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Supplements to help rebuild serotonin receptors?

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BleeziesNHeem858

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Sep 6, 2010
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I think I have destroyed my receptors. I have tried 5-HTP and it only works temporarily. Anyone know of anything that will help me rebuild receptors back? Is this possible? Is neurotoxic damage permanent?
 
In short, yes, neurotoxic damage is by definition permanent, but serotonin receptor downregulation (what you're likely suffering from, since AFAIK neurotoxicity hasn't been clinically demonstrated in humans at recreational doses) is not considered neurotoxicity. Downregulation is a completely natural process that your brain uses to decrease its sensitivity to "loud" signals (e.g. a massive release of serotonin). Over time, and with the source of the excessive stimulation removed, your brain will return to normal. For the record, 5-HTP only helps the brain to rebuild stores of serotonin; it doesn't do anything to protect or re-upregulate your receptors.

That said, upregulation is a chemical process and there's been some debatable discussion about helping the process along by providing precursors, most notably by supplementing with inositol. There's also been discussion about using St. John's Wort to re-sensitize the receptors, but this is even more shaky.

My personal advice is to not micromanage your brain chemistry. Stop rolling for now, and just do the normal things that people do to get and stay healthy: eat a balanced diet, exercise, possibly supplement with a multivitamin, think positive thoughts, get engaged with activities outside of drug usage, etc. I can promise you that you'll feel much better doing this than taking an armload of supplements while all the time fearing that you've caused your brain irreparable damage. You haven't; with time and good care of yourself you will be back to normal. :) Good luck!
 
How long can it take for receptors to up-regulate?
If I have been feeling some recovery is that a sign I haven't done permanent damage?
 
Judging from your other thread, it's pretty certain that you haven't done any permanent damage.

I don't know what sorts of permanent damage people expect to manifest from MDMA, anyhow. To give you an example, methamphetamine is demonstrably neurotoxic to a far greater degree than MDMA. People go on years-long binges on the stuff, yet when they decide to go clean they're not that much more impaired than anyone else after a recovery period. I'm not saying that these substances are safe, but I think it takes a lot more damage than people realize to produce behavioral changes.

The worst thing you can do at this point is to dwell on the idea that you're somehow permanently damaged. Even if by some extreme stretch of the imagination you were, you'd only be compounding your problems by being anxious about it. I hope that helps somewhat. :\

EDIT: Also, take the advice of the people in your other thread...you're going to be fine, seriously. :) Just respect the drug in the future and you'll have nothing to worry about. By "respect", I specifically mean leaving at least a month between doses, controlling your dose (e.g. not exceeding 2-3 pills in a night), and taking a break if you feel like it's negatively impacting you. All of the previous advice applies only after you've feel like you've fully recovered, of course -- there's no sense in using again before you feel like you're 100%.
 
Like I said in one of my other posts: I really don't feel that it MDMA does damage to serotonin receptors. And until I see a study that suggests otherwise, I firmly believe in my theory.

It is much more like you are damaging your dopamine receptors through the chemicals cut in Ecstasy pills like amp and meth.

Or maybe there's no damage at all and it's all down regulation. It's hard to tell with so little information.

What kind of drugs have you done and how often?

+1 atara
What symptoms are you experiencing?
 
BleeziesNHeem858 said:
How long can it take for receptors to up-regulate?
If I have been feeling some recovery is that a sign I haven't done permanent damage?
Click to expand...

Yeah dude, as RGB suggested, your taking this thing too seriously. Our understanding of human neurology is theoretical at best and complete BS at worst.

I think the best thing you can do for yourself right now is start going to the gym regularly, eat healthy and to try and be productive. This will naturally improve your mental health without any armchair chemistry.

Take care!
 
Hey, I know this is an ancient thread but this features prominently on google so I feel justified to link an article for future visitors! :\. Some evidence suggests that serotonin receptor down-regulation is the actual cause of the efficacy of anti-depressants, because serotonin triggers the release of excitory neurotransmitters such as glutamate. https://www.docdroid.net/qbj8/andrews2015.pdf.html .This does seem to explain why it takes SSRIs several weeks to work but of course this doesn't seem to explain the SSRI withdrawal symptoms, unless the disequilibrium caused by withdrawing just messes up other neurotransmitter pathways.
 
BleeziesNHeem858 said:
I think I have destroyed my receptors. I have tried 5-HTP and it only works temporarily. Anyone know of anything that will help me rebuild receptors back? Is this possible? Is neurotoxic damage permanent?
Click to expand...


No, you haven't destroyed your receptors unless you took several large doses of para-chloro-amphetamine -- which you would definitely know


Bacopa Monnieri has been shown to upregulate downregulated 5HT (serotonin) receptors.

A tryptophan deficient diet (google it for specifics) has been shown to upregulate downregulated 5ht (serotonin) receptors in 3 weeks in rats
 
SterwickH said:
Hey, I know this is an ancient thread but this features prominently on google so I feel justified to link an article for future visitors! :\. Some evidence suggests that serotonin receptor down-regulation is the actual cause of the efficacy of anti-depressants, because serotonin triggers the release of excitory neurotransmitters such as glutamate. https://www.docdroid.net/qbj8/andrews2015.pdf.html .This does seem to explain why it takes SSRIs several weeks to work but of course this doesn't seem to explain the SSRI withdrawal symptoms, unless the disequilibrium caused by withdrawing just messes up other neurotransmitter pathways.
Click to expand...

Lowered serotonin binding affinity - and lowered SERT activity caused by SSRIs are likely more the cause

Overactive SERT - pulls the serotonin out of the synaptic cleft too quickly, reducing the effect

lowering the activity of sert - allows for serotonin to act longer at the synapse
 
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