Addiction, and The IV Amino Acid Miracle Therapy

The Amino Acids Revolution, The Miracle to Sober Brain:

The problem of addiction has found its way in all societies globally and it’s causing great medical and social problems to all people either directly or indirectly. It is respecter of nobody and does not care care of ones’ social position in the society. It cuts across all directions of life indiscriminately. Most addicts are unaware of their addiction. Using drugs make a person very vulnerable. Addiction is a progressive chronic disease; It usually reaches a point at which it is harmful not just to the addict but also to their neighbors, friends and relatives as well as to the society as a whole. Addiction is not only a physical consumption disorder involving drugs or alcohol use, but also an emotional and spiritual chaos that fundamentally alter any and every fraction of one’s psyche. Addiction is a spectrum of disorders that create a state of total loss of control, dependency and even slavery not only to material things such a drugs or alcohol but also to more abstract passions such as gambling, sex, texting, video gaming etc… In other words, addiction may refer to a substance dependence e.g. drug addiction or behavioral addiction.

The common denominator in addiction is slavery, loss of control and perpetual suffering that affects the addict and anyone who has any direct or indirect relationship with the victim of addiction.

Addiction treatment is of a complex medical, psychological, and public concern. An optimal Addiction Recovery programs should be comprehensive integrative, and wholistic. The only way we can overcome this epidemic of addiction is through addressing the root causes, not only by using pharmacological methods, but also Nutritional tactics, psychological approaches and rehabilitation exercises. Although the word addiction is merely undiscriminatory each kind of addiction causes somewhat different neuroendocrine-immune dysfunction and has a constitute different Neuroendocrine fabrics stamp. As an example alcohol withdrawal syndrome is due to hyperactivity of central nervous system. Sudden and abrupt reduction of alcohol consumption cause violent autonomic imbalances mainly sympathetic overtone responses affecting the brain (causing seizures) and the gastro-intestinal track causing diarrhea and vomiting. Furthermore the alcohol syndroms encompasses several manifestations ranging from depression, to delirium tremens, to poly-substance abuse, to liver diseases, to acid-base disturbance, to seizures, to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome with alcohol cravings.

Prior to effectively addressing treatment of addiction an integrative approach should consider restoring the body acid bace balance, hydration, and appropriate nutrion maily IV nutrition to address the universal Vitamin deficiency in Patricular the B vitamins that are completely depleted in addicts. The Next Phase of tretment should include safe detoxification. A proper detoxification process, will minimize stormy withdrawal states. A successful detoxification begins by effectively replacing the essential elements needed for a smooth Phase II liver detoxifiction. Phase II liver detoxification depends on an appropriate repair of all the Cofactors and Amino acids pool necessary for proper and effective phase II liver detox. Considering the severe malfuntion of the digestive tract and its minimal efficiency to absorb the necessary nutrients for proper detoxification; one should resort to an aggressive well crafted Restorative Intravenous Nutrition protocol. The well documented inefficiency of the GI system obligates the treating physician to construct the ultimate detox intravenous cocktail. This carfully designed Detoxification brew will produce the ideal nutritional environment that stimulates and enhances suitable liver detoxification correcting dehydration, co-factors deficiencies, and insuring adequte supply of the essential Amino acids that are necessary to enhance the liver detox capability. The liver appropriate amino acids balance is the key to healthy liver support, and bowel decontamination.

We are beginning to scratch the surface of the AminoAcid Revolution and its major role in the treatment of addiction. The purpose of my article is to unvail the crucial role of amino acids in the treatment of Addiction,

So, what are amino acids? And why will Amino Acids therapy revolutionize the field of Integrative Addiction Medecine?

