Hixxy, I recently read that taking some green tea around the time you take the 5-HTP (or Mucuna) helps get it into the brain instead of going to the gut right away.
I have been taking 5-HTP successfully for almost 2 years, and coincidentally also take a green/white/black tea pill in the morning, although that is for weight loss.
I did also read that even though B6 is needed, to not take the B6 at the same time as 5-HTP, as others have mentioned.