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Posted by Margy Squires on 4/1/2025 to
Fibromyalgia
There are a number of nutrient deficiencies in fibromyalgia. Many of the deficiencies are behind the multiple fibro symptoms. Don't expect to fell better unless you supply your body with these missing pieces to support overall health.
5-HTP is one of those pieces that helps reduce pain in fibromyalgia and less pain is always a good thing!
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome of symptoms with a hallmark of widespread, amplified pain. Once thought to be a musculoskeletal, rheumatic disorder, fibromyalgia later was classified as a neuron-based dysfunction, although the etiology or cause remains unclear. Without knowing exactly why or how fibro occurs makes prescribing effective treatment difficult, if not impossible.
Through the years, the go to medications to ease fibro pain were serotonin type drugs. Serotonin re-uptake inhibitors were prescribed to influence the neurotransmitter pathways in an effort to quiet the amplified pain. But published research as late as 2024 states these medications (SSRIs, SNRIs) only "work" on some of the patients for a limited amount of time and did not improve overall quality of life.
Continued research to find a cause further demonstrates a definite dysfunction of the serotonin pathways. Scientists wonder if this opens the door to fibro being an autoimmune system disorder since serotonin is involved in the immune response. Perhaps in an effort to down regulate the pain, signals cross and provoke rather than quiet an inflammatory neurochemical "storm".
As a neurotransmitter, serotonin is part of a neurochemical messaging system that sends chemical messages from nerve cell to nerve cell. Serotonin is directly involved in two of the major symptoms in fibromyalgia: pain and poor sleep. Low levels are often found in fibro. It makes sense, therefore, to "fix" this dysfunctional chemical pathway, but how?
Dr. I Jon Russell was the first researcher to determine that substance P, another neurotransmitter that sends pain signals, was 3-4 times higher in fibro spinal fluid than in normal subjects. Again, it is not clear whether fibro has more pain because of more substance P or more pain because the regulating system doesn't work right.
Dr. Thomas Romano discovered that magnesium was low in fibro and patients could not get better without restoring optimal magnesium red blood cell levels. One reason is that magnesium is required for the conversion of the amino acid tryptophan to serotonin. And magnesium helps calm muscles and nerves. Another important reason is that magnesium is involved in so many other enzyme reactions that could directly and indirectly influence fibro symptoms.
As a precursor to serotonin, 5-HTP taken as a supplement, increases serotonin levels in the central nervous system. Since serotonin helps regulate sleep, anxiety and pain sensation, a 1990 published study suggested 5-HTP could be effective to treat a variety of conditions, including insomnia and fibromyalgia.
Would supporting the serotonin system specifically help reduce fibromyalgia pain levels and influence sleep and mood too?
As early as 1992, 5-HTP was shown "effective in improving the symptoms of primary fibromyalgia syndrome and that it mains its efficacy throughout the 90 day period of treatment". This study reveals two major points: 1) 5-HTP "significantly improves" fibro symptoms and 2) taking 5-HTP helped in a relatively short period of time.
A 2021 review of serotonin's role in fibro again pointed out the need to correct this issue. Why haven't more patient studies been done, given previous successful studies? Maybe complementary therapies are not pursued due to lack of medical school training? Or perhaps studies are not accept for publication as easily as those paid for by pharmaceutical companies? That is unfortunate for those who could find relief with 5-HTP supplementation.
So should you try 5-HTP to help with your pain, sleep and anxiety? If some of your symptoms include poor sleep, poor pain management and you have that "anxious feeling" being in pain causes, 5-HTP may be what your near system needs to support a healthy messaging system. The study dose was up to 300 mg a day. Given that 5-HTP was specifically studied in fibromyalgia and produced results in less than 90 days is another reason to try it.
Caution: If you are already taking a prescription SSRI or SNRI, you will need to check with your prescribing health professional before trying 5-HTP. Taking 5-HTP with those medications may result in "serotonin syndrome" when. you combine the pharmaceutical with the supplement. If you've tried an SSRI or SNRI before and received some relief but it did not last, it may be an indication that 5-HTP could help you by improving the serotonin pathways.
One more thing. The 90-day study with fibromyalgia patients showed effectiveness without side effects, with only one person dropping out. Given the sensitivity of FM patients, that's good to know about 5-HTP, too!
©TyH Publications (M. Squires). For informational purposes only.
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