If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use 5-HTP without first talking to your healthcare provider.

Antidepressants -- People who are taking antidepressant medications should not take 5-HTP. These medications could combine with 5-HTP to cause serotonin syndrome, a dangerous condition characterized by mental changes, hot flashes, rapidly fluctuating blood pressure and heart rate, and possibly coma. Antidepressant medications that can interact with 5-HTP include:

• SSRIs: Citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft)
• Tricyclics: Amitriptyline (Elavil), nortryptyline (Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil)
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs): Phenelzine, (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate)
• Nefazodone (Serzone)

Carbidopa -- Taking 5-HTP with carbidopa, a medication used to treat Parkinson's disease, may cause a scleroderma-like illness (a condition in which the skin becomes hard, thick, and inflamed).

Tramadol (Ultram) -- Tramadol, used for pain control and sometimes prescribed for people with fibromyalgia, may also increase serotonin levels too much if taken in combination with 5-HTP. Serotonin syndrome has been reported in some people taking the two together.

Triptans (used to treat migraines) -- 5-HTP can increase the risk of side effects, including serotonin syndrome, when taken with these medications:

• Naratriptan (Amerge)
• Rizatriptan (Maxalt)
• Sumatriptan (Imitrex)
• Zolmitriptan (Zomig)