Serotonin is a hormone that is responsible for a good mood, a sense of happiness, the ability to experience pleasure and joy. In the middle of the last century, it was synthesized artificially in laboratory conditions, which allowed us to create a new class of antidepressants, the effect of which is the ability to inhibit the breakdown of the molecules of this hormone. This article provides a list of the most popular serotonin preparations and describes the features of their action.
Symptoms of Serotonin Deficiency
If the patient notes at least two of the symptoms listed below, he has a serotonin deficiency in his body:
- discouragement despite external well-being;
- constant boredom - no occupations and hobbies are of interest;
- irritability, sluggish aggression;
- chronic fatigue;
- frequent dizziness, darkening in the eyes;
- low self-esteem, shyness, restraint;
- constant thoughts about life in a negative way;
- frequent tears for no reason;
- migraines, the causes of which could not be established by a neurologist.
Serotonin drugs are called antidepressants in medicine. They are sold strictly according to a prescription, which can only be prescribed by a psychiatrist. Often used in conjunction with tranquilizers. Serotonin inhibitor drugs are serious and have many contraindications. Therefore, the unauthorized use of such pills "simply because it is sad" is strictly prohibited.
Ways to increase serotonin levels without medication
Before resorting to taking psychotropic drugs, it is worth trying to increase the level of the hormone of joy in the following ways:
- active sports (preferably in the fresh air: at least half an hour a day should be given to jogging, fitness, jumping rope, brisk walking, cycling;
- the proportion of simple carbohydrates should be increased in the diet;
- once a day, eat a few slices of natural chocolate from cocoa beans;
- less likely to be alone, even if loved ones cause irritation (try to find a compromise with them);
- start visiting a therapist.
Serotonin Reuptake Drugs
Antidepressants are most often available in capsule form with a gelatin shell and powder contents. They should be taken regardless of the meal. Often when taken on an empty stomach, heartburn and an unpleasant burning sensation develop in the esophagus. There is also a release form in the form of ampoules with liquid for intravenous administration. Drugs with an antidepressant effect in injections can be used only in a hospital setting.
There is an opinion that serotonin uptake inhibitors are highly addictive and cause a condition akin to drug intoxication. This opinion is erroneous. Modern drugs of serotonin are not addictive and do not cause cognitive functions of the brain any damage.
"Fluoxetine": instructions for use and reviews
One of the most popular and cheapest antidepressants. The cost per package (20 capsules) is about one hundred rubles. The main active ingredient of the drug has a direct effect on serotonin. The drug regulates the hormone content in the body. It is released on prescription by a psychiatrist. This is a selective serotonin inhibitor - a drug that within a week brings the amount of the hormone back to normal and even higher than the reference values. The reviews of the people who took it are ambiguous: someone came up with the drug, someone had to pick up another antidepressant.
On the well-being of the patient, this is reflected as follows:
- constant high spirits;
- a person wants to laugh, joke, smile;
- increased suspiciousness, vulnerability, hypochondria disappears;
- sleep normalizes;
- increased self-esteem;
- even a patient suffers grief while taking the drug easily and quickly.
In the first week of administration, the following side effects from taking Fluoxetine are possible:
- headache;
- dizziness;
- loss of appetite;
- nausea;
- rejection of the smell of food;
- insomnia.
Two weeks later, the body gets used to the high level of the hormone serotonin, and side effects disappear. Sometimes for the first time taking serotonin drugs, psychiatrists prescribe tranquilizers, which neutralize the side effects of the antidepressant. Three weeks later, they cancel, and the patient continues to take the antidepressant.
"Prozac": instructions and reviews
A drug whose main active ingredient is fluoxetine. Prozac is produced in the USA, and therefore its price is much higher than the Russian counterpart. Psychiatrists say that the active substance in Prozac undergoes better purification, therefore it causes less side effects. Reviews confirm that the use of Prozac is generally easier for patients to take.
The instructions for this serotonin reuptake inhibitor drug warns that with continued use it can cause psychological dependence. Do not confuse it with the physical. The patient gets used to be in high spirits, and he becomes scared that after the abolition of the pills he will return to a dull, bleak existence. To overcome psychological dependence, the drug should be discontinued gradually.
"Zoloft": instructions for use and reviews
Another antidepressant, the effect of which is that it is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. The drug has approximately the same effect when taken on both men and women: it is an increase in mood, a decrease in anxiety, hypochondria, aggression, irritability.
Zoloft differs in cost from Fluoxetine: it costs about six times more expensive, and their effect is identical. Therefore, taking both drugs, people prefer Fluoxetine. Reviews about "Zoloft" are positive, especially if at the beginning of the intake the patient was taking tranquilizers in parallel to stop the initial side effects. "Zoloft" can be used by women during the period of premenstrual syndrome to mitigate the manifestations of psychosis, nervousness, agitation, excitement. It makes sense to take a long time, because if you take the drug from time to time, the body does not have time to rebuild to a high level of the hormone in the blood.
Other drugs that increase serotonin in the blood
Here is a list of the less popular, but in no way inferior in terms of the effect on the psyche of "Fluoxetine" and "Zoloft" drugs:
- "Paroxetine";
- "Oprah";
- Sertraline;
- "Stimuloton."
The reviews of dozens of people who have experienced the effects of these antidepressants confirm that all of them from the second week of admission radically change the mood and attitude of a person. He begins to love the world. What used to cause irritation now causes a smile. Such a psychotropic effect becomes possible precisely due to an increase in the proportion of the hormone serotonin.
Which doctor should I go for an antidepressant prescription for?
You can’t choose a serotonin drug yourself: only a competent psychiatrist can choose the optimal medicine and its dosage. Depending on the diagnosis, gender, age, the presence of some chronic diseases, the dosage will be different.
Especially dangerous is the use of serotonin uptake preparations under the age of 18 years. Many girls take these medicines in secret from their parents, using them to lose weight and achieve anorexic physique. Almost all antidepressants strongly discourage appetite, this effect allows you to lose weight very quickly, up to exhaustion. Unscrupulous pharmacies often dispense prescription drugs to children at inflated prices. It is unacceptable to take such drugs on your own: it can provoke psychosis, delirium, nervous breakdowns.
In some cases, the prescription may be prescribed by a clinical psychotherapist if he is qualified to do so.
Antidepressant Compatibility with Tranquilizers
Competent psychiatrists often prescribe antidepressants in conjunction with tranquilizers. This combination is necessary in order to avoid insomnia, tremor, headache in the first weeks of admission. after two weeks of administration, the dose of tranquilizers is gradually reduced until the drug is completely abandoned. And the dosage of the antidepressant remains the same.
If the serotonin preparation is well tolerated by the body and brings the expected benefit to the patient, then the course of treatment is from three months to one year. This duration is due to the fact that the body must get used to the normal level of the hormone. In some cases, you have to change two or three drugs until the patient finds the antidepressant that is optimal and suitable for himself by all criteria.
Most often, in conjunction with drugs that increase serotonin levels, Atarax, Adaptol, Diazepam are prescribed. It is forbidden to choose a tranquilizer for yourself, since it all has different principles of action on the nervous system and a large list of contraindications and side effects.
Antidepressant Compatibility with Alcohol
It is worth mentioning separately that serotonin preparations antagonize with any doses of ethanol-containing drinks.
Possible problems that will occur when mixing antidepressants with alcohol:
- development of delirium;
- severe tremor, fever;
- serotonin syndrome;
- acute psychosis;
- thoughts of suicide;
- inappropriate behavior;
- loss of coordination.
Also, against the background of antidepressant treatment, alcohol tinctures (Corvalol) are prohibited for the same reason.