Serotonin — also referred to as 5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT — is usually known as “the happiness hormone” and deficiency is regarded as the supply of despair. That’s why despair is routinely handled with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that increase serotonin ranges in your mind.
The issue is, serotonin is NOT chargeable for despair, and elevating your serotonin is the very last thing you need to do, because it destroys empathy, love and knowledge. Elevated serotonin additionally impairs thyroid operate, reduces your metabolism, and contributes to untimely getting older by growing reductive stress.
SSRIs Linked to Power Fatigue Syndrome
SSRIs have additionally been linked to power fatigue syndrome (CFS), in any other case generally known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or ME/CFS. As reported by bioenergetic medication researcher Georgi Dinkov,1 elevated extracellular 5-HT has been proven to trigger many of the CFS signs, together with debilitating bodily and psychological fatigue.
“I’m really stunned it took researchers so lengthy to make that connection,” he writes,2 “contemplating the well-tested so-called ‘central fatigue speculation’ (CFH), which stipulates that many of the notion of fatigue is brain-derived and infrequently will not be peripherally biochemically justified.
Extra particularly, it’s the accumulation of serotonin within the mind, which leads one to understand extreme fatigue even when the bioenergetic state of their muscle tissues don’t show indicators of fatigue (e.g. lactate buildup, creatine kinase and LDH leakage, ammonia accumulation, and many others).
Conversely, decreasing serotonin ranges within the mind often results in abolishing the sentiments of fatigue. In actual fact, there are a number of animal research demonstrating that tryptophan depletion within the mind (which ends up in decrease 5-HT ranges within the mind) is a dependable mechanism to delay and even abolish emotions of fatigue even in animals whose muscle tissues are biochemically fatigued …
One other reality implicating 5-HT as a causal agent in CFS is the truth that most CFS sufferers appear to develop the situation on account of viral an infection … [M]ost viral infections require activation of particular 5-HT receptors (by elevated serotonin) to ensure that the an infection to take maintain, and blocking these receptors both prevents the an infection altogether or can deal with an already established one.”
One Month of Prozac Induced CFS Signs in Mice
In a single 2024 examine,3 researchers have been capable of induce the classical indicators and signs of CFS in mice by giving them Prozac (fluoxetine) for 4 weeks, albeit at dosages which are two to 5 occasions greater than what’s utilized in medical follow for depressive sufferers. Science Alert reported:4
“Based mostly on medical clues, Jin-Seok Lee, a ME/CFS researcher at Daejeon College in South Korea, and colleagues hypothesized {that a} spillover of serotonin might result in ME/CFS. Identified to play a task in governing moods, declining ranges of the neurotransmitter serotonin have lengthy been thought to trigger despair.
Though that concept is now disputed, therapies that focus on serotonin pathways — corresponding to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) — are a number of the mostly prescribed antidepressants. By blocking receptors that bind and take away serotonin from the signaling pathway, the treatment artificially maintains the next degree of the temper messenger.
Based on a number of decades-old research, some sufferers with ME/CFS seem to have fewer serotonin transporters than wholesome volunteers and may have receptors that solely weakly bind serotonin.
Lee and colleagues thought that if such individuals had coincidentally been handled with serotonin-based therapies for despair earlier than they developed ME/CFS, they might have had extreme ranges of serotonin of their mind. This might have triggered ME/CFS by throwing off a suggestions mechanism designed to maintain a lid on the immune system and irritation …
After 4 weeks, animals handled with fluoxetine had greater ranges of serotonin in two elements of the mind, the hypothalamus and dorsal raphe nucleus.
In addition they developed behaviors that resembled the principle signs of ME/CFS seen in people, together with unrefreshing sleep, PEM and orthostatic intolerance, however not cognitive impairment. These behaviors disappeared six weeks after the drug was stopped.
Mice whose serotonin receptors have been depleted by way of viral knockout additionally confirmed ME/CFS signs, additional confirming the mechanism. One other experiment confirmed inhibiting serotonin manufacturing might alleviate their signs.”
Based on the authors:5
“Our examine gives the primary translational [animal] proof for the involvement of 5-HTergic [serotonergic] hyperactivity within the pathophysiology of ME/CFS. With our novel animal mannequin for ME/CFS, this examine helps to make clear one of many potent pathophysiological mechanisms of this syndrome.
As well as, we offer diagnostic clues (excessive central serotonin) that can be utilized to distinguish ME/CFS from related ailments, corresponding to fibromyalgia and depressive issues.”
Serotonin Inhibitors
The serotonin inhibitor used within the featured examine was fenclonine, however there are a number of over-the-counter choices as nicely, together with Benadryl and the H2 blocker Pepcid (famotidine).
Aspirin may decrease extracellular serotonin by inhibiting the absorption of tryptophan out of your gastrointestinal tract,6 whereas progesterone inhibits serotonin synthesis straight. Progesterone is considered one of solely 4 hormones I imagine many adults can profit from. (The opposite three are thyroid hormone T3, DHEA and pregnenolone.)
As a normal advice, I like to recommend most adults to take 25 to 50 mg of bioidentical progesterone per day, taken within the night one hour earlier than mattress, as it may additionally promote sleep. For optimum bioavailability, progesterone must be blended into pure vitamin E. The distinction in bioavailability between taking progesterone orally with out vitamin E and taking it with vitamin E is 45 minutes versus 48 hours.
One other good motive for taking progesterone with vitamin E is as a result of it binds to pink blood cells, which permits the progesterone to be carried all through your physique and be distributed to the place it’s wanted probably the most.
You can also make your individual by dissolving pure USP progesterone powder into one capsule of a high-quality vitamin E, after which rub the combination in your gums. Fifty milligrams of powdered progesterone is about 1/32 teaspoon.
