Can Herbal Supplements Help My Mother with Anxiety?

Reader’s Question

My mother has an anxiety issue and it sounds to me like “low serotonin syndrome”. Now she’s on antidepressants but I don’t think it’s the way for her. Do you think there is a dietary or herbal form of supplementation we can get for her?

Our Consulting Clinical Psychologist’s Reply

I do not recommend using dietary or herbal forms of treatment for clinical disorders. Depression is a clinical disorder, as you mention, associated with low levels of the neurotransmitter Serotonin. Adding unresearched, unregulated, and unpredictable substances will only complicate her treatment.

While she’s using an antidepressant, she may not be using the antidepressant effectively. Eighty-five percent of antidepressant medications are prescribed by family physicians or OB/GYNs. Many use the antidepressant medication at a low dose, often too low to produce a significant antidepressant action. If your mother is not doing well, ask her to consult her physician. We now have medications that work with both anxiety and depression such as Effexor or Lexapro. If that’s not effective, I would recommend consulting a psychiatrist, the professional in the best position to use medications in combination for a better treatment response.

The key is effective treatment, not adding over-the-counter substances. You’ll also find that her condition can be improved by adding counseling and patient education regarding depression and anxiety. For additional information, I’d review my article on “Chemical Imbalance” and depression on my website at www.drjoecarver.com. You might also have her review articles and tests on depression available on this website.

Rate this post?

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...