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How to Get Off Psychiatric Drugs Safely
Copyright Notice Forward A Note From James Harper, Founder, The Road Back Table of Contents
Part One
3. Suggested Nutritionals for The Road Back Program 6. General Pre-Tapering and Tapering Instructions 9. Pre-Taper For: Benzodiazepines, Anti-Convulsants, Anti-Anxiety & Sleep Medication 10. Pre-Taper For Antidepressants, Antipsychotics, and ADHD Medication 11. How to Taper Off Benzodiazepines, Anti-Convulsants, Anti-Anxiety and Sleep Medication (Slow and Gradual Taper) 12. How to Taper Off Benzodiazepines, Anti-Convulsants, Anti-Anxiety and Sleep Medication (Fast and Gradual Taper) 13. How to Taper Off Antidepressants, Anti-Psychotics and ADHD Medication (Slow and Gradual Taper) 14. How to Taper Off Antidepressants, Anti-Psychotics and ADHD Medication (Fast and Gradual Taper)
16.
What to Do If You Have Already
Started to Taper Off Your Medication
or 17. How to Taper Off Multiple Drugs 18. What You Can Do If You Have Never Taken Psychiatric Drugs 19. Science Behind The Road Back Program
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GLOSSARY
B.I.D.:
Twice a day
ACTH:
A hormone produced by the
pituitary gland that stimulates the secretion of cortisone and other hormones by
the adrenal gland. ACTH is also called
adrenocorticotropin,
corticotropin. ADHD:
Abbreviation for
Attention
Deficit
Hyperactivity
Disorder. ADHD
Medication:
Medication prescribed for
Attention
Deficit
Hyperactivity
Disorder.
Common medications are Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall and Strattera.
AGITATION:
Excitement or emotional disturbance. ALDEHYDE OXIDASE SUBSTRATE:
An
enzyme pathway the body uses to metabolize substances.
ALKALINE:
Something that
is alkaline contains an alkali or has a pH value of more than 7.
Your body needs a balance between acid and alkali for good health.
When your pH levels are too low, it means acid is too high in our bodies.
Our bodies are alkaline by design and acid by function. Maintaining proper
alkalinity is essential for life, health, and vitality. Simply put — an
imbalance of alkalinity creates a condition favorable to the growth of bacteria,
yeast and other unwanted organisms. All leading biochemists and medical
physiologists have recognized pH (or the acid-alkaline balance) as the most
important aspect of a balanced and healthy body.
AMINO ACID: Any of a large group of chemical compounds that join together in various ways to form different proteins that are necessary for all life. AMINE: A chemical compound containing nitrogen. Amines are derived from ammonia. The name "amine" was derived from the word "ammonia." Nitrogen: a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is biologically important. It makes up nearly four fifths of the air around the earth, and is found in all living things. Nitrogen is a constituent of protein and is present in all living cells. ANTIOXIDANT: Any substance that reduces oxidative damage (damage due to oxygen) such as that caused by free radicals. Here's how oxidation works. As oxygen interacts with cells of any type — an apple slice or, in your body, the cells lining your lungs or in a cut on your skin — oxidation occurs. This produces some type of change in those cells. They may die, such as with rotting fruit. In the case of cut skin, dead cells are replaced in time by fresh, new cells, resulting in a healed cut. Oxidation reaction can produce free radicals, which start chain reactions that damage cells. Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by removing free radicals, and inhibit other oxidation reactions by being oxidized themselves. Well-known antioxidants include a number of enzymes and other substances such as vitamin C, vitamin E and beta carotene (which is converted to vitamin A) that are capable of counteracting the damaging effects of oxidation. Free radicals are highly reactive chemicals that attack molecules by capturing electrons and thus modifying chemical structures. Free radicals: are atoms or molecules with unpaired electrons. These unpaired electrons are usually highly reactive, so radicals are likely to take part in chemical reactions. When free radicals are on the attack, they don't just kill cells to acquire their missing molecule. The problem is free radicals often injure the cell, damaging the DNA, which creates the seed for disease. Free radicals trigger a damaging chain reaction. Free radicals are dangerous because they don't just damage one molecule. One free radical can set off a whole chain reaction. When a free radical oxidizes a fatty acid, it changes that fatty acid into a free radical, which then damages another fatty acid. It's a very rapid chain reaction.
