Having low serotonin in the blood causes physical symptoms and consequences for mental health. This hormone, secreted in smaller amounts than needed, changes the mood and can lead to the onset of depression, anxiety, and even obesity, so it’s important to maintain adequate levels in the body.
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Low serotonin in blood
It is a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, thought, and has effects on food intake.
This molecule called serotonin is naturally produced from its precursor, an amino acid capable of causing you to feel a certain way. The properties of tryptophan are very important for controlling the production of plasma serotonin. And that’s why it’s important to take it.
It can cause sudden mood swings, irritability, apathy, and even depression when you have low serotonin in blood. But let’s look at all the physical symptoms you can detect when you produce too little.
Symptoms of low serotonin
All nutrients have a function, and when these are below the necessary level, warning signs appear that our body shows in one way or another. So it’s possible to detect the symptoms of low serotonin:
- Negativity.
- Anxiety.
- Irritation, bad mood.
- Apathy.
- Low self-esteem.
- Depression.
- Obsession.
- Insomnia and inability to sleep well.
Detecting physical symptoms
It greatly depends on the person’s condition. While some mood changes, such as anxiety and its physical symptoms over time, can indicate that serotonin is not being produced properly in the body, it’s also possible that there is another cause for mood imbalances.
Whenever a health change persists, it’s important to speak with a specialist to assess and diagnose whether medication or a tryptophan-rich supplement is needed to help increase serotonin levels.
Causes
The good news is that it can be modified and health can be regained once the origin of this deficiency is detected. By addressing these situations or anomalies in diet, it’s possible to redirect mood. So let’s look at the causes of low serotonin:
- Low tryptophan.
- Stress.
- Lack of vitamin D due to low sun exposure.
- Poor diet.
It’s very important to eat well to regulate the vitamins and amino acids that reach the bloodstream and nourish all the cells in the body, including the neurons. A poor diet in tryptophan can be a cause of low serotonin.
Cortisol and stress
Nowadays, it’s much more common to find people with this deficiency due to the pressures of modern life. When stress occurs, the human body releases a hormone called cortisol. This reduces the amount of serotonin and causes toxic effects that result in neuronal death.
It’s important to avoid chronic stress to reduce cortisol release, which only decreases serotonin levels.
Additionally, prolonged stress will eventually cause other conditions related to the heart, skin, etc.
Treatment for low serotonin
- Avoid alcohol and other drugs such as tobacco, coffee, and stimulants.
- Eliminate artificial sweeteners.
- Learn to meditate to relax and reduce stress. You can practice yoga, pilates, etc.
- Get regular sun exposure. With just 5 minutes a day, you will notice a change in mood and begin to feel better. However, don’t overdo it; just a little sun on your skin for the production of vitamin D and other important elements for psychological health.
- Serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
In addition to medication, which according to some studies is effective for 4 months, others indicate it’s advisable to extend treatment for years. It’s possible to eliminate the symptoms of low serotonin and reduce the effects on the body.
Medications
All these medications are categorized as serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). A doctor, psychiatrist, or health specialist should prescribe them. It’s important to have a treatment plan, and in some cases, supporting therapy may be necessary, along with help from a nutritionist to improve nutrient intake with tryptophan. The most well-known medications are fluoxetine and paroxetine, although the doctor may recommend other drugs.
Natural treatment
In addition to this, it’s possible to improve your body’s response in serotonin production. To increase serotonin, you can eat:
- Bananas.
- Eggs.
- Nuts.
- Dairy products.
- Chocolate.
Eating these foods doesn’t guarantee that you will stop the causes of low serotonin, but it will improve its bioavailability for natural production in the body. Furthermore, some foods like chocolate are known to change mood due to the tryptophan content.
Consequences
The consequences are wide-ranging but generally reversible once levels are elevated, so it’s good to consult a professional to address serotonin deficiency as soon as possible.
Some people may develop depression, a severe mood disorder, or anxiety. These conditions can cause physical damage to organs due to overstrain and the production of toxins like cortisol in the body.
What medical specialty should review and analyze these cases? From the symptoms, it seems that my wife has low serotonin. She has anxiety and depression, tachycardia, and has been treated by a psychiatrist with alprazolam and another regulator, but the medication caused her a lot of harm due to side effects.
Hello Mauricio, you can consult with your family doctor, who can redirect you to the appropriate specialist. Sometimes, certain disorders can be confused with others, and these can influence serotonin levels in the blood.
Actually, the most accurate approach is a psychiatrist, but it depends on your wife’s age. If she is starting menopause, it’s likely that these symptoms are due to that. However, if she’s under 45, it would be ideal to see another psychiatrist. I changed doctors three times until I found a doctor who is handling my case, so it’s advisable to change doctors.
Get tested to rule out thyroid issues, especially to check for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which has a specific treatment.
Should a minor take these medications, or is there a better option?
A specialist should recommend it.
Visit a homeopath or a doctor who works with orthomolecular or biological medicine.
Read about the symptoms of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis online. If it’s positive, based on the antibody test, read Dr. Datis Kharrazian’s work.
Most doctors focus on symptoms or signs but not on the causes. A disease should be treated at its cause. The etiology of a disease should be investigated, and if symptoms or signs appear, the cause should be identified.
Hello! I visited the site and saw the consultation. I hope by now, with all this time, it’s resolved or on the right track. I am a psychiatrist and understand that each professional is different. I agree that the etiology (cause) should be sought and not just suppress symptoms. First, a consultation should be done to rule out any specific organic issues. Regarding low serotonin, it’s important to study “platelet serotonin,” which reflects cerebral serotonin levels. Ask for a morning and evening plasma cortisol test, and check vitamin D. This would be a routine to get an idea. If platelet serotonin is very low, in addition to antidepressants, it’s important to check the digestive system and likely supply L-tryptophan, 5-OH-tryptophan, melatonin, and the necessary transporters to produce serotonin. Whatever the case, there’s a solution. Don’t group all professionals together. Best wishes!
Hello! I have a relative who had a serotonin level of 20 in their analysis (according to the parameters, it should be between 85 and 450). Their psychologist hasn’t given it much importance and is treating them with therapy. They have anxiety attacks and very negative thoughts. Is there anything else they could do to accelerate their recovery? Thank you.