Oxitriptan is an aromatic amino acid with antidepressant activity. In vivo, oxitriptan is converted into 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) as well as other neurotransmitters. Oxitriptan may exert its antidepressant activity via conversion to serotonin or directly by binding to serotonin receptors within the central nervous system. It is used as an antiepileptic and antidepressant. Oxitriptan is a worthwhile addition to the limited treatments available for obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic disorder, two psychiatric disorders which have previously been difficult to manage pharmacologically. Possible gastrointestinal side effects are: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation or flatulence, which tend to disappear with continued treatment or, in any case, dose reduction. Other undesirable effects such as anorexia, xerostomia, tachycardia, extrasystoles, dizziness, headache, lightheadedness, tremor or myalgia may occur.