Guest guest Posted January 26, 2003 Report Share Posted January 26, 2003 http://www.drugawareness.org/Ribbon/SSRIMeds.html What you need to know about serotonin-enhancing medications " Psychedelic agents mimic the effects of serotonin. " The brain chemical these drugs increase, serotonin, is the same brain chemical that LSD, PCP and other psychedelic drugs mimic in order to produce their hallucinogenic effects. And remember that psychedelic agents are " a class of compounds with no demonstrated therapeutic use, a history of extensive abuse, and the ability to provoke psychosis. Yet many brain researchers value the psychedelic agents above any of the other psychoactive drugs " because " the research into psychedelic drugs has already enriched our understanding of how the brain regulates behavior. " (Dr. Solomon Snyder, DRUGS AND THE BRAIN). Just how much will these brain researchers learn from our experience with these drugs designed to specifically increase serotonin, the same brain chemical the psychedelic agents mimic to produce their effects? We know that these drugs interfere with serotonin metabolism (demonstrated by levels of the serotonin metabolite 5HIAA). It is not serotonin that is low in these disorders, it is this by-product 5HIAA, which indicates the level of serotonin metabolism, that is low in depression, suicide, etc. Yet as serotonin (5HT) goes up serotonin metabolism (5HIAA) generally comes down. We already have studies demonstrating at what percentage each of these drugs increase 5HT and decrease 5HIAA. Here are the results of elevated levels of serotonin (5HT) and decreased levels of serotonin metabolism (5HIAA): Elevated 5HT (serotonin) levels: schizophrenia, psychosis, mania, etc. mood disorders (depression, anxiety, etc.) organic brain disease - especially mental retardation at a greater incident rate in children autism (a self-centered or self-focused mental state with no basis in reality) Alzheimer's disease old age anorexia constriction of the blood vessels blood clotting constriction of bronchials and other physical effects Lower 5HIAA (serotonin metabolism) levels: suicide (especially violent suicide) arson violent crime insomnia depression alcohol abuse impulsive acts with no concern for punishment reckless driving dependence upon various substances bulimia multiple suicide attempts hostility and more contact with police exhibitionism arguments with spouses, friends and relatives obsessive compulsive behavior impaired employment due to hostility, etc. All are exactly what patients and their families have continued to report to be their experience on these drugs since Prozac was introduced! These individuals are frantically searching for answers while this research sits right under our noses. Although this is a totally different picture than pharmaceutical marketing departments would have us believe, marketing claims and reality rarely have much in common. Researchers tell us that five, ten or twenty years later it is not uncommon to find we have another thalidomide on our hands. Raising 5HT (serotonin) and lowering 5HIAA (serotonin metabolism) in such a high number of people can produce very serious, extensive and long term problems for all of society. Even more frightening for the future of our society is the rapidly rising and widely accepted practice of prescribing these drugs to small children and adolescents. This crucial medical research must be addressed openly, without delay, rather than remain buried in seldom read medical research documents as has been the case in the past with other mind-altering medications, once thought to be safe, which were subsequently prohibited by law. [sOURCE: PROZAC: PANACEA OR PANDORA?, BY ANN BLAKE TRACY, PH.D.] Adverse SSRI Reactions Prozac Package Insert Hyperserotonemia Serotonin Syndrome Gettingwell- / Vitamins, Herbs, Aminos, etc. To , e-mail to: Gettingwell- Or, go to our group site: Gettingwell Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2003 Report Share Posted January 27, 2003 I have to laugh at people who say psychedelics have no therapeutic use. Those folk are just clueless. However, I suppose since I dismiss what things the so-called therapists do & what they consider to be therapeutic, perhaps they are right. Psychedelics are tools for self-help. Therapists want to help someone from outside. Like a car mechanic who fixes a squeaky fan belt. But people are not fixed that way. People come to understand self & figure out how best to inculcate change into themselves. So maybe psychedelics really do not have no place in therapy. Perhaps it is better to view psychedelics as something one does instead of therapy. Alobar - " Frank " <califpacific <gettingwell > Sunday, January 26, 2003 5:34 PM SSRIs > > http://www.drugawareness.org/Ribbon/SSRIMeds.html > > What you need to know about serotonin-enhancing medications > > " Psychedelic agents mimic the effects of serotonin. " > > The brain chemical these drugs increase, serotonin, is the same brain chemical that LSD, PCP and other psychedelic drugs mimic in order to produce their hallucinogenic effects. And remember that psychedelic agents are " a class of compounds with no demonstrated therapeutic use, a history of extensive abuse, and the ability to provoke psychosis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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