ASSIMILATE: To take something in
and make it part of oneself; absorb. AUDIOGENIC SEIZURES: Seizures caused by loud sounds and noises. AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM:
That part of the nervous system
specifically concerned with the involuntary, seemingly automatic, activities of
organs, blood vessels, glands and a variety of other tissues in the body.
The autonomic nervous system breaks down into two subordinate systems
that work in conjunction with one another: the craniosacral and thoracolumbar.
See Craniosacral and Thoracolumbar in glossary.
BASKET
CASE:
Someone not doing well emotionally,
very nervous and upset.
BASAL
METABOLIC RATE:
Your basal metabolic rate is the rate
at which your body uses energy when it is at rest.
BENZODIAZEPINE PROTRACTED WITHDRAWAL:
Withdrawal effects from a
benzodiazepine that have gone on longer than is normal.
BIOCHEMISTRY: The science dealing
with the chemistry of plant and animal life. BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER: A protective network of blood vessels and cells that filters blood flowing to the brain. BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER (BBB) A mechanism that controls the passage of substances from the blood into the cerobrospinal fluid ( a clear, colorless fluid that bathes the entire surface of the central nervous system and cushions the brain and spinal cord against concussion or violent changes of position) and thus into the brain and spinal cord.
The
blood-brain barrier (BBB) lets essential metabolites, such as oxygen and
glucose, pass from the blood to the brain and central nervous system (CNS) but
blocks most molecules that are more massive. This means that everything from
hormones and neurotransmitters to viruses and bacteria are refused access to the
brain by the BBB.
BRAIN ZAPS:
“Brain zaps" are a withdrawal symptom experienced
during discontinuation (or reduction of dose) of SSRI and SNRI (see definition
SSRI, SNRI in this glossary) antidepressant drugs.
They may also be experienced while the person is actually taking the
prescribed medication, and can continue for years after withdrawal from the
medication.
Carbohydrate:
All
carbohydrates are made up from sugars. There are a number of different types of
sugars but in the body all carbohydrate metabolism converts sugar to glucose,
our body's preferred energy source. Glucose is the main sugar present in many
foods but some contain different sugars, such as fructose in fruit, lactose in
milk, as well as others. Most sugars are digested and absorbed and converted to
glucose, some cannot be digested, and we call this fiber.
Complex Carbohydrate:
What are complex carbohydrates?
Complex carbohydrates or starch are simply sugars bonded
together to form a chain.
For this reason digestion of complex carbohydrates takes longer. The slow absorption of sugars provides us with a steady supply of energy and limits the amount of sugar converted into fat and stored. Some examples of complex carbohydrates are vegetables, whole grain breads, whole grain cereals, and legumes.
Simple Carbohydrate:
Simple
carbohydrates are digested
quickly. Many simple carbohydrates contain refined sugars and few essential
vitamins and minerals. Examples include fruit juice, milk, honey, white bread,
white rice, molasses and sugar.
CATCH 22:
If you describe something as a catch 22 you mean it is an impossible
situation because you cannot do one thing until you do another thing, but you
cannot do the second thing until you do the first thing. CELLULAR SUPPORT:
Anything that helps and supports the cells at a cellular level. CHANGE:
To make or become different in some way. CHEMISTRY:
The chemistry of an organism is the chemical substances that make it up
and the chemical reactions that go on inside of it. CHLOROPHYLL:
The green coloring matter in plants; sunlight
causes it to change carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates that are the
food of the plant. CIRCADIAN RYHTHMS:
Pertaining to a period of about 24
hours. Applied especially to the
rhythmic repetition of certain phenomena in living organisms at about the same
time each day. Circadian rhythms are regular changes in mental and
physical characteristics that occur in the course of a day (circadian is
Latin for "around a day"). Most circadian rhythms are controlled by the body’s
biological "clock.”
Disruption to rhythms usually have
a negative effect. Many travelers have experienced the condition known as jet
lag, with its associated symptoms of fatigue, disorientation and insomnia.
The rhythm is linked to the
light-dark cycle.
Light and dark cycles being daytime and night time and how they affect
the body. CIRCUMVENTRICULAR ORGAN:
The circumventricular organs are
regions of the brain where the blood-barrier barrier is weak. These regions
allow substances to cross into brain tissue more freely and thereby allow the
brain to monitor the makeup of the blood.