You should buy pharmaceutical grade bioidentical progesterone as Progesterone Powder, Bioidentical Micronized Powder, 10 grams for about $40 on many on-line shops like Amazon. That’s almost a yr’s provide, relying on the dose you select.
Don’t use artificial vitamin E (alpha tocopherol acetate — the acetate signifies that it’s artificial). Pure vitamin E will likely be labeled “d alpha tocopherol.” That is the pure D isomer, which is what your physique can use. There are additionally different vitamin E isomers, and also you need the entire spectrum of tocopherols and tocotrienols, particularly the beta, gamma, and delta sorts, within the efficient D isomer.
I don’t advocate transdermal progesterone, as your pores and skin expresses excessive ranges of 5-alpha reductase enzyme, which causes a good portion of the progesterone you are taking to be irreversibly transformed primarily into allopregnanolone and can’t be transformed again into progesterone.
For a extra detailed rationalization on the perfect technique to administer progesterone, I like to recommend reviewing my article, “Unlocking the Secrets and techniques of Hormone Well being and Vitality.”
GABA Is a Far Higher Selection Than SSRIs
It’s a travesty that the first treatment for despair is a drug that not solely comes with a laundry checklist of unintended effects corresponding to CFS, but in addition doesn’t tackle the underlying downside within the first place. Once more, despair will not be the results of low serotonin.
A much more widespread downside in despair is GABA deficiency, and growing GABA can certainly be a part of the answer. As defined by Dr. Scott Sherr, director of integrative hyperbaric medication and well being optimization at Hyperbaric Medical Options and an knowledgeable on neurotransmitter balancers like GABA:
“GABA deficiencies are related to nervousness, with worry, with despair, with a brief mood, phobias, impulsiveness, disorganization, addictions. It’s even related to schizophrenia and OCD [obsessive-compulsive disorder].
You may also have issues like IBS and diarrhea, hypertension, tinnitus, power ache, migraines, allergy symptoms, frequent urination, flushing, sweating, salt cravings, muscle rigidity. These are all issues that may very well be indicators of GABA deficiency. Many have been prescribed an SSRI for a few of these signs, however … we all know that despair will not be associated to serotonin deficiency.”
For my part, GABA is likely one of the best options for despair, nervousness and insomnia, both alone or with progesterone. I like to recommend a dose of 500 mg to 2,000 mg (2 grams) each day. This vary has been proven to alleviate nervousness and insomnia in people who find themselves already taking SSRI medicine.
Nonetheless, in keeping with Sherr, as little as 100 milligrams of GABA has been proven to decrease the evaluation scores of sufferers with nervousness and despair issues. Results might be additional amplified by combining it with the amino acid L-theanine, which is a pure GABA agonist.
Simply watch out utilizing GABA merchandise that include magnesium. Whereas magnesium may be very useful, should you take excessive doses of GABA, you’ll get far an excessive amount of magnesium, which may have a laxative impact.
Curiously, should you take an excessive amount of GABA, a few of it’s going to get deaminated and convert into succinic acid, an intermediate of the Krebs cycle. As such, GABA additionally helps enhance mitochondrial operate at excessive doses. So, from a toxicity perspective it seems to be very secure.
To Handle CFS, Be Positive to Get rid of LA
As for CFS victims, the No. 1 treatment can be to drastically decrease your each day LA consumption, as extra LA acts as a mitochondrial toxin and severely inhibits mobile vitality manufacturing. Naturally, in case your mobile vitality manufacturing is low, you’re going to battle with fatigue and a number of different well being issues. PUFAs like LA additionally disrupt your physique’s hormonal equilibrium, imitating the results of estrogen and cortisol whereas counteracting androgens and progesterone.
Contemplating the profoundly severe injury they trigger, eliminating seed oils out of your food regimen can go a great distance towards bettering your well being. This consists of soy, canola, sunflower, grapeseed, corn, safflower, peanut and rice bran oil.
Additionally, be conscious of olive oil and avocado oil, as each are generally adulterated with cheaper seed oils. That mentioned, even pure olive and avocado oil are loaded with LA. If, like me, you’re within the behavior of consuming olive oil, I might strongly encourage you to restrict your consumption to 1 tablespoon per day or much less. For my part, olive oil will not be a magic bullet and in case you are already consuming 80 grams of LA per day, it’s going to solely worsen, not assist, your well being.
To keep away from these oils, don’t prepare dinner with them, after all, but in addition keep away from processed meals, condiments, quick meals and restaurant meals. If you happen to eat out, you’re undoubtedly consuming unhealthy quantities of seed oils, as most restaurant meals are loaded with it.
Fried meals, dressing and sauces are usually key culprits. Your finest wager is to organize most of your meals at residence, so what you’re consuming and, within the case of seed oils, what you’re not. Hen and pork are additionally excessive in LA and are due to this fact finest averted. Since these animals, even wholesome organically grown animals, are usually fed grains, they’re loaded with omega-6 fat and will have 10 occasions the LA content material that beef, lamb or buffalo do.
How A lot Linoleic Acid Is Too A lot?
Ideally, think about slicing LA all the way down to under 5 grams per day, which is near what our ancestors used to get. If you happen to’re unsure how a lot you’re consuming, enter your meals consumption into Cronometer — a free on-line diet tracker — and it’ll offer you your complete LA consumption.
The important thing to correct entry is to rigorously weigh your meals with a digital kitchen scale so you may enter the load of your meals to the closest gram. Cronometer will let you know how a lot omega-6 you are getting out of your meals all the way down to the tenth of a gram, and you may assume 90% of that’s LA. Something over 5 grams is more likely to trigger issues.
