I recently started taking the over the counter supplement 5-htp for my anxiety disorder. It has helped immensely. I am extremely impressed with how well this supplement has worked for me. My husband and I are however interested in starting a family and hoping to start trying to conceive. I m very nervous about stopping the use of the supplement because it s worked so well for me. There s research on taking SRI s during pregnancy but I haven t been able to find any about 5 htp, probably just due to the fact that it s a less popular drug. I was under the impression that 5-htp would be better for you because for one it s an over the counter drug and doesn t even require a prescription, It is a supplement that gives your body what you need to create your own serotonin, it s natural etc. For SRI s the research and articles I m reading are saying that it s low risk for birth defects and overall fine to take during pregnancy, but there isn t the same research for 5 htp. Why would 5 htp be better for a non-pregnant person in terms of health, with everyone suggesting it s better than taking SRI s but for pregnant women, they would suggest taking SRI s instead? I m not understanding this. Why would SRI s be better for pregnant women than 5 htp, which is just a supplement with its conversion being an amino acid that s found in food?