See also Blood Brain Barrier for more information.
COGENTIN:
A drug
Benztropine mesylate:
benzatropine mesilate; marketed as Cogentin).
It
is used in patients to reduce the side effects of antipsychotic treatment
COLD
TURKEY:
To stop taking drugs or alcohol without
any gradient, stopping quickly or abruptly.
COMPOUND:
is a substance of two or more elements.
COMPOUNDING PHARMACY:
Pharmacy: is regarded as the science
of compounding and dispensing medication; also, an establishment used for such
purposes. Modern pharmaceutical practice includes the dispensing,
identification, selection, and analysis of drugs.
Compounding pharmacies are on the
rise and physicians, medical institutions and patients are realizing more than
ever the importance of tailoring an individuals medications to specifically meet
their needs. A majority of the pharmacists that are going back to compounding
are doing so for the love of the science and interest in the patients well
being. Being able to be in the role of a problem solver opens the doors to
creativity and genius.
CONJUGATED LINOLEIC ACID (CLA):
Is an unsaturated
omega-6 fatty acid.
CONSTANT LEVEL: Is to maintain a
level of a supplement in the body to a degree where it never drops below a
certain point.
CONTRA:
Contra means in opposition to; against.
CONTRASURVIVAL:
Means opposition to or against survival. CORTISOL:
A hormone
produced in the adrenal gland. It
is a vital hormone that is often referred to as the "stress hormone" as it is
involved in the response to stress.
It increases blood pressure, blood sugar levels and can reduce the
efficiency of the immune system. The synthetic form of cortisol is referred to
as hydrocortisone.
CORTISOL LEVELS:
Your levels of cortisol can be too high
or too low each one causing problems within the body and the balance of
hormones.
COUMADIN:
Coumadin is an anticoagulant
(blood thinner). It reduces the formation of blood clots. It works by blocking
the synthesis of certain clotting factors. Without these clotting factors, blood
clots are unable to form. Coumadin is used to prevent heart attacks, strokes,
and blood clots in veins and arteries. CRANIOSACRAL:
Pertaining to the craniosacral system that part of the nervous system that is
mainly concerned with handling the body’s everyday function of excreting waste
products. Most active during sleep,
it acts to slow heart rate and to stimulate the organs of the digestive system
because the nerves of this system originate from the cranial (cranial meaning of
the skull) and sacral regions (sacral meaning in the area of the sacrum, a bone
at the lower end of the spine, forming the back portion of the pelvis).
CUMULATIVE EFFECT:
If a series of events have a cumulative
effect, each event makes the effect greater.
CYP PATHWAY: An enzyme pathway the body uses to metabolize substances such as drugs. For more information see intermediate metabolizer.
CYP 2D6: An enzyme pathway the body uses to metabolize substances such as drugs. CYP 2C19: An enzyme pathway the body uses to metabolize substances such as drugs. . CYP 3A: An enzyme pathway the body uses to metabolize substances such as drugs. DAILY
JOURNAL:
An account on which you write your
daily activities.
DETOXIFICATION:
The act of removing all the poisonous
or harmful substances from something.
DEVIATION:
Doing something that is different from
what people consider to be normal or acceptable.
DISCONTINUATION SYMPTOMS:
The side effects or reactions people get when stopping a drug. DHA: (Docosahexanoic)
Docosahexaenoic acid
commonly known as DHA; it is an omega-3 essential fatty acid.
Essential fatty acids, or EFAs, are fatty acids that cannot be constructed
within an organism from other components (generally all references are to
humans) by any known chemical pathways; and therefore must be obtained from the
diet. The term refers to those involved in biological processes, and not fatty
acids which may just play a role as fuel. DNA:
Deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA) DNA contains the genetic information for the reproduction of
life. DNA
is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions
used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and some
viruses. The main role of DNA
molecules is the long-term storage of information. DNA is often compared to a
set of blueprints or a recipe, since it contains the instructions needed to
construct other components of cells, such as proteins. The DNA segments that
carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have
structural purposes, or are involved in regulating the use of this genetic
information.
DOUBLE-BLIND RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS:
Double-blind:
Term used to described a study in which both the investigator or the participant
are blind to (unaware of) the nature of the treatment the participant is
receiving. Double-blind trials are thought to produce objective results, since
the expectations of the researcher and the participant about the experimental
treatment such as a drug do not affect the outcome.
