Serotonin is believed to be highly significant on human sexuality. Serotonin taken orally is not passed into the Serotonin pathways of the brain. Since it is such an important regulating chemical, the blood-brain barrier prevents Serotonin in the blood stream from directly affecting Serotonin levels in the brain.

However, the amino acid tryptophan and its metabolite 5-hydroxytryptophan — which Serotonin is synthesized from — are capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier. These chemicals are readily available as dietary supplements and may be effective serotonergic agents.

Other ways of working around the blood-brain barrier include a variety of psychiatric medications that affect Serotonin levels indirectly, including MAO inhibitors, and SSRIs which includes the well known antidepressant fluoxetine (trade name: Prozac®) The MAO inhibitors prevent the breakdown of Serotonin and therefore increase concentrations of the neurotransmitter in the brain.

MAO inhibitors react negatively with many foods (which contain amines) and drugs and have a large list of side effects. After Serotonin is released by a neuron, it activates receptors located on adjacent neurons. After activating these receptors, Serotonin is taken up by neurons, sometimes for reuse. Drugs that are more recent inhibit the uptake of Serotonin, again making it stay in the synapse longer. There are many classes of 5-HT receptors, all of which may be responsible for different things.

These Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRI) have fewer (though still numerous) side effects and fewer interactions with other drugs. Deficient (and sometimes, excessive) intake of various dietary minerals and vitamins can lead to disturbed levels of Serotonin via disrupting either the production or reuptake processes.

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