Serotonin syndrome is a serious, life-threatening medical condition that can happen to people who are trying to better their mental health. If you are somebody who takes medications for your mental health, you might be at risk for this condition and all of its complicated symptoms. Below, you will find all the information you need on serotonin syndrome, including what causes it, symptoms to watch out for, and all of your treatment options so that you don’t have to sacrifice your health.
Serotonin Syndrome Causes
Serotonin is an important hormone that all humans need to feel happy and function in their day-to-day lives. This hormone impacts many aspects of the body, including the digestive tract, bones, and mood or mental health. When the levels of serotonin in the body are too low, it can result in mental health complications like depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders.
To help in these cases where people need more or balanced levels of serotonin to better their mental health, medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can come in handy. However, SSRIs, amongst other mental health medications, come with a long list of side effects—especially if they aren’t taken properly, at the right dosage, or if they interact with other types of drugs. Prescription medications for migraines, for example, have the chance of interacting with SSRIs. Thus, serotonin syndrome becomes a risk.
Serotonin syndrome, also known as serotonin toxicity, most commonly occurs when a person is on these medications that are meant to boost or balance the brain’s production of serotonin. This condition is characterized by an overproduction of serotonin. Essentially, too much of this hormone can send the body into danger. Some examples of medications that can technically be taken together would be trazodone and Lexapro. However, when combined, these medications and others just like them have the chance of causing serotonin syndrome.
So, in short, SSRIs and other prescription drugs are sometimes necessary to take when trying to get your mental health back on track. But at the same time, the side effects of taking these medications might actually put your life at risk.
Serotonin Syndrome Symptoms
The symptoms of serotonin syndrome can begin very quickly after taking medications that interact with one another, or when misusing prescription drugs that cause an overproduction of serotonin. In some situations, the symptoms can start within an hour of taking the medications. In other cases, the symptoms can develop over the course of hours or even days before becoming noticeable.
While there’s a lot more to learn about this condition through research and trials on this condition, experts recognize that the main symptoms can range from very mild to very severe. Serotonin syndrome symptoms usually include:
- Rapid heartbeat
- High blood pressure
- Shivering or trembling
- Low body temperature
- Changes in mood
- Difficulty speaking
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Organ failure
- Death
Some of these symptoms mimic a drug overdose while other symptoms are difficult to differentiate from an episode of mental health distress. If you think that you have any of these symptoms of serotonin syndrome, it is essential that you seek medical attention right away to prevent further harm or even death.
Serotonin Syndrome Recovery Options
It is possible to reverse the symptoms of serotonin syndrome, especially if you are able to stop taking the medications that have caused the condition in the first place. However, this can be a tricky task to navigate. Usually it is unsafe to stop taking antidepressants or SSRIs cold turkey. As with any drug detox, there can be serious withdrawal symptoms that put your health at risk. Plus, without the medications, you might be left with untreated mental health concerns in addition to a substance use disorder.
The best option in recovering from serotonin syndrome is to seek medical and mental health guidance. Certain treatment facilities, like The Woods at Parkside, specialize in helping you heal from mental health distress at the same time as addictions or physical dependencies to prescription medications. The dual diagnosis treatment program at The Woods at Parkside can even help you to find the right dosage and type of medication to help with your mental health without putting you at risk for complications.
Additionally, our treatment programs provide opportunities such as:
- Mental health counseling
- Group therapy
- Stress management
- Life skills groups
There are also therapeutic options at our facility that can help you to naturally increase your body’s production of serotonin. Music therapy is one of these treatment methods. Music therapy is actually proven to help boost a person’s physical and emotional wellbeing. Another option would be practicing physical fitness and movement to naturally encourage the brain to produce a healthy level of serotonin through recreational therapy.
Find Recovery at The Woods at Parkside
For more information on serotonin syndrome and all of the recovery opportunities mentioned above, reach out to us today by phone at 419-452-4818 or submit a confidential contact form here. With all of these options and more, recovery from serotonin syndrome—as well as preventing it if you seek help before the side effects catch up to you—is within an arm’s reach.
Experiencing stress can put a lot of pressure on you. Stress can cause many different side effects on your mental health as well as your physical health. Emotional symptoms of stress often lead people to unhealthy habits, such as drinking, to cope with this discomfort.
A mental health disorder is a condition that can be diagnosed by a mental health professional. This mental health expert will evaluate to see if you have a mental health disorder based on your symptoms as well as family history.
Everybody feels stress every once in a while. However, mental health becomes a problem when the symptoms cause you distress. Untreated mental health disorders can also disrupt your day-to-day life—from your ability to work, socialize, and form healthy relationships with your loved ones.
Just as with physical illness, symptoms of mental illness indicate when something is out of the ordinary within your body and mind. Mental illness can be addressed with different types of treatment, including medication, therapy, and participating in mental health recovery programs.
The term “mental health” refers to your well-being as it relates to your emotions, behaviors, and actions. Like physical health reflects what your body can safely do, mental health affects what you can do mentally, such as dealing with stressful situations or controlling feelings of anger.
Your mental health reflects your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Your relationship to your mental health can be influenced by chemicals in your brain and your family history as well as external factors such as your environment and upbringing.
