Discover: Should You Use Serotonin Supplements?

Supplements may be beneficial, but you may want to think twice about serotonin. Learn the side effects of serotonin supplements and the risk of serotonin syndrome.

By Sara Novak
Dec 29, 2023

We all want to feel happy, and with so many supplements on the market that claim to do just that, you might think “going natural” is safer. Many of us are also looking for ways to increase serotonin without taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, known as an SSRI. But it’s important to be cautious with supplementation and realize that just because you don’t need a prescription doesn’t mean the supplement is safe.

What Is Serotonin?

Serotonin, or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a chemical in the human body that carries messages between nerve cells in the brain and throughout the body. It’s ubiquitous and, therefore, impacts everything from mood and digestion to wound healing, nausea, blood clotting, and sexual health.

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Taking a Serotonin Supplement

According to Maya Feller, a Brooklyn-based registered dietitian and nutritionist, the hope with a serotonin supplement is that it’s going to increase serotonin production so that more of it is available in the brain. “There’s more research on pharmacology than there is on supplementation, which is a big factor,” says Feller.

Supplements may increase the amount of serotonin that’s available in the body, but they’re often not as strong as a pharmacological agent like an antidepressant. “When we’re thinking about pharmacology versus a supplement, pharmacology is much more powerful,” Feller says.

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