Serotonin syndrome happens when you have too much serotonin (a normal chemical) in your body. It's usually caused by taking drugs or medications that affect serotonin levels. Stopping the drug(s) or medication(s) causing serotonin syndrome is the main treatment.
In addition to depression, serotonin may play a role in other brain and mental health disorders, including anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), phobias, and even epilepsy.
Serotonin Syndrome Symptoms
Gastrointestinal symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting. Nervous system symptoms include overactive reflexes and muscle spasms, said Su. Other serotonin syndrome symptoms include high body temperature, sweating, shivering, clumsiness, tremors, and confusion and other mental changes.
Certain drugs and substances such as caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, NutraSweet, antidepressants, and some cholesterol-lowering medications deplete serotonin and other neurotransmitter levels. Hormone changes cause low levels of serotonin and neurotransmitter imbalances.
Notably, it is normal for nontoxic increases in serotonin to cause anxiety, restlessness, and irritability for 1 to 2 weeks after starting a drug or increasing a dose.
95% of the body's serotonin, however, is produced in the intestine where it has been increasingly recognized for its hormonal, autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine actions.
Serotonin has been linked to fatigue because of its well known effects on sleep, lethargy and drowsiness and loss of motivation.
The main areas of serotonin research provide no consistent evidence of there being an association between serotonin and depression, and no support for the hypothesis that depression is caused by lowered serotonin activity or concentrations.
However, severe serotonin syndrome can be life-threatening and if you experience any of the symptoms below you should seek emergency treatment immediately: Irregular heartbeat. High fever (>103 F/40 C) Seizures.
Mild serotonin syndrome may cause subtle symptoms, such as mild tremors, restlessness, or headaches. Signs of severe serotonin syndrome include rigid muscles, seizures, fever, and nausea or vomiting.
Exercise and stress management can help prevent or manage conditions that involve low serotonin activity and may increase serotonin activity. Eating foods that contain tryptophan provides more of the substance the body needs to produce serotonin.
Counselling and meditation are ways to improve your mood that are also thought to boost serotonin levels. Medicines that are used to increase serotonin levels and treat depression are known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Foods high in trans fats: Eating foods high in trans fats like potato chips, pizza, and fast food are linked to decreasing serotonin levels. These foods affect our mental health by causing inflammation that could prevent the production of Omega-3 fatty acids that improve brain function and mental health.
Eating foods that contain the essential amino acid known as tryptophan can help the body to produce more serotonin. Foods, including salmon, eggs, spinach, and seeds are among those that help boost serotonin naturally.
The serotonin test measures the level of serotonin in the blood. Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.
The following tests may be useful in assessing patients with serotonin syndrome and narrowing the differential diagnosis: complete blood count, electrolytes, creatinine and BUN, creatine phosphokinase, hepatic transaminases, coagulation studies, urinalysis, drug screen, neuroimaging, and lumbar puncture.
Mild serotonin syndrome symptoms often includes the following: Shivering and tremors. Twitching or involuntary muscle movements. Excessive sweating.
In conclusion, the higher levels of serotonin were during the phase of darkness, which varies depending on the region in which it is measured.
Vitamin D activates an enzyme that converts tryptophan into serotonin. If vitamin D levels are low, our brains make less serotonin. Thus, increasing vitamin D intake may increase serotonin levels, thereby potentially supporting mental health [15, 16].