Serotonin is one of the most important neurotransmitters and, thus, is a potential target for pharmacological treatment. A large body of evidence supports the association between the serotonergic system with MDD and other mood disorders.
However, experts have linked low serotonin activity with a range of psychiatric problems, including depression, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Beyond its widespread implication in physiology, the 5-HT system is involved in numerous diseases of the CNS (e.g., depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorders, addiction, Parkinson's disease) and peripheral organs (e.g., gastrointestinal disorders, cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension).
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.
Prolonged periods of stress can deplete serotonin levels. Our fast-paced, fast food society greatly contributes to these imbalances. Genetic factors, faulty metabolism, and digestive issues can impair the absorption and breakdown of our food which reduces our ability to build serotonin.
Some inherited genetic disorders may affect the body's ability to make or metabolize serotonin. Lifestyle and other factors that may also play a role include: Hormonal shifts, such as due to beginning or stopping hormone replacement therapy, menopause, pregnancy, or advancing age. Lack of sunlight.
In almost all of these scenarios, we need to help the body retain and make more serotonin—the chemical in the brain that becomes depleted with chronic pain, chronic digestive issues, chronic stress or anxiety, poor sleep, poor nutrition, etc.
They are risk-takers and seek novelty. People who have high serotonin activity (or who take SSRI antidepressants) are more sociable, more eager to belong. They're quite traditional in their values and less inclined toward exploration.
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 most common types of mood disorders are major depression, dysthymia (dysthymic disorder), bipolar disorder, mood disorder due to a general medical condition, and substance-induced mood disorder. There is no clear cause of mood disorders.
Hallucinogenic amphetamine selectively destroys brain serotonin nerve terminals. Science.
Drugs that prevent the reuptake of serotonin include SNRIs, SSRIs, tramadol, certain tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), certain opioids, dextromethorphan, the antihistamines chlorpheniramine and brompheniramine, and herbals such as St John's wort.
Symptoms of low serotonin include: Depression. Negative thoughts. Anxiety.
Obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, is an anxiety disorder which, like many anxiety disorders, is marked by low levels of serotonin. Serotonin, a type of neurotransmitter, has a variety of functions that make a deficiency a serious and anxiety producing issue.
Serotonin has been linked to fatigue because of its well known effects on sleep, lethargy and drowsiness and loss of motivation.
It was previously reported that caffeine has the capability to reduce brain serotonin synthesis by inhibiting tryptophan hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme for central serotonin biosynthesis (Lim et al., 2001), and/or to reduce brain serotonin/dopamine ratio by blocking adenosine α1 and α2 receptors within the CNS.
Reductions in the levels or effectiveness of specific neurotransmitters may also influence the symptoms of brain fog. These neurotransmitters include: serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) glutamate.
Signs that you are experiencing serotonin syndrome include: Mental status changes including anxiety, restlessness, delirium and disorientation. Neuromuscular problems including tremor, twitching, overactive reflexes, agitation and muscle rigidity.
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.
Serotonin plays several roles in your body, including influencing learning, memory, happiness as well as regulating body temperature, sleep, sexual behavior and hunger. Lack of enough serotonin is thought to play a role in depression, anxiety, mania and other health conditions.