Ingesting 5-HTP may augment heightened serotonin levels associated with sickness behavior sleep, but should not be taken regularly unless prescribed for conditions like depression.

“And then you've got this specialized sleep that's related to sickness behavior that seems to have heightened levels of serotonin that might be augmented by ingesting 5-HTP. Again, not on a regular basis. I don't suggest that people take compounds that increase serotonin unless it's prescribed to you for depression or something, but not doing by supplement with tryptophan or 5-HTP on a regular basis, but only under conditions where as I mentioned, you might be starting to feel sick or you're coming down with something, or you're combating some sort of infection.”