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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tomatheus on January 17, 2012, at 19:58:38
Hi,
I was just wondering if anyone knew of any herbs, vitamins, other nutrients, or other supplements of any sort that increase the *release* of serotonin. I'm not looking for something that increases the synthesis of serotonin, nor am I looking for supplements that are SRIs or MAOIs, just supplements that work on serotonin's release mechanism(s). So, does anyone know of any such supplements?
Tomatheus
Posted by SLS on January 19, 2012, at 13:44:21
In reply to Supplements that promote serotonin *release*, posted by Tomatheus on January 17, 2012, at 19:58:38
> Hi,
>
> I was just wondering if anyone knew of any herbs, vitamins, other nutrients, or other supplements of any sort that increase the *release* of serotonin. I'm not looking for something that increases the synthesis of serotonin, nor am I looking for supplements that are SRIs or MAOIs, just supplements that work on serotonin's release mechanism(s). So, does anyone know of any such supplements?
>
> Tomatheus
You might want to take a look at lithium orotate.
- Scott
Posted by Tomatheus on January 19, 2012, at 16:32:35
In reply to Re: Supplements that promote serotonin *release* » Tomatheus, posted by SLS on January 19, 2012, at 13:44:21
Scott,
Thanks for your suggestion. Unfortunately, I think that it would be best for me to avoid all forms of lithium. I took lithium carbonate from 2003 to 2005 (stopped it, I believe, in the summer of 2005) and developed agitation and a tremor that still haven't gone away. A blood test done on me in March 2007 when I was hospitalized showed that lithium was still in my system, even though I hadn't taken it for more than a year and a half. I found out recently that the former research and development manager for the company that manufactured the lithium that I took admitted in court that he falsified the laboratory tests for the lithium carbonate that his company manufactured. So, basically, I'm still suffering adverse effects from lithium carbonate that was never truly found to be safe. It's helpful to know that lithium can promote the release of serotonin, but I'm afraid that I'll have to pass on this suggestion.
Tomatheus
Posted by bleauberry on January 28, 2012, at 9:44:34
In reply to Re: Supplements that promote serotonin *release* » SLS, posted by Tomatheus on January 19, 2012, at 16:32:35
The lithium SLS mentioned is not the same as the Lithium you had experience with. Difficult to describe, but the two are not comparable.
If you still had lithium in you after all that time, that to me is very meaningful and tells me there is something else going on here. Why is it someone can have amalgam fillings and yet never show any signs of mercury toxicity, yet another person becomes so unhealthy and sick? It's because we all have varying degrees of how well, or not well, our detox systems work. Some people accumulate and hold stuff they shouldn't, so even tiny amounts of exposure can become toxic over time.
I don't know how anyone could predict that serotonin release would help them feel better, but certainly I can understand how we might theorize based on our own hunches and clues that it might. I feel the same way myself often.....how much serotonin is not the issue....the issue is it's just sitting there without much firing activity. Kind of like a stagnant pond versus a flowing stream. We want the flowing stream.
I've seen it many times when someone weans off of their reuptake inhibitor and then they feel so much better for a few days....I think that is exactly what you said....firing/release. There wasn't much firing going on because of all the over abundance of serotoonin....but when the med was removed and the serotonin dissipated, the feedback loops kicked in and basically said, "uh oh, emergency, we need more serotonin and we need it fast"...and thus the firing and the good mood.....that is until the feedback loops catch up to the whole process and you end up right back where you started. But during that brief window I think that is what is happening....firing, release.
A bigger question is, why is it not firing? If feedback loops are confused, then they would need to be blocked/antagonized or similar in order to 'trick' them. Or perhaps there are toxins in the area that are messing up the whole works. That could be anything form accumulation of lead, mercury, poop/pee from stealth unsuspected chronic infections.....hey seriously sometimes the only symptom of Lyme disease is depression. Just trying to provide perspective for thought.
I don't know what supplements would do that. Super low dose lithium might. Lots of meds can block 5ht receptors and cause release, but I've never really looked at what plants might do that.
Rhodiola Rosea should definitely be a consideration.
This is the end of the thread.
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