Give Back Health Clinic Collection 5-HTP is a practitioner-only nutritional supplement that provides 100% pure medicine-grade 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), extracted from Griffonia simplicifolia seed. It comes in powder form and is designed for extemporaneous compounding and prescribing under practitioner supervision. 5-HTP is the direct precursor to serotonin, a major neurotransmitter that regulates mood and emotion. 5-HTP shows promise in supporting healthy mood, anxiety and sleep, particularly when low protein intake is involved. 5-HTP is also an effective option for appetite control as carbohydrate cravings are often associated with low serotonin levels

• 5-HTP is the direct precursor to serotonin.
• Supplementation with 5-HTP increases the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and melatonin.
• It is an effective option to improve mood, particularly where low mood is associated with anxiety and poor sleep and where low protein intake is involved.

5-HTP is the direct precursor to serotonin, a major neurotransmitter that regulates mood and emotion. 5-HTP shows promise in supporting healthy mood, anxiety and sleep, particularly when low protein intake is involved. 5-HTP is also an effective option for appetite control as carbohydrate cravings are often associated with low serotonin levels.

• Use of 5-HTP avoids the rate-limiting conversion step in the synthesis of serotonin, from tryptophan to 5-HTP.
• 5-HTP freely crosses the blood brain barrier (tryptophan competes with other large neutral amino acids for carriers).
• Conversion to serotonin not slowed by feedback inhibition.
• 5-HTP freely crosses the blood-brain barrier, and provides a precursor to serotonin, independent of diet.
• Low brain serotonin may lead to carbohydrate (CHO) cravings as dietary CHOs provide the best environment for tryptophan transport across the blood-brain barrier.

See factsheet for specific scientific findings and a full list of references.

• Marked remission of symptoms of depression observed in 65% of patients according to a recent meta-analysis.
• 5-HTP reported to have equivalent efficacy as the SSRI fluoxetine even when assessed over 8 weeks of treatment.
• In treatment resistant depression, patients receiving a SERT (serotonin transporter inhibitor) plus 5-HTP had symptom improvements as serotonin levels increased when compared to placebo.
• 5-HTP increases levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, melatonin and serotonin.
• CHO craving may be associated with low brain serotonin or low precursor level.
• Appropriate serotonin levels in the brain reduces the potential for CHO cravings and promotes the selection of dietary protein food choices.
• The rate limiting enzyme associated with serotonin synthesis (tryptophan hydrolase) is inhibited by factors such as insulin resistance, vitamin B6 deficiency and stress.

• Those experiencing mood imbalance involving low mood.
• People experiencing low mood with anxiety and poor sleep.
• Those on a low protein diet associated with low mood.
• People seeking appetite control with diet and lifestyle modifications.
• People experiencing carbohydrate (CHO) craving.
• 5 HTP has been studied for use in both adults and children.

• When people are struggling with low mood.
• Where low mood is associated with anxiety and poor sleep quality.
• As an adjunct to medically supervised withdrawal of SSRIs and other pharmaceutical treatment options.
• To assist with appetite control issues.
• To help with CHO cravings (particularly when co-occurring with low mood).

When selecting a 5-HTP product, key factors include ingredient form, clinical dosing, purity, excipient profile and manufacturing standards. This product has been specifically developed for practitioner use and compounding, with:


• High-quality, verified raw materials with full traceability.

• Manufacturing in a TGA-licensed GMP facility in Australia.
• Rigorous third-party testing to ensure potency, purity and absence of contaminants.


100% pure 5-HTP powder with no excipients suitable for sensitive patients and custom blends, and available throughout Australia and New Zealand.

This product prioritises efficacy, quality assurance and suitability for tailored prescribing, giving you clinical confidence and patient clarity. Unlike most therapeutic and extemporaneous compounding powders in the marketplace, all our products – including Give Back Health Clinic Collection 5-HTP – are manufactured and tested in TGA-registered GMP facilities here in Australia, ensuring high standards of quality, safety and efficacy. Every product, every batch, with no exceptions.

This means the included ingredients are what they claim to be and the products are therefore more likely to have an actual therapeutic impact. This process also prevents counterfeit and adulterated materials from entering the market. While it adds significantly to our costs, we believe this level of integrity should be the industry standard. Please note that we absorb the extra expense ourselves; it is not passed on to you.

