Adenosine monophosphate (AMP) is an intermediary substance formed during the body’s process of creating energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from food.
The body creates AMP within cells during normal metabolic processes. AMP is also found as a supplement, although it is not widely available.
Preliminary research suggests that people with herpes simplex or herpes zoster (shingles) infections may have low levels of AMP; however, the clinical significance of this finding is unclear.
Photosensitivity Shingles
The limited number of human studies involving oral AMP have not indicated any side effects. However, some researchers have expressed concern that supplemental intake of AMP could, in theory, increase levels of adenosine, a substance related to AMP that may interfere with immune function. Doctors using AMP injections report that too-rapid intravenous administration or inadvertent administration of an intramuscular injection into a vein could cause life-threatening arrhythmias of the heart. At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions with Adenosine Monophosphate.
The trials using AMP for photosensitivity have used 160–200 mg of AMP per day; however, the ideal intake of this supplement has not been determined. Research with shingles has used a special gel form of AMP injected into muscle; a doctor should be consulted for this form of AMP.