What is the correlation between 5 HTP and ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus? Is 5 HTP the solution to my tinnitus troubles? Is 5 HTP right for me?
What is 5 HTP?
Will 5 HTP quiet my ringing ears?
5 Hydroxytryptophan, or 5 HTP, is a naturally occurring amino acid. It is used as a precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter found in your stomach and central nervous system that regulates mood, appetite, and sleep among other things. 5-HTP is not usually found in the food that we eat but is found in supplement form. Currently, 5-htp supplements are marketed as an antidepressant, appetite suppressant and sleep aid. It is also used for the home treatment of ringing ears, fibromyalgia, panic attacks and chronic headaches.
5 HTP and Ringing in the Ears
While doctors disagree on the main cause of tinnitus, some doctors have come up with a theory that a lack of serotonin may be the cause of tinnitus in some patients. If this theory is true then it is believed that 5 HTP would replace the missing serotonin, quieting the ear noise.
There has not been enough research on the topic to say for sure. Some people report feeling very tired while taking 5 HTP. Others say it actually makes their ringing louder. If you do decide to try 5 HTP, the recommended dosage is 50 mg. Do not take more than 100 mg without consulting with your doctor.
