Are You Taking Un-Natural, Incomplete Therapy?
Anti-depressant medications called SSRI’s are commonly prescribed to women who are in their peri-menopausal years because they are feeling tired, depressed, not thinking well, etc. These are medications such as Citalopram (Celexa), Escitalopram (Lexapro), Fluoxetine (Prozac), Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva), Sertraline (Zoloft). They work by raising the level of Seratonin or 5-HT (5-Hydroxytryptophan) in the brain. However, serotonin only works when it binds to a specific receptor in the brain. It is these receptors that are affected by menopause and the drop in estrogen levels associated with it. What many of these physicians prescribing these medications, and unfortunately many of their patients taking them fail to understand is that treating the problem with a medication that doesn’t fix the receptor issue is not an optimal approach.
The first reason that is that none of these medications are “natural”. For example no women is born with Lexapro circulating in her blood. However, all women have estradiol (Estrogen) circulating in their blood. Second, and more importantly, none of these SSRI medications replace the other 399 functions that estrogen supports in a female body, such as bone health (osteoporosis), skin health (sagging, lax skin), breast health (sagging breasts), heart health and brain health (some studies suggest supplemental estrogens reduce the chances of Alzheimer’s disease)
Estrogens can be replaced safely, without any increase in the risk of breast cancer or other problems such as blood clots. The key is to see an expert in this area and most gynecologists, and even fewer internists or family practitioners fit that bill.
However, at Essentials our Medical Director, Michael F. Lesser, MD., FACC, FSCCT, FAARM is one of just a few physicians on the Space Coast who is not only Fellowship trained, but also Board Certified in Anti-Aging Medicine and Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).
If you are over the age of 40 and are experiencing any of these symptoms, we may be able to help!
- hot flashes
- night sweats
- mood changes
- memory loss
- weight gain
- sleep issues
- dry skin
- anxiety
- low libido
Initial consultations are free. Do you really want to keep taking un-natural, incomplete therapy?