2 ms·

Psilocybin works in sort of the same way as SSRI. SSRIs will keep around the serotonin we make, but the problem is, if we’re not making enough serotonin in the

Psilocybin works in sort of the same way as SSRI. SSRIs will keep around the serotonin we make, but the problem is, if we’re not making enough serotonin in the first place they won’t be effective. Psilocybin on the other hand acts kind of like the serotonin molecule itself. It attaches to most of the serotonin receptors, including the two receptor. The reason why it works for so long is you get such a huge and strong attachment to the serotonin receptors that the body ends up, reducing the serotonin receptors in response. It’s this lack of serotonin receptors that make us more sensitive to what little serotonin we make. There’s nothing non-pharmacological about the effects of mushrooms.

amanaplanacanal 3y ago
I believe that we are pretty sure that serotonin has nothing to do with how SSRIs alleviate depression, despite the name.
- InSteady 3y ago
  I believe the only thing we are pretty sure about is that we don't know why SSRIs work. What we believe we know is that low serotonin in the brain does not directly cause depression, and artificially lowering serotonin in individuals does not induce depression (at least not in the way researchers have done so, within the time limits they measured). None of this necessarily means that SSRI activity downregulating the reuptake of serotonin is not the primary mechanism of action (pharmacologically speaking, it definitely is the main thing this class of drug is doing in the body). It's worth noting that we also have a ton of serotonin receptors in our GI tract, and SSRIs do have notable activity there as well, to the point that they can relieve chronic constipation in some individuals. Although levels of serotonin outside the brain (which represent 95% of serotonin produced by the body and our microbes) generally get ignored in analysis of depression, since serotonin cannot cross the blood brain barrier, it may well be very relevant to human health, both physical and mental, for as yet unknown reasons.
  - Podgajski 3y ago
    You know why SSRIs work for some people and don’t work for others, because the people who it doesn’t work for don’t have depression caused by serotonin deficiency. Their depression is most likely caused by too much GABA. Depression is a multi causal disorder.

amanaplanacanal 3y ago

I believe that we are pretty sure that serotonin has nothing to do with how SSRIs alleviate depression, despite the name.

InSteady 3y ago
I believe the only thing we are pretty sure about is that we don't know why SSRIs work. What we believe we know is that low serotonin in the brain does not directly cause depression, and artificially lowering serotonin in individuals does not induce depression (at least not in the way researchers have done so, within the time limits they measured). None of this necessarily means that SSRI activity downregulating the reuptake of serotonin is not the primary mechanism of action (pharmacologically speaking, it definitely is the main thing this class of drug is doing in the body). It's worth noting that we also have a ton of serotonin receptors in our GI tract, and SSRIs do have notable activity there as well, to the point that they can relieve chronic constipation in some individuals. Although levels of serotonin outside the brain (which represent 95% of serotonin produced by the body and our microbes) generally get ignored in analysis of depression, since serotonin cannot cross the blood brain barrier, it may well be very relevant to human health, both physical and mental, for as yet unknown reasons.
- Podgajski 3y ago
  You know why SSRIs work for some people and don’t work for others, because the people who it doesn’t work for don’t have depression caused by serotonin deficiency. Their depression is most likely caused by too much GABA. Depression is a multi causal disorder.