Category: Miscellaneous

Serotonin levels do not correlate with depression

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

Antidepressants are one of the most popular drugs in the US. According to the CDC, during 2015–2018, 13.2% of adults used antidepressants. Prozac (fluoxetine), Paxil (Paroxetine), Celexa (Citalopram), and Zoloft (Sertraline) are popular Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) used to treat depression. The idea behind using the SSRIs came from the serotonin theory of depression,…

Mother’s Day and Fetal Microchimerism

Posted on by Jesse Santiano, M.D.

Fetal microchimerism is when the fetal cells travel outside the fetus and embed in the mother’s body during pregnancy. Those fetal cells can stay with the mother for decades and affect her health. The Chimera is a Greek mythological creature with parts taken from different animals. The Benefits to the Baby The fetus has a…