A serotonin and melatonin precursor used for sleep and mood — with the same serotonin-syndrome cautions as 5-HTP.
TrustedSupp Tier System™ · Tier 3Take as a defined course
Check before you startThis one has documented interactions with medication classes where the consequences are serious. If you take any prescription medicine, run it past a pharmacist before starting.
Evidence strength
30/100Weak
WEAKLIMITEDMODERATESTRONGVERY STRONG
What the evidence supports: sleep onset and mood in small, older trials.
This scores how well-supported the claim above is — not how much benefit you personally would get. A high score on a narrow claim does not extend to everything the product is marketed for.
How long to take it
Short courses only, and not alongside psychiatric medication.
Who it's actually for
People exploring sleep support who take no serotonergic medication.
Safe upper limit
Unverified
No formal upper limit; 1–5 g daily used in studies
Combining with antidepressants or other serotonergic drugs risks serotonin syndrome. In 1989 a contaminated batch caused eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome — a manufacturing problem, but a reminder that quality matters.