Author: John Carter

Serotonin Drugs: Medications That Increase Serotonin

High levels of serotonin can cause serotonin syndrome, a life-threatening condition. This can be potentially risky if people use cocaine while they are taking antidepressants, triptans, or other medications that also increase serotonin levels. Eating foods high in tryptophan will not necessarily boost serotonin levels on its own. Your body needs carbohydrates to release insulin, which is needed to absorb amino acids. Then even if tryptophan does get into your blood it has to compete with other amino acids to get absorbed into your brain. Scientists are still studying how eating tryptophan-containing foods possibly boosts serotonin levels.

Because they’re more abundant, these other amino acids are more likely to cross the blood-brain barrier than tryptophan. But it’s not as simple as eating tryptophan-rich foods, thanks to something called the blood-brain barrier. This protective sheath around your brain controls what goes in and out of your brain.

For example, taking a type of migraine medication known as a triptan along with certain types of antidepressants or taking St. John’s Wort with an antidepressant can cause this to happen. To avoid increasing your risk of side effects, including serotonin syndrome, tell your healthcare provider about all drugs and dietary supplements you are taking. If you develop symptoms of serotonin syndrome, seek immediate medical attention.

Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School

As this medication prevents serotonin from being reabsorbed back into the presynaptic neuron, more serotonin will be circulating around the synaptic cleft. Although too much sunlight and exposure to UV rays can harm the skin, it is understood that some sunlight daily can help alleviate low moods. Serotonin regulates the sleep-wake cycle, promotes a regular sleep schedule, and supports the body’s ability to fall asleep and wake up at appropriate times. People with serotonin syndrome are typically hospitalized for a minimum of 24 hours. Mild cases caused by medication can usually be resolved by stopping the medication or changing the dose. Serotonin impacts every part of you, from your emotions to your body and motor skills.

St. John’s wort (hypericum perforatum) is a type of flowering plant that is sometimes used as an herbal remedy, particularly to relieve symptoms of depression. It is also used for other conditions including anxiety, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menopause symptoms, smoking cessation, and seasonal affective disorder. Exercise, diet, and light therapy might also increase serotonin levels. While several theories claim certain natural remedies can boost serotonin levels and improve mood or help with stress, there is a lack of evidence behind many of these claims. Serotonin syndrome is a condition that happens when serotonin levels are increased too much. It usually happens if you increase the dose of a medication known to increase serotonin levels or take another drug known to increase serotonin.

It might help improve serotonin levels, particularly in people who experience SAD. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are named after the drugs’ three-ringed molecular structure. Prior to the introduction of SSRIs in the late 1980s, TCAs were the medication of choice for the treatment of major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and other anxiety disorders. TCAs are also used to treat certain pain syndromes and nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting).

What is serotonin?

As TCAs can also affect the heart rhythm, those who have existing heart problems would probably not be prescribed this medication. It’s important to note that the effects of mindfulness and meditation on serotonin can vary between individuals. Regular practice over an extended period is typically necessary to experience significant changes. There has been a change in the level of vigorous physical exercise that is required since humans were hunter-gatherers or mostly worked in agriculture. However, preventing people from getting to a stage where symptoms interfere with daily functioning is preferable to waiting until they are at a stage where they require medication.

Another type of antidepressant, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (for example, phenelzine [Nardil®]) blocks an enzyme that breaks down serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical that carries messages between nerve cells in the brain and throughout your body. Serotonin plays a key role in such body functions as mood, sleep, digestion, nausea, wound healing, bone health, blood clotting and sexual desire.

1. These effects are the result of the impact of the drug on serotonin.
2. Antidepressant medications can increase serotonin levels and help with symptoms.
3. Being in the sunlight can produce vitamin D, which plays a role in the body, promoting serotonin production.
4. Some dietary supplements may help the production and release of serotonin by increasing tryptophan.
5. Some may also need to be temporarily put on a breathing machine to prevent muscle damage.

A doctor can request a blood test to measure the amount of serotonin in your blood to help diagnose the condition or rule it out. There’s no official framework around how much time you need to spend with others to experience a rise in serotonin. Creating space for different types of social connections in a variety of venues can help you recognize which ones feel most supportive to you. The CDC also recommends strength training at least twice a week and balance training about three days per week for people over age 65. The key is finding things you enjoy so you’re motivated to do them. Read about some of the top available sun lamps for light therapy and SAD.

What does serotonin do in my body?

TCAs are an older classification of antidepressants compared to SSRIs and are less prescribed. This medication works in a similar way to SSRIs as they also work to block the reuptake of serotonin. Bright light, in the form of a SAD light, for instance, is a standard treatment for those suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that can be converted into serotonin in the brain and can only be accessed through foods. This amino acid can be converted into serotonin, making it a key element for brain functioning, potentially impacting mood. Serotonin syndrome occurs when serotonin levels in the body become too high.

It is believed to be correlated to the fight-or-flight stress response. Most evidence for exercise increasing serotonin comes from animal studies, though there are some examples in humans. There is evidence that exercise increases tryptophan, which the body can convert to serotonin. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that relay messages around the brain to support its functioning. Note that St. John’s wort can make certain medications, including some cancer drugs and hormonal birth control, less effective.

You can’t directly get serotonin from food, but you can get tryptophan, an amino acid converted to serotonin in your brain. Tryptophan is found primarily in high protein foods, including turkey, salmon, and tofu. It’s recommended to consult a healthcare professional for personalized information regarding specific medications and potential side effects.

Exercise, especially aerobic exercise, has been shown to improve the moods and anxiety of people with clinical mental health problems (Lattari et al., 2018). Serotonin syndrome is an emergency and requires immediate treatment from a healthcare provider. SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant medication.