3. L-Tryptophan
L-Tryptophan is a supplemental nutrient that can be bought from a number of different health stores. Tryptophan is significant because it is actually a precursor to serotonin. That is to say that the brain naturally uses tryptophan in order to build serotonin. The more tryptophan in your system, the greater your capacity to produce serotonin.
As a result, many people will buy l-tryptophan in order to manage their own moods. Some will even use it as a ‘nootropic’ or ‘smart drug’. That is to say, that they try to enhance their own cognitive performance through the use of the drug, in order to make themselves perform better in social settings or even in work situations.
The danger is that it is possible to create too much serotonin this way – which many users aren’t even aware of is a possibility.
A similar substance that it is also possible to overdose on is 5-HTP. This stands for 5 hydroxytryptophan which is, in turn, a precursor to tryptophan itself. 5-HTP is often used in a similar manner as a social aid but can be purchased in parts of the world where tryptophan is not available for legal reasons.