The uncomfortable feeling you get from 5-HTP can be from activation of parasympathetic serotonin receptors, as well as activation of 5-HT2C in the brain. You're

The uncomfortable feeling you get from 5-HTP can be from activation of parasympathetic serotonin receptors, as well as activation of 5-HT2C in the brain. You're essentially going through the initial two weeks of SSRI use, where 5-HT2C gets activated but hasn't downregulated yet, which is a hypothesized source of increased anxiety and suicidality from initial SSRI use. What would be interesting is to see if that discomfort would dissipate after 2+ weeks of chronic 5-HTP use, with the goal of blasting 5-HT2C until it's desensitized, which is what happens with chronic SSRI use. I don't like the idea of 5-HTP because of the potential for higher levels of serotonin in the blood potentially activating 5-HT2B in the heart, potentially leading you to need a heart valve replacement. Regarding L-Dopa, from what I'm aware of, L-Dopa gets metabolized before it makes it to the brain, so much of the L-Dopa gets metabolized into dopamine and norepinephrine outside of the brain and then those neurotransmitters activate the parasympathetic nervous system, resulting in increased anxiety, paranoia and physical discomfort. That parasympathetic activation can increase feelings of alertness and wakefulness without ever having L-Dopa enter the brain. Another interesting thing to see is how L-Dopa would fare when taking it with an inhibitor that would allow it to successfully enter the brain a la Carbidopa for Parkinson's patients. Obviously don't do this, I'm just thinking out loud and fucking around with your body like this can have serious consequences if you aren't doing so under the supervision of your own doctor. Finally, regarding THC, if anxiety and paranoia are problems for you, like you allude to when talking about L-Dopa, try delta-8-THC. I find it to be much more therapeutic than delta-9-THC. I get no anxiety or paranoia from delta-8-THC, but I do get the full therapeutic effect I got from normal THC when it comes to antiemesis, mood, pain, etc. It also has less of an intoxicating effect, and doesn't mess with my memory of motivation as bad as delta-9-THC does. I haven't used normal THC in years despite it being legal and readily available.