DRUG/DRUG INTERACTION:
The interaction between one drug and
another drug and the effect it creates. DRUG INSERTS:
This material, called package inserts,
provides information on the usage and risks of medications — including warnings,
side effects, contraindications and interactions with other drugs. The FDA says
it is concerned that the old format plus information overload mean that some of
the information may not be getting through to doctors and consumers, resulting
in thousands of "preventable adverse events" every year.
DRUG/SUPPLEMENT INTERACTIONS:
The interaction between a drug and a
supplement and the effect it creates. ELECTROLYTE BALANCE:
Electrolyte
is a "medical/scientific" term for salts, specifically ions. The term
electrolyte means that this ion is electrically-charged and moves to either a
negative
or
positive
electrode.
Electrolytes are important because they are what your cells (especially nerve,
heart, muscle) use to maintain voltages across their cell membranes and to carry
electrical impulses (nerve impulses, muscle contractions) across themselves and
to other cells. Your kidneys work to keep the electrolyte concentrations in your
blood constant despite changes in your body. For example, when you exercise
heavily, you lose electrolytes in your sweat, particularly sodium and potassium.
These electrolytes must be replaced to keep the electrolyte concentrations of
your body fluids constant.
Levels of
electrolytes in your body can become too low or too high. That can happen when
the amount of water in your body changes. Causes include some medicines,
vomiting, diarrhea, sweating or kidney problems. Problems most often occur with
levels of sodium, potassium or calcium.
ELECTRONICS:
The branch of physics that deals with
electrons in motion. EMOTIONAL:
Emotional
means concerned
with feelings and emotions.
EPA:
Eicosapentaenoic acid
(EPA) is an omega-3 fatty acid. ESTROGEN:
Estrogen is a female hormone produced by
the ovaries. Estrogen deficiency can lead to osteoporosis (a condition in which
your bones lose calcium and become more likely to break).
Estrogen is produced
primarily in the ovaries. Some estrogens are also produced in smaller amounts by
other tissues such as the liver, adrenal glands, and the breasts. These
secondary sources of estrogen are especially important in postmenopausal women.
EXACERBATE:
If something exacerbates a problem, it
makes it worse.
EXTENSIVE METABOLIZER:
Approximately half of all Americans have genetic
defects that affect how they process drugs. There are four different types of
metabolizers, and we all fall into one of these categories for the variable
pathways in Cytochrome P450 (this Cytochrome is responsible for creating the
enzymes that process chemicals of all kinds through our bodies.) The easiest way
to understand this is to picture a two lane highway.
If you are the first type which is the
norm, you would be an EXTENSIVE
metabolizer. Both lanes of the highway are open and moving. Medications
prescribed in normal doses will be metabolized by your body. EXTREME:
To the greatest degree; very
great; excessive. 2. farthest away
3. far from what is usual.
FEEDBACK LOOP:
Feedback is both a
mechanism, process and signal that is looped back to control a system within
itself. This loop is called the feedback loop. A control system usually has
input and output to the system; when the output of the system is fed back into
the system as part of its input, it is called the "feedback.
In a feedback loop, increased amounts of a substance—for example, a
hormone—inhibit the release of more of that substance, while decreased amounts
of the substance stimulate the release of more of that substance.
FLAT
LINED:
A flatline is an electrical
time sequence measurement that shows no activity and therefore when represented,
shows a flat line instead of a moving one. It almost always refers to either a
flatlined electrocardiogram, where the heart shows no electrical activity, or to
a flat electroencephalogram, in which the brain shows no electrical activity
(brain death). Both of these specific cases are involved in various definitions
of death. Some consider one who has flatlined to have been clinically dead,
regardless of their eventual resuscitation or lack thereof, whereas others
insist that one is alive until the moment of brain-death. This is mostly used in
the medical industry when a person's pulse has stopped, indicating a flat line
on the heart monitor. Flat-lined
in this book is used figuratively to mean having no emotion or feeling.
FRAY:
fight, battle, or skirmish; a noisy
quarrel or brawl.
