5-HTP bad for you?

i will preface this little account with the fact that i dont know if this is true but am asking if anyone can give some evidence to support or discredit this tidbit of information.
a friend told me that he had been told that using 5-HTP constantly reduces and finally stops the body's own ability to naturally produce serotonin. he didnt say what the dosage was or the frequency, but i think it was used for pre and post loading and not for helping with sleeping disorders or other such related medical conditions.
i have no real information other than this but since i do post-load and am concerned about my health i was wondering if anyone could provide any information on this problem or if they have heard anything similar or if this guy is just full of sh*t.
by the way i have performed a search and haven't found anything related to this, i apologise if this topic has already been addressed but if it hasn't i am keen to find out if this condition is possible.

My understanding of it, is that it provides the raw materials for the body to produce serotonin. Much in the same way that bannanas and turkey meat do, would over eating turkey meat have the same effect. I'm just rambling on now
But seriously check out these sites:
http://www.medquestpharmacy.com/5-htp.htm
http://www.pharmwest.com/5-hydroxy.html
http://www.doctormurray.com/B5htpFAQ.htm
I hope these help you in some way

If you are just using it for pre/post load & don't take it all the time, then I don't think you have much to worry about with regard to natural serotonin production.
Taking it constantly, though, could have those effects. Most vitamins & minerals used by the body are naturally sourced from the foods we eat. If we replace that source with a tablet, the body adapts to accept that vitamin from the new source. As an example, munching on vitamin C tablets all the time, without getting vit C from other sources, reduces the bodies ability to use naturally sourced vit C. This is why these things are labelled as dietary supplements, not replacements.
For all those looking for a source, I learnt this from a nutritionist girlfriend, so don't have a URL or anything. I encourage everybody to go & clarify this further if they wish to hear it from a more qualified source (and remember to tell me if I've got anything wrong! ).
Cheers,
Ben.
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The rich would have to eat money, but luckily the poor provide food.

just to clarify, i spoke to the friend of mine that told me this and he said that 5-HTP had been used as a last resort replacement to prozac and so it was taken on a daily basis.
i was wondering if long term use had an effect like this, would there be any effects with much milder dosages?