Serotonin is the hormone what makes us happy, so why aren’t we just injecting it into our body/taking it as tablets to get out of misery on command?
In: Biology
There are a lot of great responses here but how did monoamine oxidase get left out? It’s the enzyme that metabolizes tryptophan-based neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. You can’t administer these NTs, even IV, because this enzyme works *extremely* quickly to render them inactive. MAOIs are drugs that inhibit this enzyme and help to perpetuate the existence of these NTs. They aren’t used as much anymore because of their risk for serotonin syndrome. When taking these drugs, even cured meats that contain tyramine, like salami, can cause SS, as well as dextromethorphan (Robitussin).
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