FREE-RADICAL: Free radicals are highly reactive chemicals that attack molecules by capturing electrons and thus modifying chemical structures. Free radicals: atoms or molecules with unpaired electrons. These unpaired electrons are usually highly reactive, so radicals are likely to take part in chemical reactions. When free radicals are on the attack, they don't just kill cells to acquire their missing molecule. The problem is, free radicals often injure the cell, damaging the DNA, which creates the seed for disease. Free radicals trigger a damaging chain reaction. Free radicals are dangerous because they don't just damage one molecule. One free radical can set off a whole chain reaction. When a free radical oxidizes a fatty acid, it changes that fatty acid into a free radical, which then damages another fatty acid. It's a very rapid chain reaction. FMO: An enzyme pathway the body uses to metabolize substances such as drugs.
GLUCOSE:
Glucose
(Glc), a monosaccharide (or simple sugar) also known as grape sugar, is
an important carbohydrate. The living cell uses it as a source of energy.
Glucose is one of the main products of photosynthesis (Photosynthesis is
the conversion of light energy into chemical energy by living organisms) and
starts cellular respiration (Cellular
respiration — the reactions and processes that take place in a cell or
across the cell membrane to release energy from nutrients and then release waste
products). The name comes from the Greek word glykys (γλυκύς),
meaning "sweet", plus the suffix "-ose" which denotes a sugar.
Glucaronic acid:
An
acid, formed by the oxidation of glucose, found combined with other products of
metabolism in the blood and urine. GLUCURONIDATION: A phase II detoxification pathway occurring in the liver in which glucuronic acid is joined together with toxins. It effectively detoxifies the majority of commonly prescribed drugs. This, glucuronidation represents a major means of converting most drugs, steroids, and many toxic substances to metabolites that can then be excreted into the urine or bile.
GLUTATHIONE: Glutathione, or GSH, is a naturally occurring protein that protects every cell, tissue, and organ from toxic free radicals and disease. It is a tripeptide of three amino acids - glycine, glutamate (glutamic acid), and cysteine (tripeptide is a peptide consisting of three amino acids). These precursors (precursors are substances from which something else is formed) are necessary for the manufacture of glutathione within the cells. Glutathione has been called the "master antioxidant", and regulates the actions of lesser antioxidants such as vitamin C, and vitamin E within the body. Peptide: A molecule consisting of 2 or more amino acids. Peptides are smaller than proteins, which are also chains of amino acids. Molecules small enough to be synthesized from the constituent amino acids are, by convention, called peptides rather than proteins.
GUT: The stomach or belly.
HALF-LIFE: If
you draw a graph of drug levels in the blood, you will see that they rise
quickly after a dose is taken, then fall off over time until the next dose. When
this blood level drops by 50% that would be half-life.
HAMILTON ANXIETY SCORE: The Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS or HAMA) is a 14-item test measuring the severity of anxiety symptoms. It is also sometimes called the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS). The score would be the results of the test with a number value. HAVING YOUR CAKE AND EATING IT TOO: To wish to have one's cake and eat it too or simply have one's cake and eat it (sometimes eat one's cake and have it too) is to want more than one can handle or deserve, or to try to have two incompatible things.
HAY FEVER:
Allergy caused by the pollen of ragweed, trees, grasses, and other
plants, characterized by itching and running eyes and nose and fits of sneezing. HEAVY METAL CHELATING:
The introduction of certain substances
into the body so that they will chelate, and then remove, foreign substances
such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, and other heavy metals. Chelation therapy
can also be used to reduce or remove calcium-based plaque from the linings of
the blood vessels, easing the flow of blood to vital organs and tissues.
Chelation is a chemical
process by which a larger molecule or group of molecules surround or enclose a
mineral atom. One source defines "heavy metal" as common transition metals, such
as copper, lead, and zinc. These metals are a cause of environmental pollution
(heavy-metal pollution) from a number of sources, including lead in petrol,
industrial waste, and leaching of metal ions from the soil into lakes and rivers
by acid rain. HEPATIC 3A:
Hepatic means having
to do with the liver, see CYP 3A.
HOMEOSTASIS:
The tendency to maintain, or the maintenance of,
normal, internal stability in an organism by coordinated responses of the organ
systems that automatically readjust for environmental changes.
HORMONES:
Essential
substances produced by the endocrine glands that regulate bodily functions; A
regulatory substance produced in an organism and transported in tissue fluids
such as blood to stimulate cells or tissues into action.
