SSRIs

The article presents SSRIs as potentially improving mood short term while contributing to longer-term fatigue, apathy, or treatment resistance. The conventional pharmacological approach to depression deepens the gut-depression loop rather than breaking it. SSRIs perform at or near placebo level in clinical trials. The FDA ban on tryptophan supplements in 1990 coincided with Prozac's rise and was lifted after Prozac's patent expired. SSRIs block serotonin reuptake at the synapse, causing the receiving cell to stop registering the serotonin signal. SSRIs work by preventing reabsorption of serotonin in the brain to theoretically increase its availability. SSRI-related dysbiosis is presented as part of a cycle that can impair nutrient absorption and mitochondrial function. The article argues that SSRI antimicrobial activity can disrupt microbial membranes and alter gut microbiota. SSRIs carry serious side effects including sexual dysfunction, emotional blunting, worsened depression, and dependency. SSRIs decrease diversity of the gut microbiome, reducing its capacity to produce neurotransmitters and B vitamins. SSRIs increase gut inflammation, worsening the underlying condition that d…