Low serotonin

[macattack]

This is interesting Tim, i am definetly effected by this right now i am trying out 5-htp i've already tried Tryptophan did'nt do anything for me.




Signs, symptoms & indicators of Low Serotonin Level:


Symptoms - Food - Beverages No desire/inability to recover from alcoholism or being a recovering alcoholic

Symptoms - Food - Preferences
Sugar/sweet craving
Craving but not/craving and eating wheat

Symptoms - General
History of/having a CFS diagnosis

Symptoms - Mind - Emotional
Emotional instability

Symptoms - Sleep
Being a light sleeper



Conditions that suggest Low Serotonin Level:



Mental Depression Serotonin levels can dictate if you feel depressed or not. Antidepressant medications like Paxil, Zoloft, St. John's Wort, and Prozac work by preventing serotonin destruction and loss. These antidepressants inhibit serotonin uptake ( or reuptake) by the neurons in the brains. Low serotonin levels cause depression.

Anxiety Serotonin levels are often low among people with anxiety disorders.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Although the exact cause is not known, experts believe that OCD may be caused by low levels of a chemical in the brain called serotonin.


Metabolic
Bulimic Tendency
Problems Caused By Being Overweight
Migraine/Tension Headaches

Musculo-Skeletal
Restless Leg Syndrome See the treatment link between RLS and tryptophan/5HPT.


Symptoms - Muscular
History of/having a fibromyalgia diagnosis


Recommendations and treatments for Low Serotonin Level:


Amino Acid / Protein Tryptophan / 5 HTP Tryptophan is the dietary amino acid precursor for production of serotonin in the body. First it is converted into 5HTP, and then into serotonin. Both supplements are available, but tryptophan may require a doctor's prescription. It is recommended that these be taken under a doctor's supervision.

ALSO

Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor, St. John's Wort (hypericum)

These are serotonin SRIs (Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors).

[Tim Wescott]

Mac,I have been diagnosed with chronic depression,PTSD,and an anxiety condition...........I think a lot of this coupled with other factors contributed big time to my self-medication problems with booze and drugs.

I am always stessed,and never sleep good either.

I have been on all kinds of meds but the only thing that actually helped me was a drug called Serzone........I was on the highest dosage recommended for 3 years then they tell me people were dying from it due to liver problems caused by the Serzone.

Thanks a lot.................like my freakin` liver wasn`t already pickled enough!!! LOL

Today,I am on no meds but am curently on the list to see a therapist as my depression comes and goes and lately it`s been bad and my anxiety is off the hook!

[macattack]

Geez what a mess LOL


Tim I was put on some sort of anti depressant once and after about 2 weeks i felt like a zombie, i actually felt empty, no emotions or even much feeling was left so i opted to just be myself and got off the stuff.

My biggest trouble is anger which stems from over sensitiveness LOL i am perfectly built for many ISM's and ought to be on medication really but i just can't see going thru life and not really feeling it and if that means being a bit wreckless so be it. I pretty much isolate and keep to myself in my free time otherwise i function pretty well, MOST OF THE TIME )

[joelprince]

Hi there everyone. I too suffer low serotonin aswell. Although I am manic depressive. Therefore antidepressants are a big no no for me. They cause me to spike up into excitement for a few weeks, then paranoia, psycosis, etc. Not good at all. I take seroquel a drug for schizophrenia but works very well in my case for stabalizing moods. It prevents the highs and therefore the crashing lows shortly followed.

Im my experience with depression and OCD. If your unemployed get a job even if you hate it. Do it. It will keep your mind busy. Eat a clean diet. Low GI High protein. No sugar and low fat seems to work well. And bodybuilding, powerlifting training. It will increase your natural endophins. The best mood lifting drug there is.

Overtraining can be a problem just as long as you have a week off every 6 to 12 weeks. But remember its better to be driven and held back than not doin enough.

Overall Bodybuilding nutrition and weight training has helped me tremendously.

Cheers

Joel