Hormones
are chemicals released by cells
that affect cells in other parts of the body. Only a small amount of hormone is
required to alter cell metabolism. It is also a chemical messenger that
transports a signal from one cell to another. HPA: The
Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis is one of the key parts of the human
endocrine system. As its name suggests, it comprises three endocrine glands, the
hypothalamus, the (anterior) pituitary, and the adrenal gland cortex. Figure 1.
Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis What is the HPA axis?
The hypothalamus is the control center for most of body’s hormonal systems. Follow figure 1 as I explain this. Cells in hypothalamus produce hormone corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) in humans in response to most any type of stress physical or psychological. The hypothalamus secretes CRF, which in turn binds to specific receptors on pituitary cells, which produce adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH is then transported to its target the adrenal gland. The adrenal gland then stimulates the production of adrenal hormones which increase the secretion of cortisol. The release of cortisol initiates a series of metabolic effects aimed at alleviating the harmful effects of stress through negative feedback to both the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary, which decreases the concentration of ACTH and cortisol in the blood once the state of stress subsides. HYPER: A prefix meaning over, more than normal, too much.
HYPERAGGRESSION:
Too much aggression. HYPERKINESIAS: An abnormal increase in muscular activity, hyperactivity, especially in children. HYPER METABOLIZER:
Someone that metabolizes too much.
HYPERTHERMIA: Unusually high body temperature.
The hypothalamus controls body
temperature, hunger, thirst, fatigue, anger, and circadian cycles.
HYPOTHALAMUS-PITUITARY-ADRENAL AXIS:
See HPA IMMUNE SYSTEM: A complex system that depends on the interaction of many different organs, cells, and proteins. Its chief function is to identify and eliminate foreign substances such as harmful bacteria that have invaded the body. The liver, spleen, thymus, bone marrow, and lymphatic system all play vital roles in the proper functioning (picture following.)
INDUCER:
An
inducer is a molecule that
starts gene expression. Gene expression is the process by which
inheritable information from a
gene, such as the
DNA
sequence, is made into a functional
gene product, such as
protein. INFLAMMATORY:
Inflammation of the body. Inflammation is a
localized physical condition with heat, swelling, redness and usually pain
especially as a reaction to injury or infection. INHIBITOR DRUGS:
A drug which restrains or retards
physiological, chemical, or enzymatic action. INSOMNIA:
Inability to sleep; abnormal wakefulness. INSULIN:
A protein hormone formed in the pancreas and
secreted into the blood, where it regulates carbohydrate (sugar) metabolism. INTERLUEKIN:
Interleukins are a group of cytokines
(secreted signaling molecules) that were first seen to be expressed by white
blood cells (leukocytes, hence the -leukin) as a means of communication (inter-).
It has since been found that interleukins are produced by a wide variety of
bodily cells. The function of the immune system depends in a large part on
interleukins. INTERLUEKIN 6 (IL-6):
Interluekin-6 (IL-6) is a type of
protein made by the body that helps regulate the immune system. It can
also serve as a liver cell growth factor. IL-6 is needed in the body however,
too much IL-6 will promote inflammation and has been shown to be a direct link
to chronic depression. INTERLUEKIN 2(IL-2): Interleukin-2 is a type of protein found in the immune system , that is instrumental in the body's natural response to microbial infection and in discriminating between foreign and self. INTERMEDIATE METABOLIZER:
Research shows that of
all the clinical factors such as age, sex, weight, general health and liver
function that alter a patient's response to drugs, genetic factors are the most
important. This information becomes even more crucial when you consider the fact
that adverse reactions to prescription drugs are killing about 106,000 Americans
each year — roughly three times as many as are killed by automobiles.
Approximately half of all Americans have genetic defects that affect how they
process these drugs. There are four different types of metabolizers, and we all
fall into one of these categories for the variable pathways in Cytochrome P450
(this Cytochrome is responsible for creating the enzymes that process chemicals
of all kinds through our bodies.) The easiest way to understand this is to
picture a two-lane highway. If you are the second type,
you would be an INTERMEDIATE metabolizer. This means that one lane of that
highway is open and moving and the other lane is not, causing you to metabolize
the medications more slowly. In this case you will need a lower dosage, and
there is a chance of medications building up in your system causing adverse
effects. It is especially important to monitor medications if you are in this
category. INTESTINAL 3A: Is an enzyme pathway the body uses to metabolize substances such as drugs. INTRACELLULAR: Intra means occurring within; intracellular means occurring within the cell.
