AboutJurriaan Plesman Expertise I have a degree in Psychology from the Sydney University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Nutrition.
I am also the author of “GETTING OFF THE HOOK” which deals with the nutritional and psychological treatment of personality disorders. It is freely available on the internet at Google Book Search.
I am interested in the relationship between nutrition and behaviour, and as a Probation ans Parole Officer facilitated groups for offenders, many of whom were alcoholics and drug addicts, sex offenders or compulsive gamblers, as well as the whole gamut of “personality disorders”.
I am also the editor of the Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia Newsletter, a quarterly publication dealing with hypoglycemia and related health problems.
Its web site, together with a shortened course of PSYCHOTHERAPY can be visited at:
Degrees & Certifications:
BA (Psychology) Sydney University and Post Grad Dipl Clin Nutr
Web page:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Experience Psychotherapist
Organizations The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia
Publications Book: GETTING OFF THE HOOK
Various articles in the Hypoglycemic Healh Association of Australia Newsletters
Education/Credentials BA (Psych), Post Grad Dip Clin Nutr
Expert: Jurriaan Plesman Date: 7/1/2008 Subject: Effexor XR and pregnancy
Question I am currently on the max dosage of effexor xr. I missed a dose last week, and went on a rampage, as well as felt nauseated for the next week. I've heard that the withdrawals are as bad as opiate withdrawals. I've tried other meds, but none of them work. I'll most likely have to be on these for the rest of my life.
I'm not planning on getting pregnant anytime soon- in fact, I don't know for sure if I want kids. I'm only 18. But my question is, will this pose a problem if I want to get pregnant in the future? Does it pose a risk to the baby? I'm terrified of going off this medication- my family has history of suicide attempts, along with the history of depression, bipolar disorder, and general psychosis. In fact, because of that, I probably should stay out of the gene pool. But I need to know what I should do if the situation should arise.
Thanks,
Leslie
Answer Hello Leslie,
You seem to be under the impression that depression can ONLY be treated by medication, and that is not true. In fact AD medication can only mask the symptoms of depression and do little to "cure" the causes of depression.
Depression is due to your body being unable to produce the feel good neurotransmitters such as serotonin and others. These neurotransmitters are manufactured from the ingredients of food you eat. For instance serotonin- the feel good neurotransmitter - is produced from tryptophan - an amino acid (protein) - in food, which requires a host of other nutrients to help it to become serotonin. Thus people on a low protein diet are unlikely to be able to produce serotonin.
Furthermore for the body to convert one set of molecules into an other set of molecules (such as tryptophan into serotonin) it needs biological energy called ATP. Thus the production of serotonin is a complicated biochemical mechanism, which neverthless can be treated by nutritional means.
_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman
Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search
Skype: jurplesman
