Most people tend to take medication for any kind of health problem, even for a common headache. They get instant relief and are immediately hooked on those types of drugs. However, the problem is when they do decide to stop taking synthetic drugs.
In most cases, they end up having more symptoms than they began with. Maybe you have experienced this firsthand. The use of antidepressants does exactly the same.
Many people say they started experiencing cognitive decline once they began taking the drugs. Once they tried to stop taking the antidepressants, they felt even worse. In fact, their condition was much worse than before their treatment with antidepressants.
Doctors explain this as a relapse of the patient’s anxiety and depression.
However, the patients complained their symptoms are not only worse but also accompanied by other symptoms they didn’t have before starting the drugs.
So, what is exactly happening with these people?
As researchers explain, it’s about “drug-induced nutrient depletion.” Apparently, drugs can deplete the body of important nutrients via different mechanisms. These include impaired digestion, increased excretion of nutrients, and impaired absorption and storage of nutrients. This can gradually develop into nutritional deficiencies which can increase the patient’s side effects and cause additional symptoms. As a matter of fact, the side effects of many drugs can often be just nutritional deficiencies caused by the same. Obviously, this is a problem as one of the main causes of mental illnesses is nutrient deficiency. Taking drugs that can deplete valuable nutrients from your body will only worsen your condition. Apparently, this epidemic continues to be ignored by the overall medical system. Since the drugs deplete your body of important nutrients gradually, you might notice side effects or new symptoms months or even years after starting the drug. This is why many patients and their doctors fail to see the connection between the new symptoms and the drug. Most often than not, doctors prescribe patients new drugs for the side effects and new symptoms they experience. The consequence? – increased nutrient deficiencies. As you can imagine, being on multiple drugs at the same time is surely a bad thing for your health. So, a patient on antidepressants can be prescribed even more psychiatric medications. Here are the main nutrient deficiencies caused by psychiatric medication. It’s good to know them as you won’t find them listed on the drug package.Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
Each cell of your body contains the molecule Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) which is crucial for the production of energy. Being a great antioxidant, it offers your brain and overall body protection against free radical damage. Studies conducted on rats show that higher levels of this antioxidant have a significant antidepressant effect. If you think about it, this is related to the scientific evidence which suggests that oxidative damage caused by free radicals contributes to the development of depression. It turns out that many antipsychotics, antidepressants, and other psychiatric medications deplete this significant antioxidant. Low levels of Coenzyme Q10 can lead to mental fatigue, brain fog, memory lapses, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and depression. Moreover, CoQ10 deficiency symptoms include muscle cramps, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, and high blood sugar.Magnesium
This is one of the most important minerals in our body as it takes part in over 300 biochemical reactions. It acts as an enzyme, neurotransmitter, and shows hormonal activity – factors that have an immense effect on your brain function and mood. Magnesium reduces anxiety, irritability, and depression, which makes it vital for your brain health. However, many people have magnesium deficiency nowadays, and some of its main symptoms include:- Muscle weakness, tremors, cramps, and spasms;
- High blood pressure;
- Insomnia;
- Nausea;
- Headaches and migraines;
- Suicidal thoughts;
- Osteoporosis;
- Heart arrhythmias.
B Vitamins
The psychiatric medication also depletes many B vitamins, like vitamin B2 (riboflavin), B6, B12, and folate.Vitamin B2 Deficiency
Lack of vitamin B2 leads to weight gain, low energy levels, and thyroid and skin problems. This happens because this vitamin is crucial for the energy metabolism throughout the body. Antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and anticonvulsants can prevent the absorption of riboflavin, which increases the patient’s need for supplementation. Researchers found that people with depression have insufficient levels of vitamin B2. This means that if they take psychiatric medications, their condition will become worse in the long run. Food sources of this vitamin include leafy vegetables, pastured eggs, sunflower seeds, mushrooms, almonds, and beef liver.Vitamin B6 Deficiency
Another important B vitamin depleted by psychiatric medication is vitamin B6. Some of its roles include support for the nervous system, affecting sleep and mood. What this vitamin does is participating in the production of many brain neurotransmitters, like GABA, serotonin, and dopamine. However, psychiatric medications can affect the levels of this vitamin by altering these neurotransmitters. So, when taking antidepressants, doctors recommend taking vitamin B6 supplements. Researchers claim benzodiazepines and antidepressants deplete this important vitamin. The main symptoms of vitamin B6 deficiency are mental confusion, weakness, insomnia, depression, and severe PMS symptoms. You can find this vitamin in foods such as bananas, potatoes, and chicken.Vitamin B12 and Folate Deficiency
Folate and vitamin B12 are important B vitamins that participate in the methylation process in the brain and body. This process is vital for the optimal function of the nervous system, as well as optimal energy levels. People with depression usually have vitamin B12 and folate deficiency and vice versa. Those with low levels of folate and vitamin B12 have a higher risk of depression. Still, doctors ignore these facts and continue to prescribe benzodiazepines, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics which are known to deplete vitamin B1 and folate. Insufficient levels of these vitamins can lead to higher levels of homocysteine and the inability to methylene properly. All this can aggravate the existing fatigue, depression, confusion, irritability, and forgetfulness. You can find vitamin B12 in animal-based foods, such as beef liver, whereas folate in leafy greens, broccoli, asparagus, strawberries, and cauliflower.Conclusion
The drugs you take to improve your health can, in fact, deplete your body and brain from important nutrients. The results are serious side effects and impaired health. What’s more, the lack of certain vitamins and minerals can be a major underlying cause of mental problems. Nevertheless, you can avoid these unwanted side effects and even improve and control your chronic mental disease by restoring the missing vitamins and minerals. But the big question is why this information stays unknown to people who take psychiatric drugs? Unfortunately, the odds are doctors don’t even know these drugs cause nutrition deficiencies. All you can do is remember this information and share it with anyone you think is taking psychiatric medication. Source The Guardian | NCBI | NCBI | NCBI | NCBI | NCBI | Penn State Hershey | Optimal Living Dynamics; Image Source The Financial Express
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