if how the breaks are taken but it is a good idea to take a week off each month. When taking Diet Rx with 5HTP, we suggest not more than one capsule of Diet Rx a day. The Diet Rx can be taken in the morning while the 5HTP can be taken in the afternoon or early evening.

back to yohimbe bark