IONIC BALANCE: (or electrolyte balance) Balance of fluid in the body fluid compartments; total body water, blood volume, maintained by processes in the body that regulate the intake and excretion of water and electrolytes, particularly sodium and potassium. ION:
an atom or group of atoms having a charge of
positive or negative electricity. IONIC CALCIUM:
Ionic means pertaining to ions. Ionic
calcium would be calcium that is electrically charged.
This is the type of calcium that fizzes when you put it in water.
The body breaks down calcium and will turn it ionic through the process
of absorption. Using ionic calcium
bypasses this action of the body.
IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
(IBS):
irritable bowel
syndrome (IBS)
is a bowel disorder characterized by mild to severe abdominal pain, discomfort,
bloating and alteration of bowel habits. In some cases, the symptoms are
relieved by bowel movements.
JOURNAL: A daily record of events. KRILL: Krill are small, shrimp-like fish that swim in the seas. LECITHIN: Lecithin is a fatlike substance. It is produced daily by the liver if the diet is adequate. It is needed by every cell in the body and is a key building block of cell membranes; without it, they would harden. Lecithin protects cells from oxidation and largely comprises the protective sheaths surrounding the brain. It is composed mostly of B vitamins, phosphoric acid, choline, linoleic acid and inositol. LIFE: 1. The quality that distinguishes a vital and functional being from a dead body or inanimate matter (Webster’s Dictionary).
LIGHT/DARK CYCLES:
see Circadian Rhythms.
LIMBIC SYSTEM:
The limbic system is a term
for a set of brain structures that support a variety of functions including
emotion, behavior and long term memory. The structures of the brain described by
the limbic system are closely associated with the sense of smell structures. The
term "limbic" comes from Latin limbus, meaning "border" or "belt."
LYMPH SYSTEM:
Part of the immune
system with lymph nodes and tissues. The role
of tissue fluid is to deliver the
groceries to the cells. The role of lymph is to
take out the trash that
is left behind and to dispose of it. As lymph continues to circulate between the cells it collects waste products that were left behind including dead blood cells, pathogens, and cancer cells. This clear fluid also becomes protein-rich as it absorbs dissolved protein from between the cells.
MACROECONOMICS:
Macro
is added to words that refer to things that are large in size or broad in scope.
Macroeconomics means relating to the major, general features of a
country’s economy such as unemployment and interest rates.
MAJOR
CHANGE:
A change that is significant. MAJOR
IMPROVEMENTS:
An improvement that is significant. MAJOR
POSITIVE CHANGE:
A change that is significant and for
the better.
MEDICATION INDUCED SIDE EFFECTS:
Side effects caused by medication. MELATONIN:
A
hormone produced by the pineal gland, melatonin is intimately involved in
regulating the sleeping and waking cycles, among other processes. Melatonin
supplements are sometimes used by people who have chronic insomnia. Always see
your doctor before taking melatonin, as it is not recommended for all patients
with sleep problems. MEMBRANE:
A thin layer of tissue which covers a
surface or divides a space or organ.
METABOLIZING ROUTE:
An enzyme pathway used to metabolize
something in the body.
MINERALS:
An inorganic substance required by the body in small quantities.
MUCUS LINING:
The moist lining of a body cavity or
structure, such as the mouth or nose.
NARCOTICS:
Are drugs such as opium or heroin which
make you sleepy and stop you feeling pain.
NATUROPATH:
A health care practitioner that uses
diet, herbs and other natural methods and substances to cure illness.
The goal is to produce a healthy body state without the use of drugs by
stimulating innate defenses. NEURAL TISSUE: Neural means pertaining to a nerve or to the nerves. Neural tissue is specialized for the conduction of electrical impulses that convey information or instructions from one region of the body to another. About 98% of neural tissue is concentrated in the brain and spinal cord, the control centers for the nervous system.
NORMAL METABOLIZER:
See
extensive metabolizer.
NUCLEI:
Plural of nucleus
NUCLEUS:
The small mass at the center of most
living cells.
