Serotonin is one of mediators, affecting the work of the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system (CNS).
Over the last decades, scientists made many researches, confirming that serotonin levels imbalance negatively affects the brain function and may lead to depression.
People with mental disorders suffer from metabolic imbalance in the brain. The reason is usually in a long-term overstrain of a hormonal system under stress. This causes an imbalance of concentration of neurotransmitters, such as:
- Serotonin
- Noradrenaline
- Dopamine
Low serotonin levels (happy hormone) provoke various psychological pathologies, such as sleep disorders, aggressiveness, depression and anxious disorders. Patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease, autism, ADHD, OCD and schizophrenia often have serotonin levels imbalance.
Abnormal serotonin levels in children and adults may cause secondary diseases and pathologies. In this case, a timely diagnosis and treatment are required. Without the proper treatment, this disorder may cause apoplexy, hypertension, myocardial infarction, osteoporosis and diabetes.
Prolonged transmission of impulses between the nerve cells is reflected on thoughts and mind increasingly. If a patient notices any symptoms of low serotonin levels, he needs to undergo a medical examination and to do some tests, if needed.
In order to do a serotonin levels test, patients should provide their blood or urine samples. Please note that serotonin levels are changed within 24 hours; therefore, if test result is negative, you might need to repeat the test.
Ways to normalize the serotonin levels
Based on medical tests, doctor can prescribe the treatment. People, who need to increase their serotonin levels significantly, may use special diets. Please be careful, because some foods increasing the neurotransmitters levels can also increase the body weight.
In case of moderate or severe depressive disorders, a drug treatment is prescribed. To normalize the serotonin levels, doctors often prescribe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), for instance – Trazodone.
The main benefit of SSRIs is that they allow increasing the serotonin levels in the brain effectively and quite safely. SSRIs have minimum spectrum of side effects and are non-addictive. Therefore, they can be used in a long-term treatment or prophylaxis of diseases.
SSRIs have some drawbacks as well. But unlike other antidepressants (for instance, tricyclic antidepressants), they are not so many. A positive effect from increasing the serotonin levels in the synaptic cleft is observed within 2-3 weeks after the onset use of this type of antidepressants.
Typically, SSRIs side effects are mild and disappear in a short time without special treatment. While using these drugs, people experience an increased appetite and weight gain, as well as nausea, constipation, sweating and low libido.
Serotonin just as other neurotransmitters plays an important role in a psychoemotional health of a person. Hence, patients need to restore their metabolic balance in the CNS, if needed. Because adequate serotonin levels allows being happy, successful and self-confident.