Serotonin is your naturally happy hormone. For it has a substantial influence on your mood.
At adequate levels, serotonin provides you with that feeling of euphoria, along with relaxation and calmness. However, too much or too little can lead to a rather unhealthy existence.
Serotonin is multifaceted. It is an important brain function chemical, acts as neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and controls some other health promoting activities. It is found naturally in your brain, as well as numerous other tissues, such as:
- intestines
- pineal body
- blood platelets
- central nervous system
Besides maintaining that content feeling, serotonin has some other physiologic features, like it inhibits gastric secretion, stimulates smooth muscle to contract and causes blood vessels to narrow, or vasoconstriction.
Serotonin is a naturally occurring derivative of tryptophan. But it doesn’t get converted directly. 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), an amino acid, is made in between tryptophan and serotonin.
Having low serotonin levels, or serotonin deficiency, may lead to:
- obesity
- anxiety
- bulimia
- epilepsy
- insomnia
- irritability
- headaches
- depression
- fibromyalgia
- hyperactivity
- panic attacks
- schizophrenia
- premenstrual syndrome
- body dysmorphic disorder
- seasonal affective disorder
- obsessive compulsive disorder
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Unfortunately, just eating foods that have natural serotonin in them. i.e. pineapples, bananas, and plums, or taking a serotonin pill won’t work because it can’t cross your blood-brain barrier. However, tryptophan and 5-HTP can.
The main drug treatment for serotonin deficiency is a class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Essentially how these drugs work is they inhibit serotonin taken up by the same nerve that released it. Therefore, increasing serotonin availability. So, the same serotonin can be used by other nerves, rather than proffering you a higher level.
So if your level is low, you’ll continue with a deficiency while on SSRIs. It’s all about making better use of the amount of serotonin you naturally have.
One downside of SSRIs is the potential for serotonin syndrome. This group of symptoms occurs when high levels of serotonin accumulates in your body. Serotonin syndrome is a potentially fatal drug reaction if not treated.
Symptoms of too much serotonin, or serotonin syndrome, are:
- fever
- ataxia
- diarrhea
- seizures
- confusion
- headache
- myoclonus
- dilated pupils
- hallucinations
- muscle spasms
- rapid heart rate
- nausea, vomiting
- twitching muscles
- excessive sweating
- agitation, restlessness
- rapid blood pressure changes
- chills shivering, goose bumps
Serotonin syndrome symptoms frequently occur within a few hours of taking a new drug or increasing the dosage of a drug you’re currently on.
These other drugs, illicit drugs and dietary supplements also can cause serotonin syndrome:
- linezolid ~ antibiotic
- lithium ~ mood stabilizer
- certain pain, nausea, migraine medications
- ritonavir ~ viral medication used to treat HIV/AIDS
- illicit drugs ~ LSD, ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamines
- herbal supplements ~ St. John’s wort, ginseng, 5-HTP
- monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) ~ antidepressants
- bupropion ~ antidepressant & tobacco addiction medication
- OTC cough & cold medications containing dextromethorphan
- serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) ~ antidepressants
Serotonin syndrome symptoms usually goes away within a day if you stop taking whatever caused the increase. However, symptoms of serotonin syndrome caused by some antidepressants could take weeks to subside completely because they remain in your system longer.
Carcinoid tumors can also cause you to have high levels of serotonin in your system because the tumors themselves release serotonin.