Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is derived from the amino acid tryptophan. Most people know that serotonin is associated with mood. It has long been marketed that high serotonin results in happiness, and low serotonin results in major depression. Despite the incessant marketing of serotonin to the mainstream by pharmaceutical companies, serotonin does more than …
Many drugs have anticholinergic properties, meaning they inhibit the neurotransmission of acetylcholine in the brain. Drugs with anticholinergic effects prevent acetylcholine from binding to receptors, resulting in therapeutic effects. There are three major types of anticholinergic drugs including: antimuscarinics, ganglionic inhibitors, and neuromuscular inhibitors – the majority being antimuscarinic. Anticholinergic drugs are often administered for …
Nortriptyline (Pamelor) is a tricyclic antidepressant that is commonly used as a second-line treatment for major depression. It is also sometimes prescribed for conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, bedwetting in children, migraine headaches, and neuropathic pain. The drug may also be effective for some individuals in managing symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This …
Everyone wants to take drugs, eat foods, and supplements for short-term gain, but most are not prepared to face the long-term consequences. Most people are okay with binging on carbohydrates (e.g. chips, pretzels, pastas), sugary treats (e.g. ice cream), and alcohol – but are totally unaware that there’s a biological consequence for each of their …
Psychosis is a condition that is commonly associated with the mental illness schizophrenia. It is defined as a detachment from reality and hallmark symptoms include delusions (beliefs that aren’t based in reality) and hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling stimuli that aren’t real). Those with psychosis are usually admitted to a psychiatric ward and/or hospital and …
Delusions are considered inaccurate beliefs held by an individual, (typically with a mental illness), regardless of logical evidence disproving the belief. A delusion differs from a belief that is held based on insufficient information or perceptual feedback. An example of a non-deluded belief was when scientists initially thought that the Earth was the center of …
While staying connected with friends and family is healthy, many people take social connectivity to an extreme. This has lead to Canadian social scientists coining the term “hyperconnectivity.” This refers to humans utilizing multiple modalities of communication such as: email, instant messaging, face-to-face communication, Facebook, texting, and cell phones. It is estimated that for every …