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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LarsHoney1 on February 15, 2019, at 9:47:12
Has the Low Serotonin Hypothesis for the cause of Depression done more harm than good?
I spent years hoping to find the right Psychiatric Medication. Thinking if only I found a med that got my neurotransmitters just right, then my Severe Depression would be helped as my Wellbeing increases.
Then about 3 years ago I was at my Family Doctors office about to have my blood taken for various tests. I asked my doc to include Testosterone in the test. When Results came back, my Free Testosterone, the Testosterone your body actually uses, was at 0. With my Follicle Stimulating and Luteinizing Hormones being low.
And so it turns out Low Serotonin isnt the reason for my Severe Depression. But an Endocrine Problem is. And now, after years of being misdirected by Psychiatry, in hopes of correcting my Low Serotonin in order to improve my Mental Wellbeing, Ive discovered my problem is caused by Endocrine issues, as I begin a new journey to find the correct Endocrine treatment.
By the way, as of right now I am diagnosed with Idiopathic (unknown cause) Hypopitutarism.
Posted by Christ_empowered on February 15, 2019, at 11:14:39
In reply to Has the Low Serotonin Hypothesis done more Harm, posted by LarsHoney1 on February 15, 2019, at 9:47:12
it isn't just the low serotonin marketing hype. its...pretty much psychiatry, and by extension...the mental health industry.
in decades past, psychiatrists were more talk oriented with the middle and upper classes, drugs and shock and operations for the working class, poor, minorities, and in hospitals. and now...
talk takes time, and there's some data that shows it isn't all that effective, either. writing prescriptions is easy and brings in $$$ and status as a "real doctor," etc. the end result is that most "treatment" is drug based and really about control--of behavior, "symptoms," thoughts, feelings, etc.
i just...don't know. i am sorry about your health condition. these psych drugs are serious business...and often one is never told, so it isn't until things get -terrible- (or the insurance runs out) that the truth is revealed. they not only don't have real answers, they don't care that much, either.
Posted by Hugh on February 16, 2019, at 11:03:28
In reply to Has the Low Serotonin Hypothesis done more Harm, posted by LarsHoney1 on February 15, 2019, at 9:47:12
This essay addresses your question:
Posted by Phillipa on February 16, 2019, at 18:00:05
In reply to Re: Has the Low Serotonin Hypothesis done more Harm » LarsHoney1, posted by Hugh on February 16, 2019, at 11:03:28
Hugh I recognize that the article in from 2014 . Playing devils advocate then in the last 5 years why has nothing been done about this? I don't know if anyone was or wasn't helped by SSRI's. To this day I still take a nontheraputic dose of generic Lexapro 2.5mg & 12.5mg of original luvox. And terrified to stop them fearing withdrawal. But after more than 50 years low dose valium & xanax do help? Never did I have an SSRI do a thing. Thanks for the article. Phillipa
Posted by LarsHoney1 on February 16, 2019, at 20:02:25
In reply to Re: Has the Low Serotonin Hypothesis done more Harm » LarsHoney1, posted by Hugh on February 16, 2019, at 11:03:28
Thanks for the article. Helped put some things in perspective.
I have so many thoughts on all of it that I could write all day. But I think, with Psychiatric pills, it is much more Cost Efficient for Doctors and Hospitals to just hand a patient a pill, than to do the work to diagnose and treat an actual illness. And it is cheaper for Insurance to pay for, as well. Theyre not looking for the cause of depression. Were all too complex and unique for that. Theyre looking for the next pill they can get prescribed to the most people.Id like to think a giant class action lawsuit could be in order against the likes of the APA and NIMH for letting the Serotonin Myth run wild.
Posted by Hugh on February 18, 2019, at 11:23:31
In reply to Re: Has the Low Serotonin Hypothesis done more Harm » Hugh, posted by Phillipa on February 16, 2019, at 18:00:05
Hi Phillipa,
It's been quite a while since I've seen a commercial for an antidepressant that used the phrase "chemical imbalance." But for years after it was known that the chemical imbalance/low serotonin explanation for depression was false, we continued to hear about it. As the essay points out, this was because of cynicism and greed. "Chemical imbalance" was a simple explanation that sounded good. Never mind that it wasn't true.
Posted by Phillipa on February 18, 2019, at 12:02:11
In reply to Re: Has the Low Serotonin Hypothesis done more Harm » Phillipa, posted by Hugh on February 18, 2019, at 11:23:31
Hugh thanks for the reply you are completely correct on the commercials. How interesting . I surprised I didn't pick up on this sooner. I'd like to know if anyone noticed an improvement and felt using the word cured by SSRI's or did circumstances in their lives change for the better and they just started feeling better and stopped taking meds. Phillipa
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