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Re:Why Antidepressants Don't Live Up to the Hype by Zak on Thursday May 07, 2009 @06:11PM (#598782)
I've taken an interest in body chemistry and especially neurotransmitters over the past year or so. One thing that I've noticed is that every drug I've come across that acts as a neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitor has bizarre and highly undesirable side effects not directly related (as far as anybody knows) to increasing the levels of the neurotransmitter in question. I think very few people should take drugs in this class, and they should be used as a last resort, not the primary treatment for any condition.

If it is desirable to raise the level of a given neurotransmitter, I think supplementation with precursors is a more favorable approach. For treating depression, it is likely that raising serotonin and dopamine levels simultaneously will have the desired effect. The appropriate precursors are 5-HTP and levodopa. To aid in production, it may be helpful to take vitamin B-6. To help cause production in the brain instead of the rest of the body, it is advisable to take an aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor that does not cross the blood-brain barrier. EGCG (green tea extract) is effective for this purpose, and may restore proper brain chemistry on its own.

This is not medical advice, and while all the chemicals I've mentioned are available as dietary supplements, they have significant biological effects, including the possibility of harmful side effects. Do your research, and don't rely on advice from the health food store by itself. Wikipedia is a good starting point (though, obviously, it shouldn't be the only source you consult).

Re:Why Antidepressants Don't Live Up to the Hype by asciilifeform on Thursday May 07, 2009 @08:02PM (#598896)
A good outline of the process:

http://yarchive.net/med/5-htp.html

Re:Why Antidepressants Don't Live Up to the Hype by Zak on Thursday May 07, 2009 @08:33PM (#598935)
This is the first time I've seen the claim that B6 will significantly increase serotonin production outside the brain when taken in combination with 5-HTP and an AAAD inhibitor. It certainly does without the AAAD inhibitor, and it seems possible that it would even with.

This backs up my previous point though - do your research if you're considering self-medication.