NUTRIENT:
A substance that is needed by the body to maintain life and health. OLFACTORY SYSTEM:
The
olfactory system is the sensory system used for the sense of smell
OPIATES: A remedy containing or derived from opium; also any drug that induces sleep. OSMORECEPTER: A specialized sensory nerve ending sensitive to stimulation giving rise to the sensation of odors. OVLT:
The organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis
(OVLT) is one of the circumventricular organs of the brain .Circumventricular
organs are so named because they are positioned at distinct sites around the
margin of the ventricular system of the brain. The ventricular system
is a set of structures in the brain continuous with the central canal of the
spinal cord. See
Circumventricular organs.
PARASYMPATHETIC SYSTEM: The part of the autonomic nervous system originating in the brain stem and the lower part of the spinal cord that, in general, inhibits or opposes the physiological effects of the sympathetic nervous system, as in tending to stimulate digestive secretions, slow the heart, constrict the pupils, and dilate blood vessels. The Sympathetic Nervous System is a branch of the autonomic nervous system. It is always active and becomes more active during times of stress. Its actions during the stress response are the opposite of the parasympathetic system which is to expand pupils, accelerate heart beat, inhibit digestion and relax the bladder. The autonomic nervous system acts as a control system, maintaining balance in the body.
PATHWAY:
A particular course of action;
medical
The sequence of enzymatic steps in the process by which something is
metabolized in the body. P450
(CYP) ENZYMES:
An enzyme pathway the body uses to
metabolize substances such as drugs. P-gp:
An enzyme pathway the body
uses to metabolize substances. PHASE II LIVER DETOX GENES: A detox diet needs to do a few things to be effective. First and foremost, a detox diet must increase the phase II of the liver. The liver uses two phases to breakdown chemical toxins. Phase I: At the end of phase I the liver has accumulated the toxins but they are now in their raw state. This is the stage where your body is the most exposed to toxins. The liver is now holding the toxins in their most toxic state. Phase II: The liver passes the toxins over to the phase II process. If the phase II process is not functioning properly, the toxins will not be removed and the raw toxins may be dumped back into the body. Phase II is where the toxins are carried out of the body. It is vital during a liver detox that phase II is fully activated. It is also during phase II that glutathione comes into play. Glutathione being activated is every bit as vital during the phase II process of a detox. There are
probably as many viewpoints about how to detox as there are products being sold
to handle a detox. However, it does come down to only two items within the
liver, phase I and phase II, the breaking down of toxins and moving them out of
the body.
There are 3 genes that regulate the phase II of the liver.
The gene names are: GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1. The G does stand for Glutathione.
At least 50% of the population will have 1 or more of these genes with a
variation. For the people with a variation in their detox genes, they will have
a more difficult time removing toxins and will need help making glutathione
within the liver. PHOSPHOLIPIDS: Phospholipids are the building blocks of every cell in the human body and that includes nerve cells, tissues, blood vessels, and skin. Phospholipids protect the body from free-radical attack and toxic injury. PHYSICAL STRESSORS: Physical Stressors result from internal physical symptoms, such as headaches, stomach problems, etc. and external physical stressors, such as heat, cold, excessive noise, etc. PLATELETS: A circular oval disk found in the blood which is concerned with coagulation (clotting the blood to stop bleeding of a wound). POOR METABOLIZER:
Approximately half of all Americans have
genetic defects that affect how they process these drugs. There are four
different types of metabolizers, and we all fall into one of these categories
for the variable pathways in Cytochrome P450 (this Cytochrome is responsible for
creating the enzymes that process chemicals of all kinds through our bodies).
The easiest way to understand this is to picture a two lane highway. If you are the first type which is the norm, you would be an EXTENSIVE metabolizer. Both lanes of the highway are open and moving. Medications prescribed in normal doses will be metabolized by your body. The third type is a
POOR metabolizer. In this case both lanes of the highway would be stopped.
There is a possibility that alternate routes can be found, but this type of
metabolizer is potentially very dangerous, as there is a great chance for the
medication to build up in your system making you very sick, or even killing you. For example, a poor metabolizer of phenytoin, a common anti-seizure medication would |
ADRENAL:
Because
they have fiber in them digestive enzymes have to work much harder to access the
bonds to break the chain into individual sugars for absorption through the
intestines. 
ENDOCRINE:
HYPOTHALAMUS:
