L-Tryptophan vs Tyrosine for mood
Short answer: For mood, more users report improvement with L-Tryptophan — 95% of 37 reports, versus 83% of 259 for Tyrosine.
L-Tryptophan has 18 meta-analyses and 117 randomized trials on PubMed; Tyrosine has 2,190 and 1,766.
Based on 238 reports about L-Tryptophan and 1,662 about Tyrosine. Not medical advice.
| L-Tryptophan Supplement | Tyrosine Supplement | |
|---|---|---|
| Users say it helped | 61%helped67 reports · medium confidence | 55%helped632 reports · high confidence |
| Verdict | Mostly positive | Mixed |
| Research | AResearch: Strong | AResearch: Strong |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 18 / 117 | 2,190 / 1,766 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Mood % reporting improvement | 95% (37) | 83% (259) |
| Focus % reporting improvement | — | 85% (294) |
| Energy % reporting improvement | — | 91% (238) |
| Sleep % reporting improvement | 89% (54) | 33% (12) |
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 77% (13) | 57% (53) |
| Common side effects | drowsiness, vivid dreams, death, anxiety | anxiety, headache, irritability, jitteriness |
| Typical dose reported | 1000 mg / before sleep | 500 mg / daily |
Trp supplementation, especially at ≥1 g can help improve sleep quality.
Nutr Rev, 2022 ↗“L-Tryptophan has given me the most relaxation / anti-anxiety out of the aminos I've tried.”
In patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC, first and third generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, as well as combination therapies with antiangiogenesis, were associated with increased risks of cardiovascular adverse events. Risks were significantly higher with third generation compared with first generation inhibitors.
BMJ, 2025 ↗“I stack taurine with tyrosine and creatine and that has helped my mood noticeably and also helps me feel stronger and more energetic.”
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Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate