Re: SSRIs and mold illness

[Guest guest]

I've read quite a bit on the neurogenic theory of depression (which has a

lot of evidence

backing it up) and from what I have read, serotonin is involved in the

synthesis of new

connections in the brain. Serotoin is made from tryptophan in the diet (an

amino acid)

SSRI's act on that serotonin, amplifying its effect by slowing its

degradation by tryptophan pyrrolase

making it stay in the body longer.

Many mold toxins are biologically active - they " modulate " (in medical

terminology, that means modify, either up or down)

" neurogenic amines " (neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine,

dopamine, etc.)

Those changes have been shown to have effects on the creation of new

connections..

The way the brain works is exceedingly complex. It has many self-regulating

pathways.. (the process by which serotonin is made from tryptophan is one of

the most beautifully balanced by nature.. if anyone is interested in that I

can point you to some interesting stuff on it.)

Most drugs have a range at which they are effective, and a range in which

they do things other than what they are intended to do.

The more biologically active substances that get put into your body, the

more difficult it will be for these natural feedback loops that control

important processes to function normally.

I would describe many drugs as " blunt instruments " that treat symptoms, not

the cause of illness.

the more drugs or other xenobiotics (like mold toxins, antibiotics, etc)

someone is exposed to, the more difficult it would be to figure out what was

going to happen.

Too many variables.

The chances of the effects of " polypharmacy " being bad are MUCH higher than

the chance of it beng good.. just as the chance of hitting a target when

shooting a gun, blindfolded, on a moving bus, are much smaller than the

chance of not hitting it.

Nature has evolved our mechanisms of survival over millions of years in many

different situations - when you mess with nature, you only rarely come out

ahead.. Mold toxins are designed to kill other living things and they have

had a lot of evolution to learn how.

Look at neurogenesis and SSRIs for some stuff on this.. also look at the

work with mycotoxins and radiotagged glial and progenitor cells

On Sat, Nov 8, 2008 at 6:18 PM, Branislav <arealis@...> wrote:

> Does anyone know how SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)

> antidepressants affect us who are sensitive to mold toxins?

>

> Are they neutral, or can they worsen the condition? I am especially

> interested whether anyone noticed that their sensitivity to mold toxin

> increased while taking these meds.

>

> I know all chemicals (medicines are chemicals) are a burden for our

> already weakened immune system, but I'd really like to hear first-hand

> experience from someone who has been taking them.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

The reason I am asking this question (how SSRIs affect mold sensitive

people) is because I am never taken seriously by the doctors here,

even those that perhaps might be able to help - if they were sure it

wasn't psychological thing. Most doctors think it is OCD

(obsessive-compulsive disorder) than forces me to clean stuff and

myself so often. They have no idea how wrong they are.

So I thought, if I take some SSRI for several months, and my " strange

behaviour " doesn't improve than it would be a proof that it is not OCD

or " in my head " . Then I could go to any doctor and if he/she starts

talking how my illness is impossible and it's more likely in my head,

I can show that doctor " the proof " that that theory has already been

discarded. I know there are some doctors that can help and would be

willing to read stuff from doctors such as Shoemaker, but to be able

to get to them one must pass other doctors that are not so enlightened.

The main thing that worries me about SSRIs is whether I would be able

to tolerate them, and more importantly I want to make sure that they

can't worsen the sensitivity to mold.

I presume there are some people who have or are still taking these

meds? It's not just Prozac, there are others now which have less

side-effects.

--- In , LiveSimply <quackadillian@...>

wrote:

>

> I've read quite a bit on the neurogenic theory of depression (which

has a

> lot of evidence

> backing it up) and from what I have read, serotonin is involved in the

> synthesis of new

> connections in the brain. Serotoin is made from tryptophan in the

diet (an

> amino acid)

[Guest guest]

I whole-heartedly agree. Anti depressants are MADE to have a 'build

up' affect in your body and they take FOREVER to get out, if ever, and

have alot of side affects. I feel my illness started with one and

years ago I was put an another antidepressants even though I didn't

think it was the problem and had another health problem from it. It's

not worth it. They don't do enough research on drugs any more. I only

take prescription drugs as a last resort but antidepressants and SSRI

are the worst in my opinion. Do something to lift your mood instead to

get the chemicals in your body...join a bowling league, meet new

friends, do volunteer work. Getting over your health problem, helps

your mental status. I think that is where we all need help, with our

physical health. If he's no help, you have to move on to someone

else.

>

> Hi,

>

> PLEASE do not take SSRIs!!! You will surely be adding to your toxic

> overload by taking these drugs. And I absolutely would not mess with

these

> drugs just to prove something to someone else.

[Guest guest]

Bran, I do not do well on any of these. Some of them can give me

very bad neurological symptoms. None of the docs believed it was

anything but psychological even though the meds did not work. They are

just not trained to think outside the box. - K.

>>

> I presume there are some people who have or are still taking these

> meds? It's not just Prozac, there are others now which have less

> side-effects.

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much for the detailed answer. Actually, I have long

suspected that the effects of SSRIs were just that bad.

You are right - I shouldn't prove anything to anyone. If I find a good

doctor who can treat the real cause of my illness, I will be happy. If

not, I will have to continue with my life as it is now.

I won't be taking any SSRIs. Just reading about their side-effects

makes one wonder how can anyone take them at all.

>

> Hi,

>

> PLEASE do not take SSRIs!!! You will surely be adding to your toxic

> overload by taking these drugs. And I absolutely would not mess with

these

> drugs just to prove something to someone else.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Deb,

My real name is Branislav. It's not an email address

Sometimes I forget to sign below the text.

-Branislav

P.S. Thanks to all others who responded as well. I just don't have the

necessary strength to answer each message.

P.P.S. It is strange how one little contaminate object can totally

destroy your life. While I've always known never to underestimate

cross-contamination, this time I got seriously kicked in the ass, and

I now wonder if I will ever recover from this single exposure and this

particular contamination?

NEVER touch anything you know is contaminated. It is best to always

throw away ALL contaminated things. The sensitivity gets worse with

each exposure and you can " hit the wall " quicker.

>

> Dear " Branislav " ,

>

> You're welcome. While I am not at all an expert, nor am I as

well-read as

> many others on this list, I can speak from my own experience and

what rings

> true for me.

>

> I would like to make a request. Could we each sign our emails with

at least

> our first name? I feel funny addressing someone by their email

address. If

> anonymity is important to you, than maybe use a nickname (or alias...)?

>

> Thanks,

> Deb

[Guest guest]

" I shouldn't prove anything to anyone. If I find a good

> doctor who can treat the real cause of my illness, I will be happy. If

> not, I will have to continue with my life as it is now. "

No, don't ever give up Keep looking for a doctor who will treat you

for what it is. It took me out of the city; to the poor side of town

to finally find a doctor who would take a chance, so to speak, and

acknowledge that my symptoms seemed real and that mold would probably

be the cause. I brought my xrays from another doctor and a medical

report from another, etc etc. He reviewed them all while I was there.

But more importantly he saw how sick I was and treated me. llaci