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Dietary supplement

L-Tryptophan 500 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by HBC Protocols

Capsule Category: Amino Acid/protein
Most serious interaction: Major
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Major

L-Tryptophan 500 mg is a dietary supplement by HBC Protocols with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for sleep problems, low mood and depression, anxiety.Based on those ingredients, 394 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated major. The ingredients most likely to interact are L-Tryptophan. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of L-Tryptophan 500 mg by HBC Protocols

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: L-tryptophan 500 mg per capsule. L-tryptophan is an amino acid your body uses to make serotonin, a chemical messenger involved in mood, sleep, and appetite regulation.

The capsule also contains magnesium stearate as an inactive ingredient (a lubricant used in manufacturing).

Does it work?

Not established
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not established

The graded evidence we hold for these ingredients covers different conditions than the ones this product is marketed for, so there's no established rating for its stated use — see L-tryptophan's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: promoting relaxation and sleep.
  • We looked for evidence on: Anxiety, Depression, Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), insomnia — and 2 related terms.
  • The closest evidence on file: L-tryptophan is rated "Possibly Ineffective" for Depression (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: L-tryptophan is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Anxiety, Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), Seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

The evidence for L-tryptophan is mixed and limited. For depression, the data we hold shows it is possibly ineffective.

For anxiety, athletic performance, teeth grinding (bruxism), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), there is insufficient reliable evidence to rate whether it works. If you're considering this for one of those conditions, talk with your doctor about whether the evidence supports it for your situation.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient L-tryptophan

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

L-Tryptophan is generally well tolerated when taken by mouth. The most common side effects are mild and include belching, diarrhea, drowsiness, dry mouth, flatulence, headache, heartburn, lightheadedness, nausea, stomach pain, blurred vision, and vomiting.

There is a serious historical concern: in 1989, a contaminated batch of L-tryptophan produced by a single Japanese manufacturer caused over 1,500 cases of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS), a rare neurological disorder with skin changes, hair loss, and other serious symptoms. About 95% of those cases traced back to that one source; the product was recalled in 1990.

Modern L-tryptophan is subject to stricter oversight, but the history warrants caution. For pregnancy, the safety data is conflicting—some evidence suggests it may be possibly unsafe, so it's best to avoid it during pregnancy unless your doctor advises otherwise.

For breastfeeding, safety is not established, so avoid use while nursing. If you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this product.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient L-tryptophan

Meds to double-check

Major interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Major identified

At least one ingredient has a documented Major-severity interaction. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — L-tryptophan.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Major.
  • For scale: 394 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking L-Tryptophan, double-check with your doctor or pharmacist if you take any central nervous system depressants (sleep aids, benzodiazepines, opioids, or other sedating medications) or serotonergic drugs (antidepressants like SSRIs or SNRIs, certain migraine medications, or MAOIs). The combination could intensify drowsiness or raise the risk of serotonin syndrome.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Major medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

L-Tryptophan may be worth considering if you're interested in mood or sleep support and your doctor agrees—but it has major interactions with sleep aids, pain medications, and antidepressants, and the evidence for most uses is limited or unclear. Check your medications first, and talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting, especially if you take anything for mood, sleep, or pain.

Avoid it during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Jun 23, 2017.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about L-Tryptophan 500 mg, straight from the product label.

Brand HBC Protocols
Barcode (UPC) 679840582214
Net contents 180 Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jun 23, 2017
DSLD ID 74991
Product type Amino Acid/protein
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for L-Tryptophan 500 mg by HBC Protocols, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
3 Capsule(s)
Servings per container
180
UPC/BARCODE
679840582214
IngredientAmount% DV
L-Tryptophan500 mg--

Other ingredients: Magnesium Stearate

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Formulation

No wheat, no gluten, no soy, no dairy, no egg, no fish/shellfish, no nuts/tree nuts, no corn.

Precautions

Warnings: Do not take this product if you are pregnant or breast feeding. If you are taking SSRI's (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) please contact your health care professional before taking this product.

Keep out of the reach of children.

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

General Statements

Discription Pharmaceutical grade-highest purity L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid therefore cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained via food or supplements. It plays an important role in promoting relaxation, sleep, good mood, and may also help reduce carbohydrate cravings.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use Take 1-3 capsules on an empty stomach 30 minutes before food consumption or sleep with water or fruit juice, or as directed by your health care consultant.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

See for yourself

L-Tryptophan 500 mg by HBC Protocols label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in L-Tryptophan 500 mg by HBC Protocols

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container180 Amounts shown are per serving.

L-Tryptophan

Interacts with
394 drugs
500 mg per serving

L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid the body uses to make serotonin and melatonin, and people take it to support sleep and mood. The evidence for...

L-Tryptophan monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Magnesium Stearate. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

L-Tryptophan 500 mg by HBC Protocols Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against L-Tryptophan 500 mg?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
394Drugs
248 Major 146 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in L-Tryptophan 500 mg with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

L-Tryptophan2 drug types · 394 drugs

Cns Depressants

Theoretically, concomitant use of L-tryptophan with CNS depressants might cause additive sedative effects.
Clinical research shows that L-tryptophan can cause fatigue and drowsiness.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
Serotonergic Drugs

Theoretically, combining L-tryptophan with serotonergic drugs might cause additive serotonergic effects.
L-tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin. Theoretically, combining serotonergic drugs with L-tryptophan might increase the risk of serotonergic side effects, including serotonin syndrome and cerebral vasoconstrictive disorders.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for L-Tryptophan 500 mg, from the product label.

