Last Updated on February 1, 2023 by
Alternative to Meds Editorial Team
Medically Reviewed by Dr Samuel Lee MD
Table of Contents:
- Video: SSRIs
- SSRI Alternatives (Non-pharmaceutical)
- Natural SSRI Alternatives vs Prescription Medication?
- SSRI Alternative — Restore the Gut-Brain Connection
- Explore a Wide Range of SSRI Alternatives
- SSRI Alternatives Include:
- Diet and Supplementation — Powerful SSRI Alternatives
- Exercise is a Healthier Alternative to SSRI Medication
- Improve Sleep Habits
- Relaxation Techniques are Effective Alternatives to SSRI Drugs
- Enlist Help To Find The Root Causes
- More About SSRI Alternatives at Alternative to Meds Center
SSRI alternatives are almost never offered as a first treatment choice. SSRI medications are most often administered without any searching medical investigations, and prior to nutritional or lifestyle interventions. These omissions are contrary to the DSM V guidelines.35
There are a host of factors that can bring on a depressive state. These include everything from hormone issues to nutritional deficiencies. toxic exposures, and life stressors. How helpful would it be to check some of these things before the prescription pad gets pulled out? Did you know there are many possible interventions before resorting to toxic prescription drugs like SSRIs?
Do Your Symptoms Require SSRIs?
Alternative to Meds has been all about antidepressant alternatives for 17 years now. We help our clients safely get off antidepressants under medical oversight but also use holistic and environmental medicine to design better regimens for long-term health. Please bear in mind that we have exciting published evidence showing over 77% of our clients who stop antidepressant meds, with the use of healthful antidepressant alternatives, perform and feel better, i.e., with fewer symptoms than when they were medicated! That’s something to shoot for!
One example of a safe alternative to SSRI drugs that is receiving much interest focuses on restoring the microbiome, often called the “second brain.” But there is more to the story. New research on the antimicrobial effects of antidepressants is also receiving much interest from the medical and mental health communities. We have been looking at this subject for more than 15 years at Alternative to Meds Center. Current research by McGovern et al suggests that when a person takes an SSRI medication, concentrated amounts of that drug remain in the colon for a significant length of time. The effects of SSRI medication as an antimicrobial agent are a big concern that is too often overlooked.12 Studies on the after-effects of a course of antibiotics clearly show that depression and other mental health symptoms are associated with exposure to antibiotics which disrupt the gut microbiota.29 The state of one’s gut microbiota should be seriously considered in the field of mental health. This knowledge can help understand, at least in part, why SSRIs may cause or contribute to the adverse reactions for which they are known.9 A healthy and thriving gut microbiome is essential for mental health as well as physical health. A 2019 article in the British Journal of Hospital Medicine authored by Butler et al advises that gut bacteria are relatively easy to improve with prebiotics, probiotics, and diet. These nutrients can improve mood, reduce anxiety, and improve cognitive function. And the authors note that these interventions have produced encouraging results, with positive implications for mental health treatment.10,11
Overhaul the diet. Cut the sugar, neurotoxic artificial sweeteners, processed and junk food, replace refined flour with unrefined, do include sufficient “brain food” such as good quality proteins, fruits, and vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids.*3,10
Consult with an alternative, integrative health practitioner, 
Alternative to Meds Center’s drug rehab program is focused on discovering the medical reasons that may be causing a person to feel depressed. You do not have to subscribe to the single-molecule or chemical imbalance theory, for instance, that being “low in serotonin” is the only factor contributing to depression. Has thyroid or adrenal function ever been checked? have you tested for magnesium or other deficiency? Is there an accumulation of neurotoxins like heavy toxic metals, environmental toxins, etc., that ruin the metabolism of food into energy? Is the diet is so significantly lacking in nutrition that it can’t produce what is needed for brain health? Or is one wrapped up in an unfulfilling life where one may need more positive surroundings to make healthy changes? Take time to review the references listed in the summary above and at the end of this article, and you can gain a wealth of information that you can use today to begin to improve your condition.
