Using 5-htp to help treat depression has had a lot more publicity lately due in-part to many high profile celebrities using the supplement at some point in their lives.
Although 5-htp is classed as a supplement, many of its properties are very similar to anti-depressive medication, as such many draw comparisons between the two parties. However it is important to note that there is a fundamental difference in the way in which they both achieve this.
Specifically designed anti-depressive drugs work by slowing or stopping the serotonin from retreating into the cells in our brain, the effect of this is that the low amounts of serotonin present in the depressed persons brain are, effectively, recycled. This is why they are given the name SSRI SSRI stands for Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors or serotonin-specific re-uptake inhibitor.
Drugs in this class include:
* Citalopram (Celexa, Cipramil, Cipram, Dalsan, Recital, Emocal, Sepram, Seropram, Citox) * dapoxetine (Priligy) * escitalopram (Lexapro, Cipralex, Esertia) * fluoxetine (Prozac, Fontex, Seromex, Seronil, Sarafem, Ladose, Fluctin (EUR), Fluox (NZ), Depress (UZB), Lovan (AUS)) * fluvoxamine (Luvox, Fevarin, Faverin, Dumyrox, Favoxil, Movox) * indalpine (Upstene) (discontinued) * paroxetine (Paxil, Seroxat, Sereupin, Aropax, Deroxat, Divarius, Rexetin, Xetanor, Paroxat, Loxamine) * sertraline (Zoloft, Lustral, Serlain) * zimelidine (Zelmid, Normud) (discontinued)
5-htp however works by supplying the body with the raw material it needs to construct more of its own serotonin. Its a simple solution to the problem and doesn require any manipulation of the brains natural processes.
Its important to note here that if you are currently taking any prescribed medication of the SSRI category, or indeed, ANY medication your doctor has prescribed to you to help treat depression and you feel you might try 5-htp instead, DO NOT take both at the same time. Doing so could induce Syndrome a potentially fatal condition when the body has far to much serotonin.