HBC Protocols

See all HBC Protocols products
Name
HBC Protocols, Inc.
Street Address
8205 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 472
City
Los Angeles
State
California
ZipCode
90046
Phone Number
888.497.3742
Web Address
ww.hbcprotocols.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

L-Tryptophan 500 mg by HBC Protocols: Common Questions

Does L-Tryptophan 500 mg by HBC Protocols interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, L-Tryptophan 500 mg has a known interaction with 394 medications, including 248 rated major. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
L-Tryptophan 500 mg contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Does L-Tryptophan actually help with sleep or mood?
For depression, the evidence we hold shows it's possibly ineffective. For anxiety, sleep quality, and other uses, there isn't enough reliable evidence to say whether it works. If you're thinking about taking it for one of those reasons, talk with your doctor about whether the evidence supports it for you.
What are the most common side effects?
The most common mild side effects are belching, diarrhea, drowsiness, dry mouth, flatulence, headache, heartburn, lightheadedness, nausea, stomach pain, blurred vision, and vomiting. L-Tryptophan is generally well tolerated, but these effects are worth knowing about.
Is L-Tryptophan safe after the 1989 contamination scare?
Almost all cases of the serious neurological syndrome EMS in 1989 came from one contaminated batch made in Japan. Modern L-Tryptophan is now subject to stricter oversight and monitoring, but the history warrants caution. If you have concerns about safety or any unusual symptoms, talk with your pharmacist.
Can I take this while pregnant or breastfeeding?
The safety data for pregnancy is conflicting—some evidence suggests it may be possibly unsafe, so it's best avoided during pregnancy. For breastfeeding, safety is not established, so avoid use while nursing. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice.
What is L-Tryptophan and what does it do?
L-Tryptophan is an amino acid—a building block your body uses to make serotonin, a chemical that helps regulate mood, sleep, and appetite. Your body cannot make L-Tryptophan on its own, so it comes from food or supplements.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if L-Tryptophan 500 mg is safe with your meds?

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

L-Tryptophan 500 mg label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

L-Tryptophan 500 mg's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 18 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

L-tryptophan 18 references
  1. Messiha FS. Fluoxetine: adverse effects and drug-drug interactions. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1993;31:603-30. PubMed
  2. Devoe LD, Castillo RA, Searle NS. Maternal dietary substrates and human fetal biophysical activity. The effects of tryptophan and glucose on fetal breathing movements. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1986;155:135-9. DOI
  3. Lieberman HR, Corkin S, Spring BJ. The effects of dietary neurotransmitter precursors on human behavior. Am J Clin Nutr 1985;42:366-70. PubMed
  4. U. S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements. Information Paper on L-Tryptophan and 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan, February 2001.
  5. Sullivan EA, Kamb ML, Jones JL, et al. The natural history of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome in a tryptophan-exposed cohort in South Carolina. Arch Intern Med 1996;156:973-9. DOI
  6. Philen RM, Hill RH, Flanders WD, et al. Tryptophan contaminants associated with eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome. Am J Epidemiol 1993;138:154-9. PubMed
  7. Bohme A, Wolter M, Hoelzer D. L-tryptophan-related eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome possibly associated with a chronic B-lymphocytic leukemia. Ann Hematol 1998;77:235-8. PubMed
  8. Singhal AB, Caviness VS, Begleiter AF, et al. Cerebral vasoconstriction and stroke after use of serotonergic drugs. Neurology 2002;58:130-3. PubMed
  9. Priori R, Conti F, Luan FL, et al. Chronic fatigue: a peculiar evolution of eosinophilia myalgia syndrome following treatment with L-tryptophan in four Italian adolescents. Eur J Pediatr 1994;153:344-6..
  10. Klein R, Berg PA. A comparative study on antibodies to nucleoli and 5-hydroxytryptamine in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome and tryptophan-induced eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome. Clin Investig 1994;72:541-9.. PubMed
  11. Simat TJ, Kleeberg KK, Muller B, Sierts A. Synthesis, formation, and occurrence of contaminants in biotechnologically manufactured L-tryptophan. Adv Exp Med Biol 1999;467:469-80.. PubMed
  12. Shaw K, Turner J, Del Mar C. Tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan for depression. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2002;(1):CD003198. PubMed
  13. Kilbourne EM, Philen RM, Kamb ML, Falk H. Tryptophan produced by Showa Denko and epidemic eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome. J Rheumatol Suppl 1996;46:81-8.
  14. Horwitz RI, Daniels SR. Bias or biology: evaluating the epidemiologic studies of L-tryptophan and the eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome. J Rheumatol Suppl 1996;46:60-72.
  15. Shapiro S. Epidemiologic studies of the association of L-tryptophan with the eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome: a critique. J Rheumatol Suppl 1996;46:44-58.
  16. Mayeno AN, Gleich GJ. The eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome: lessons from Germany. Mayo Clin Proc 1994;69:702-4. PubMed
  17. Carr L, Ruther E, Berg PA, Lehnert H. Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome in Germany: an epidemiologic review. Mayo Clin Proc 1994;69:620-5. PubMed
  18. Ullrich SS, Fitzgerald PCE, Giesbertz P, Steinert RE, Horowitz M, Feinle-Bisset C. Effects of intragastric administration of tryptophan on the blood glucose response to a nutrient drink and energy intake, in lean and obese men. Nutrients 2018;10(4). pii: PubMed

See these in context on the L-tryptophan monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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