Andrew Huberman on 5-HTP
12 episodes · 17 references · 2021–2025
Based on dated public statements, not confirmation of use today.
Andrew Huberman previously took 5-HTP but has since stopped. Referenced across 12 episodes with 17 total references.
View full 5-HTP page with research, safety, and pricing →“Supplementing precursors to serotonin like 5-HTP can enhance the amount of serotonin that's available in the brain and blood and thereby lead to the particular quality of sleep that allows for a more robust immune response.”
Using Your Nervous System to Enhance Your Immune System
“They find that they do have significant effects in improving or reducing the symptoms of OCD in somewhat similar way to some of the SSRIs.”
The Science & Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
“Beware serotonin supplements as they could disrupt the timing of REM sleep and slow wave sleep.”
Understand and Use Dreams to Learn and Forget | Huberman Lab Essentials
“Many people, including myself, find that when they supplement with serotonin in the evening or at night that can cause problems in the architecture or the structure of sleep. It can cause a lot of people, including me, to fall asleep very fast, sleep very deeply for three or four hours, and then wake up and have a terrible time falling back asleep.”
Maximize Productivity, Physical & Mental Health With Daily Tools | Huberman Lab Essentials
“Some people will take 5-HTP to try and enhance their sleep. I'm not a fan of doing that, personally. I experience that as if I've taken 5-HTP or tryptophan, I fall asleep very deeply, but then I wake up three hours later and I can't fall asleep at all.”
The Science of Gratitude & How to Build a Gratitude Practice
“It does seem to increase cortisol though they report as a minor effect.”
How Foods and Nutrients Control Our Moods
“I personally have tried taking a supplement which was L-tryptophan or 5-HTP, and I'll be honest the sleep that I had with increased serotonin by way of tryptophan or 5-HTP was dreadful.”
Using Science to Optimize Sleep, Learning & Metabolism
“Anytime I've taken 5-HTP to try and improve sleep, I fall asleep and then I wake up very deep deep sleep and then I wake up very alert and I have trouble with the later phases of sleep.”
Dr. Matt Walker: Protocols to Improve Your Sleep | Huberman Lab Guest Series
“I myself have tried 5-HTP prior to sleep. It led to very deep sleep for about one to three hours and then I woke up and I could not fall back asleep. I decided to abandon 5-HTP as a sleep aid.”
Optimize & Control Your Brain Chemistry to Improve Health & Performance | Huberman Lab Podcast #80
“...5-HTP is a supplement that I actually do not recommend for most people for sake of sleep, because it can disrupt the normal architecture of sleep and create a deep sleep early in the night and then a spontaneous waking.”
Using Your Nervous System to Enhance Your Immune System
“You will see protocols that people have put out on the internet such as, after taking MDMA, you should take a bunch of 5-HTP. There's really no evidence that any of those things can be beneficial, and there is actually some reason to believe that it might be detrimental.”
The Science of MDMA & Its Therapeutic Uses: Benefits & Risks | Huberman Lab Podcast