yet, if serotonin decrease has negative effects, modern medicinal use of this knowledge is barbaric



The most widely used antidepressant drugs fall into three major classes: (1) the monoamine oxidase inhibitors, such as phenelzine (Figure 2A), (2) the tricyclic compounds , such as imipramine, so named for their three-ring molecular structure (Figure 2B), and (3) the serotonin uptake blockers, fluoxetine and trazodone. The monoamine oxidase inhibitors and the tricyclic antidepressants produce remission or marked improvement in about 70% of patients with major depressions. When high doses are given (and blood drug levels are monitored so as to achieve and maintain an adequate therapeutic concentration), the success rate with tricyclic drugs and the specific serotonin uptake inhibitors may reach 85%, almost as effective as electroconvulsive therapy. Patients with bipolar depression occasionally become manic during treatment with either class of antidepressant. Although a few patients begin to improve immediately, there usually is a lag of 1-3 weeks before the symptoms of depression begin to improve, and 4 to 6 weeks are generally required for full response.
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The Dangers of Antidepressants
The Dangers of Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa and Luvox
Peter R. Breggin, M.D. in “The Anti-Depressant Fact Book” outlines a number of potentially harmful effects of SSRI antidepressants. The primary harmful effects of taking an SSRI include the following: (1) Potentially permanent brain-damaging effects (2) mania, psychosis, and other extreme mental and behavioral reactions; (3) the paradox of increased depression leading to suicidal tendencies (4) sexual dysfunction and; (5) withdrawal problems when trying to stop taking SSRIs. This article highlights only the potentially permanent brain-damaging effects of taking antidepressants.

How Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa and Luvox Work
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) disrupt the serotonin system of the brain and block the removal of serotonin from the synapses. A buildup in the levels of serotonin in the brain leads to an increase in the activation or firing of the serotonin nerve cells and puts them into overdrive. Increasing the levels of serotonin also normalizes the functioning of the norepinephrine and dopamine systems.

The Brain Fights Back
The brain fights back against the effect of increased levels of serotonin, and no one knows the net effect of the overall outcome. The brain senses the abnormal increase of serotonin in the synapses and tries in several ways to reverse it. The cells that produce serotonin begin to shut down and stop releasing serotonin. In addition to shutting down the output of serotonin, the brain also compensates by becoming less sensitive to the effects of serotonin. When the brain senses that Prozac has caused too much serotonin to pool in the synapse, the brain reacts defensively by destroying its own receptors for serotonin. The receptors actually die back and disappear. In some regions of the brain, the dieback may result in significant loses—this is known as down regulation. In the end, drug induced brain changes (brain cell death and abnormal brain cell growth) are likely drastic and may become permanent with the prolonged use of antidepressant medication.