In short, yes. Powders for extemporaneous compounding sit in a unique therapeutic category with its own set of rules. When you choose to use a compounding powder, the expectation is that you will be combining this with other therapeutic nutrients and ingredients to create a personalised medicine. Single ingredient prescribing is, however, possible with extemporaneous compounding ingredients with best practice to ensure that the amount of product in the jar represents the full course for the patient. The quantity of any ingredient you use will be calculated in relation to the prescription length and daily required dose, which is completely specific to an individual patient’s presentation and needs.

• While 5-HTP is not very soluble in water, people do still generally mix it into water or juice, swirl and quickly drink it. Alternatively, it can be mixed into soft foods like yoghurt, smoothies or cereal.
• The common dosage for 5-HTP: 75 mg to 300 mg per day, ideally divided into 2–4 doses. Begin low and titrate up depending on the individual’s clinical presentation and tolerability. Without knowing your patient’s presentation and requirements, we cannot provide guidelines around appropriate daily dosing and suggest you refer to the literature and common dosage ranges when creating your prescription. Our team of naturopaths are also available for further guidance.
• We recommend taking 5-HTP away from high protein meals (either right before or 2 hours after) to ensure adequate absorption.
• 5 HTP has been studied for use in both adults and children. Please reach out to our team of naturopaths if you need any assistance with dosage for your patients.

5-HTP is generally well tolerated, however there are some key interactions to note:

• Serotonergic drugs: Theoretically, combining serotonergic drugs with 5-HTP might cause additive serotonergic effects and increase the risk of serotonin syndrome. 5-HTP should therefore not be taken with serotonergic medications (including SSRIs, SNRIs or MAOIs) unless under the supervision of experienced practitioners and treatment teams.
• Carbidopa: Combining 5-HTP and carbidopa can increase the risk of serotonergic side effects.
• Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants: Theoretically, concomitant use of 5-HTP with medications that cause sedation might have additive effects.

While 5-HTP is not specifically contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation, there is insufficient reliable evidence so we recommend avoid use.

Results are generally seen within 2-4 weeks, with further improvement by 4-8 weeks.

This product contains no excipients. It is 100% pure 5-HTP.

Give Back Health Clinic Collection 5-HTP is manufactured and tested in TGA-registered GMP facilities here in Australia, ensuring high standards of quality, safety and efficacy. Every product, every batch, with no exceptions. This means the included ingredients are what they claim to be and the products are therefore more likely to have an actual therapeutic impact. This process also prevents counterfeit and adulterated materials from entering the market. While it adds significantly to our costs, we believe this level of integrity should be the industry standard. Please note that we absorb the extra expense ourselves; it is not passed on to you.

Give Back Health Clinic Collection 5-HTP is most commonly used alongside our NAC, L-Glycine, Saffron + Zinc, Zinc Picolinate, NR (Nicotinamide Riboside), MagRegulate® and Mood-D for additional support, depending on clinical goals.

Absolutely. This can be mixed with any other powder product in the Give Back Health Clinic Collection. Reach out if you need assistance or guidance with compounding personalised medicines for your patients. Alternatively, see our compounding resources, including a compounding calculator, videos and sample recipes based on real-life cases.

We do not offer L-tryptophan as a standalone product as 5-HTP bypasses the rate-limiting step in serotonin synthesis, making it a more direct and efficient way to support serotonin levels in clinical use. If the intent is to support NAD production via the tryptophan pathway, we recommend Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) or Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN), both available in the Give Back Health Clinic Collection.

5-HTP is commonly used to support healthy mood balance, relaxation and sleep quality, especially where low mood is linked to poor sleep or carbohydrate cravings.

If you are using medicinal cannabis (such as THC-containing oils), ADHD medication or any other prescribed medications, there are no known direct contraindications, but data is limited. Due to potential additive CNS effects, we recommend spacing doses at least 2 hours apart and monitoring closely. If the patient also has ADHD and is avoiding SNRIs, 5-HTP may be cautiously trialled for mood and sleep support.

The connection between 5-HTP and gut motility is not well established. While some clinicians explore 5-HTP in constipation-type SIBO, the research is still emerging. Trial use should be monitored and other prokinetic options considered first-line.