Consciousness on the verge of Dreaming and Reality
We already know that an active serotonergic system suppresses REM sleep and thereby REM related dreaming. Our brains need to dream. Although we do not always remember our dreams, we are dreaming around 4 to 5 times every night. Only a few days of sleep deprivation (and thus dreaming) will cause the brain to hallucinate. To counteract the SSRI-AntiDepressant induced suppression of REM related dreaming, the brain litterly forces it’s dreams upon us. This doesn’t necessarily has to be a rebound of REM related dreaming triggered by the brainstem mechanisms (since an active serotonergic system suppresses these mechanisms), but could as well be induced by epileptic activity in the forebrain, triggering forebrain dreams or nightmares, as previously discussed. Most critical, when the normal brainstem REM mechanisms are not included in these forebrain dreams or nightmares, then they won’t turn on the cells in the medulla that inhibit all motor activity. The implications of this contradictional dream sleep could be quiet dramatic.
Next to experiencing hallucinations, suppression of REM sleep can lead to an other serious disorder. On page 45 of her brilliant book “Prozac: Panacea or Pandora?”, Doctor Ann Blake Tracy introduced us to the violent REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder, caused by psychoactive drugs such as SSRI-AntiDepressants. This condition means a sleepwalk nightmare wherein the patient acts out violent dreams while sleepwalking. The violent REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder is further discussed in chapter 7: “Sleep disorders, serotonin and the SSRI’s” on page 182.
From SSRI-AntiDepressant induced “consciousness on the verge of dreaming and reality”, it will be a very close step to SSRI-AntiDepressant induced “psychosis” or “hallucinatory psychosis”, in which extremely lifelike dreams/nightmares become hallucinations and will be experienced for real! Many (former) SSRI-AntiDepressant users reported major perception changes, altered states of consciousness, a disturbed sense of reality and out of character behaviour. The symptoms vary from urges to spend money excessively, flamboyant/provocative behaviour, indifference and mania, till abnormal dream and thought patterns, racing thoughts, hearing voices or telepathic like thoughts and akathisia (an extreme mental state of inner restlessness). Also frequently reported is the feeling of living in a bubble, feeling possessed or living in a dream.
I questioned myself if it could be possible that the psychoactive serotonin derivatives, which are thought to be secreted by the Pineal Gland, could play a (secondary) role in these reported altered states of consciousness and behaviour. Under the influence of an SSRI-AntiDepressant, serotonin levels in the Pineal Gland could increase to excessive, possibly even toxic amounts. Although I had to revise my previous hypothesis regarding increased melatonin levels in the eyes (melatonin levels didn’t increase under the influence of an SSRI-AntiDepressant), this time I found more support for the hypothesis that certain serotonin derivatives, like the psychoactive tryptamines DMT, 5-MeO-DMT and Bufotenine, could very well increase on account of an SSRI-AntiDepressant.
In an article published on the internet, Dr. Callaway states that the natural re-uptake of serotonin account for most of the inactivation of these psychoactive tryptamines. Blocking the re-uptake of serotonin, like SSRI-AntiDepressants do, could not only increase serotonin levels but also the levels of the other psychoactive tryptamines, whether or not secreted by the Pineal Gland. Furthermore, Dr. Callaway discusses the possible correlation between tryptamines and our dream imagery: “Since these same Psychoactive tryptamines occur in humans, it is possible that their activity may be promoted by the actions of endogenous beta-carbolines for normal psychological processes; e.g. the production of visual / emotive imagery in sleep. The periodic altering of consciousness in sleep may even be necessary for the maintenance of normal mental health, since only a few days of sleep deprivation will result in a seepage of hallucinatory phenomena into the waking state.” -Tryptamines, Beta-carbolines and You. Dr J.C. Callaway, Dept. of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kuopio, Finland
An absolutely shocking discovery was the correlation between high serotonin levels in the Pineal Gland and certain mental disorders! During autopsy on recently dead mental patients, Giarmin and Freedman (see chapter 3.a.) discovered that the Pineal Glands of those who had suffered from specified mental disorders, showed a considerable excess of serotonin in their Pineal Glands. The average amount of serotonin found in the Pineal Glands of normal persons is about 3.14 to 3.52 micrograms per gram of tissue. One schizophrenic was found to have a Pineal Gland containing 10 micrograms of serotonin, around 3 times higher, while another patient, a sufferer from delirium tremens, had a Pineal Gland containing 22.82 micrograms of serotonin, around 10 times higher then the average amount!
This is a most interesting research contemplating the similarities between symptoms of schizophrenia or schizophrenic psychosis and SSRI-AntiDepressant induced perception changes, altered states of consciousness, disturbed sense of reality and out of character behaviour in severe cases. As a direct result from the actions of the SSRI-AntiDepressant (disruption of the natural serotonin cycle), serotonin levels in the Pineal Gland could gradually increase to excessive amounts comparable to the excessive amounts of serotonin in the Pineal Glands of recently dead mental patients. Hence, the production of psychoactive serotonin derivatives increases, which can lead to excessive amounts of these molecules in the brain. The combined effects of suppression of REM sleep, excessive amounts of serotonin in the Pineal Gland, as well as elevated levels of psychoactive serotonin derivatives, could make an individual experience hypnogogic dream-like states (which depersonalise an individual from their own emotions) to full blown “hallucinatory psychosis.” ( A; B; C)
I’ve heard of some nasty side-effects from serotonin based meds such as these. 