Serotonin

[Guest guest]

Found this while looking for something else, and thougt I would share

since many of us are on anti-depressants.

Serotonin Implicates New Antidepressants

An ICFDA Press Release.

 

" Approximately 50 million people are using these medications and are at

risk. "

by Ann Blake , Phd

During the summer of 1997 we heard the news that the Mayo Clinic had

completed a frightening study about valvular heart disease in

association with elevated serotonin. Dr. Heidi Connolly with the

Divisions of Cardiovascular Diseases and Internal Medicine, who headed

the study stated, " We do know that fenfluramine and phentermine

[Fen-Phen] alter the way the brain chemical serotonin is metabolized,

and serotonin that circulates in the blood can cause valve injury. "

The study focused on heart disease and the diet pill, Fenfluramine.

Fenfluramine produces a rapid release of serotonin, inhibits serotonin

reuptake, and may also have receptor agonist activity. The study's

revelations should send a loud and very clear warning throughout the

medical community concerning all serotonergic medications - the most

popular being: Fen-Phen, Redux, Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Luvox, Effexor,

Serzone and Anafranil. Patients on all of these new medications have

consistently reported both heart and lung problems. And it should be

noted that all of these new medications are designed to increase levels

of serotonin by one method or another.

The study points out that elevated serotonin is produced by various

chemical agents as well as a condition known as carcinoid syndrome.

Ergotamine [Ergot is the base from which we derive LSD, which also

increases serotonin.] and carcinoid syndrome have long been known to

produce this same heart condition. Both also produce elevated levels of

serotonin. The common thread in both the disease condition of carcinoid

syndrome and the chemical agents which produce these heart problems is

the elevated levels of serotonin. Ergotamine-induced valve disease and

carcinoid valve disease are microscopically identical to one another and

the ergotamine-induced valve disease is indistinguishable from the valve

disease experienced by the Fen-Phen patients.

Ann Blake , PhD, director of the International Coalition for Drug

Awareness, has worked to educate the public, medical community and

government leaders to the physical and psychiatric dangers of elevated

serotonin since 1991. Her latest book about the effects of elevated

serotonin, PROZAC: PANACEA OR PANDORA? stresses that the increase in

serotonin - the exact method by which these medications are promoted as

beneficial to patients - is in reality, the danger of all these new

serotonergic drugs. She emphasizes that medical studies have continued

to confirm over three decades that increasing serotonin is detrimental

to both physical and mental health.

Elevated serotonin has been found in schizophrenia, psychosis, mania,

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

bronchial tubes and the arteries to the heart, and blood clots.

It should be noted that medical studies have demonstrated for decades

that an increase in serotonin coincide with a decrease in serotonin

metabolism. Low levels of serotonin metabolism are found in 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.

Emphasis should be made that the Mayo Clinic study on heart valve damage

is not only a warning to Fen-Phen users, but to users of all these new

meds which increase serotonin! And now that the warning has been sounded

about the association with elevated serotonin and heart damage, are we

now also ready to look at warnings given over the years about the other

results of increased serotonin mentioned above? Approximately 50 million

people are using these medications and are at risk. Many of these

patients have already suffered the long-term debilitating after effects.

How many more tragedies do we need to witness and pay for as taxpayers

and as fellow human beings while we await further studies when there are

already, and have been for decades, enough medical studies to raise red

flags about the many dangers of increased serotonin?

WARNING: TAPERING OFF MEDICATIONS IS SAFEST WITHDRAWAL METHOD

Not necessarily, my opinion. Just interesting data.

Lyn

Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and

conscientious stupidity.( Luther King)

http://home.talkcity.com/spiritcir/lynmari/index.html

And go to onelist.com and join rheumathritis and be an arthritis

warrior!!