Performance & Grey-Market Pharma
5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan)
Street names: 5-HTP, Oxitriptan, Griffonia extract, The serotonin precursor
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- Direct serotonin precursor: mild mood/sleep effects; post-MDMA recovery folklore
⚠Key risks
- SEROTONIN SYNDROME when stacked with SSRIs, MDMA, tramadol, or MAOIs — the 'harmless supplement' interacts fatally with the party calendar
- Heart-valve concern (chronic high-dose serotonin load, rodent signals)
- Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome from a contaminated 1980s supply (historic, why quality matters)
- Daytime grogginess, vivid dreams
✚Overdose signs
- Agitation, clonus, fever (serotonin syndrome in combos)
- Nausea, drowsiness
📋Quick facts
Also known as5-HTP, Oxitriptan, Griffonia extract, The serotonin precursor
CategoryPerformance & Grey-Market Pharma
Schedule / classSupplement — unregulated US/UK/EU
Appearance50–400 mg capsules from Griffonia simplicifolia seed extract
Street price$10–$25 per bottle
Legal statusSupplement US/UK; Rx (oxitriptan) in some countries; no quality standardization
Last updated2026-09-18
Sources: FDA, EMA, PubMed
Category comparison — Performance & Grey-Market Pharma
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) | Supplement — unregulated US/UK/EU | SEROTONIN SYNDROME when stacked with SSRIs, MDMA, tramadol, or MAOIs — the 'harmless supplement' interacts fatally with the party calendar; Heart-valve concern (chronic high-dose serotonin load, rodent signals) | $10–$25 per bottle |
| St John's Wort (Hypericum) | OTC supplement — unregulated US; Rx-only Germany for depression | THE INTERACTION KING: induces CYP3A4 and P-gp — weakens oral contraceptives (pregnancies documented), HIV antiretrovirals, transplant immunosuppressants, blood thinners, chemotherapy; Serotonin syndrome with SSRIs, MDMA, tramadol | $8–$20 per bottle |
| MDMA | Schedule I | Overheating + dehydration (or fatal water intoxication); Serotonin depletion — multi-day comedown | ~$10–$40 per pill |
| MAOIs (Phenelzine, Tranylcypromine, Moclobemide) | Rx-only — not controlled | TYRAMINE CRISIS: aged cheese, cured meats, tap beer, fermented soy → hypertensive crisis (stroke-level BP) — the classic interaction; SEROTONIN SYNDROME with SSRIs, MDMA, tramadol, dextromethorphan, St John's Wort — potentially fatal; washout rules (2 weeks for irreversibles) | ~$0.50–$2 per tablet |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) look like?
50–400 mg capsules from Griffonia simplicifolia seed extract
What are the signs of a 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) overdose?
Agitation, clonus, fever (serotonin syndrome in combos); Nausea, drowsiness Call emergency services immediately.
How addictive is it?
SEROTONIN SYNDROME when stacked with SSRIs, MDMA, tramadol, or MAOIs — the 'harmless supplement' interacts fatally with the party calendar Dependence can develop with regular use.