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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 emil on January 12, 2004, at 15:12:50
Hi, I have a question about the relationship between anxiety disorders, serotonin, and diet. I am a healthy, thin, 51 year old male. I have suffered with anxiety problems for about the last 4 years. It all started with a vague "not right" feeling in the morning, which got worse over the next few months, eventually lasting all day. I felt disoriented, "drugged" and anxious. I had trouble staying asleep at night, and was occasionally awakened by an anxiety attack. My doctor prescribed Paxil, which made me feel much worse, so I stopped taking it. I thought that maybe changing my diet could help. The most common advice for anxiety that I could find suggested eating a lot of carbohydrates and high tryptophan foods to boost my serotonin levels. Apparently, serotonin is the "feel good" chemical. Well, after high carb, high tryptophan meal I felt worse. I found an old book describing the symptoms of hypoglycemia, and tried that diet (no white sugar, few carbs, plenty of protein and fat, etc.). It actually made me feel better (although I'm not really convinced that I have hypoglycemia). I've been eating this way for about a year, and my symptoms are now very much reduced. Usually, the only time I feel bad is when I eat something that I learn later was full of tryptophan, melatonin, or other "feel good" chemicals. From trial and error I have learned to avoid high-carb foods, turkey and chicken, tuna, bananas, cherries, pumpkin seeds, aged cheese, etc. My question is this: Is my problem too much serotonin, rather than too little? Is this a known condition, with a diet or drug specifically meant to treat it? Thnx.
Posted by clairey on January 13, 2004, at 10:15:00
In reply to Serotonin, anxiety and diet, posted by emil on January 12, 2004, at 15:12:50
Some people dont respond well to SSRI's like paxil and some get even more anxious when using serotonin increasing agents.
So you may just have an imbalance of the other 2 chemicals in the brain and serotonin may not be the problem.
Posted by Kacy on February 17, 2004, at 20:42:29
In reply to Serotonin, anxiety and diet, posted by emil on January 12, 2004, at 15:12:50
Hope you are still checking back. I just saw some information on this. My own experience is consistent with the study. Strattera reduced my anxiety. It is an norepinephrine (ne) reuptake inhibitor. Even without stimulants or supplements added on, Strattera was effective for that. Others have posted the same benefit with Strattera.
I re-write the articles sometimes if I'm interesting in keeping the information. Here's my short version and the link to the other.
http://biopsychiatry.com/noranx.htmDepletion of brain norepinephrine:
differential influence on anxiolyic treatment effectsAnxiety can be treated by
(1) Temporary treatment with anti-anxiety drugs like benzodiazepines or barbiturates
(2) Long-term treatment with tricyclic (TCA) or monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) anti-depressants.Objective: Determine the effects of ne depletion on the two different treatments.
Methods: Rats
Results:
• Reducing ne increased anxiety.
• Despite pre-treatment to reduce ne, alprazolam or phenobarbital still reduced anxiety.
• In contrast, pre-treatment to reduce ne completely abolished the anxiety-reducing effects of desipramine or non-selective MAOI phenelzine treatment.Conclusions: Noradrenergic neuronal integrity appears necessary for reducing anxiety when using antidepressants, but isn't necessary to get anxiety relief with barbiturates and benzodiazepines.
Posted by EscherDementian on February 20, 2004, at 7:00:22
In reply to Serotonin, anxiety and diet, posted by emil on January 12, 2004, at 15:12:50
>> My question is this: Is my problem too much serotonin, rather than too little? Is this a known condition, with a diet or drug specifically meant to treat it? Thnx.
>Too much seratonin is a known condition and can definitely be a serious problem, if indeed that is what is occurring. Allow me some time to look back in the archives here for the most imformational posts regarding too much seratonin.
One tell-tale question, emil ...are you hallucinating? Unwantedly, of course ;)Help from any of you pro's out there?
Relativity,
Escher
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