OCD and Serotonin Levels – Understand Treatments and Causes

Can the mood enhancing “happy neurotransmitter” Serotonin help manage Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

This question is one that is receiving focused attention as researchers seek to further clarify the link between serotonin and OCD.

Understanding the role that this neurotransmitter plays in controlling compulsive thoughts could open the door to new treatment methods.

There is growing interest in using 5-HTP – a natural Serotonin booster – to reduce symptoms of this mood disorder. How effective are Serotonin-boosting supplements like 5-HTP for improving mood?

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How It Works:

• Increases Serotonin levels in the brain
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Dosage:

Varies depending on supplement

Safety:

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What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, commonly known as OCD, is a condition in which a person is plagued by constant, intrusive, frightening and irrational thoughts.

Those diagnosed with OCD may experience unwanted impulses or disturbing compulsions such as a feeling that their hands are covered in germs and must be washed constantly.

Compulsive acts and repetitive rituals can include hoarding, arranging and rearranging, counting, hair twisting or pulling, wringing of hands, or constant praying.

Other individuals diagnosed with OCD may feel that they are constantly gripped with a sad sense of loss or impending danger, feeling they must remain vigilant lest something very bad happens to themselves or those they love. They may tend to fixate on horrific new events as validation of their gloomy expectations.

On one level, a person experiencing compulsive and unwanted thoughts is sometimes well aware that they are building concerns out of proportion. They may know that their thoughts and obsessions are irrational and not acceptable or normal behavior.

The National Alliance for Mental Health describes OCD as “a ‘disease of doubt’. Individuals living with OCD experience ‘pathological doubt’ because they are unable to distinguish between what is possible, what is probable and what is unlikely to happen.”

Persons suffering from OCD feel compelled to carry out compulsive rituals to guard against bad things happening even though they may be aware that such behavior makes other people question their sanity. In spite of society’s rules and disapproval, they can’t control their compulsive actions. While completing these rituals offers a temporary respite, ever-mounting anxiety compels them to repeat the ritual again and again.

They also emphatically believe that what they dread is inevitable and can only have a disastrous outcome. This neurotic anxiety may be a sign of a Serotonin deficiency or of impairments in the natural function of the serotonergic system.

What Causes OCD?

Although such behavior might seem unusual, it is not as uncommon as one might think. The National Institute of Mental Health advises that more than 2 percent of the U.S. population or nearly one out of every 40 people will be diagnosed with OCD at some point in their lives. In all likelihood, someone in your school, office, church, social circle or family is suffering from OCD.

The debilitating disorder is two to three times more common than schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It is sometimes mistakenly diagnosed as one of these two similar, though distinct, disorders.

OCD is a biological condition caused by a chemical imbalance involving Serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain. It is not a physiological or “personality problem.” Persons who experience a head trauma may develop OCD if parts of the brain where Serotonin is produced are damaged.

Some people may be genetically predisposed. Statistics reflect that persons with a parent diagnosed with OCD are more than 25 percent more likely to develop the condition than those who do not have a family history of the disorder.

Serotonin and OCD

Certain prescription medications help regulate the complex chemicals in the brain to prevent or reduce OCD symptoms. They work by regulating the amount of Serotonin in the bloodstream thereby reducing anxiety, obsessive thoughts, and compulsive behaviors.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, more commonly known as SSRIs, have proven effective in treating OCD symptoms. The most heavily prescribed SSRI drugs for OCD are fluoxetine (Prozac), Fluvoxamine (Luvox), citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), and sertraline (Zoloft). Venlafaxine (Effexor) and clomipramine (Anafranil) are other antidepressants drawn from a different class of medications that are often used in OCD symptom management.

Although the above-listed drugs can have a dramatic impact on the reduction of symptoms of OCD, they can also cause side effects including nausea, erectile dysfunction, dizziness, shortness of breath, diarrhea, vomiting, headache, insomnia or excessive sleepiness, as well as suicidal thoughts and actions.

These drugs do not relieve symptoms immediately and must be taken for at least 10 to 12 weeks to evaluate the effectiveness and establish the ideal dosage.

Using 5-HTP to Boost Serotonin Levels

As recently as a few decades ago, OCD was considered untreatable. It is only recently that prescription medications to balance Serotonin production and uptake have been used.

In addition to prescription medication, healthcare providers advise patients to get plenty of exposure to sunlight (Serotonin production in the body is light dependent), increase their physical activity and eat wisely by choosing foods that contribute to Serotonin production. Tryptophan is an indirect precursor to Serotonin and is found in many high protein foods including beef, buffalo, chicken, turkey, yogurt, eggs, tofu, soybeans, and cashews.

Tryptophan from food or supplements is broken down in the liver into 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). The 5-HTP travels through the bloodstream to the brain, crosses the barrier separating the blood from the brain, enters the brain tissue, and is converted into Serotonin.

Research studies into the benefits of Serotonin for the treatment of OCD provides some good news. Recent research studies have found that dietary supplements of 5-HTP, the direct precursor to Serotonin, may be just as effective in moderating Serotonin levels and calming symptoms as prescription medications. 5-HTP supplements can be much less costly, and have the risk of fewer serious side effects or time constraints of prescription medications.

Taking 5-HTP Supplements for OCD

5-HTP is derived from naturally occurring seed pods of Griffonia simplicifolia, a perennial West African shrub. In humans, 5-HTP is a potent precursor to the “feel-good” hormone Serotonin. This compound gets converted directly into Serotonin in the brain.

According to MD Ray Sahelian, the appropriate dosage of 5-HTP for adults to control OCD is 50 mg once or twice a day. The recommended dosage for children is between 15mg to 25mg taken once or twice a day. In user reviews online, 100mg a day is reported to significantly improve symptoms of severe OCD when combined with other doctor recommended therapies.

In additional to its use for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Serotonin has many very important functions in the body. It plays a role in visual memory retention, sleep patterns, appetite, learning, recall, body temperature regulation, depression, anxiety, mood, sexual behavior, muscle coordination, cardiovascular function, and endocrine regulation.

5-HTP supplements which naturally raise Serotonin levels have been used to promote weight loss, improve mood, enhance focus, reduce stress, improve sleep patterns, and more.

As with any dietary supplement, consult with your healthcare provider to determine appropriate 5-HTP dosages. Always tell your doctor of any other prescription, supplements or over-the-counter medications you may be taking to avoid adverse drug interactions. 5-HTP can cause side effects when taken in excess dosages or combined with other prescription medications.

Familiarize yourself with the possible side effects before using this supplement so you can identify them if they occur. Stop taking 5-HTP if side effects are observed. Before using Serotonin supplements for OCD, speak to your doctor about all of your treatment options.

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