Amino acids are the undiscovered miracle of Healthy living; this area of natural addiction therapy is still unexplored but offers great potentials not only for overall health but specially for Brain Health. These benefits include: proteomics, enzyme therapy and brain Health. The central nervous system (CNS) is almost completely regulated by amino acids and peptides. The importance of Amino acids within the brain is now being recognized, and as a result amino acid therapies are transforming the treatment of psychiatric disease. Later on we will look into the specifics of how amino acids are being used as therapy for brain functions. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins; Proteins are the building blocks of our bodies. There are over 100 amino acids that have been found to occur naturally; each of them differs in R group. Of these 100 amino acids there is a group of amino acids which is involved in making up a protein, there are two classifications within this group: non-essential and essential amino acids. Non-essential or dispensable amino acids are synthesized in the body. The non-essential are: alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, asparagine, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline, serine, and tyrosine. These non-essential amino acids may become “essential” when the body is unable to synthesize them; in this case they must be supplemented either orally or intravenously.

Essential or indispensable amino acids cannot be synthesized in the body and can only be obtained through food. The essential amino acids are: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.

The most exciting area of amino acid research is their role in brain function and metabolism. The Communication within the brain and between the brain and the rest of the nervous system occurs through chemical “languages,” called neurotransmitters. There are about fifty such languages. Amino acids, manifesting as either precursors, neurotransmitters or peptides account for the majority of them.

When the brain and other organs such as muscles, communicate with each other, amino acid-related neurotransmitters are again the primary language. Throughout the body, the amino acids functions as precursors for the manufacturing of other important substances. This precursor functionality of amino acids is where amino acids derive their potential value in medicine and surgery.

The Neurotransmitters communication network is an intricate ecosystem

The Neurotransmitters communication network organized into micro and macro systems interconnected and interdependent. Neurotransmitters are synthesized inside the neurons. Signals from the neuron travel out a thread-like extension called the axon, which ends in several terminals. Just over the

gap – synapse

– are the target neurons with many protruding spines called – dendrites – waiting for the message.

Presynaptic”

and

“post-synaptic”

neurons communications are as follows the

“presynaptic

” neuron, whose axon is primed for

releasing neurotransmitters.

There are some

100 types of neurotransmitters in the brain

. On release from the axon, certain neurotransmitters leap across the synapse and momentarily bind to specialized receptors along the dendrites of the “post-synaptic” neurons. From there, a complex series of

signaling cascades

follow that

switch on or off

or maintain no end of functions inside the target neuron.

Fast synapses

are roughly divided into

excitatory and inhibitory

, with

glutamate

as the main

excitatory

neurotransmitter and

GABA

as the main

inhibitory

neurotransmitter.

The neurotransmitters that we are most familiar with are:

dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine they involve slow and more complex transmission

.

They interact with signaling proteins found inside the cell membrane in a way which allows the receiving neurons to process signals from glutamate and GABA

.

The ultimate complexity of the

brain,

is that it is not static but dynamic

contantly changing

.

Every time we learns something new we alter the structure of the brain. Any Experience that is noticeable enough to cause memory; creates new synaptic connections, prunes away old ones, and strengthens or weakens existing ones …Let us conceptualize how addiction deregulate this complex convoluted neurottransmitters Symphony?

Inhibitory/ Excitatory Glutamate and GABA Network

Glutamate

(excitatory) and

GABA

(inhibitory) represent the

yin-yang

of the neurotransmitters, with both present in nearly all synaptic function all over the brain. The mood stabilizers used to treat bipolar are thought to act on one or the other or both.

There are

two types of glutamate

receptors, The

ionotropic (iGluR),

receptors

including NMDA, kainate, and AMPA

; and the

metabotropic (mGluR), which mediate numerous neuro-metabolic chemical actions

. When the

NMDA receptor

is working right, both

glutamate and glycine

bind to the receptor, which in turns opens

up its corresponding ion channel and permits calcium entry into the neuron

. This well-designed GABA Glutamate NMDA receptor unit promotes the intracellular signaling which is essential to plasticity and survival.

In response to

stress

and mood instability episodes,

glutamate reuptake in the synapses is compromised,

resulting in

increased calcium influx through the NMDA receptors and ion channels

into the neuron and the

activation of certain calcium-dependent enzymes that can result in cell atrophy and death

.

GABA

is formed in the brain from

glutamate, glucose, and glutamine. GABA

binds to one of

two receptors

on the postsynaptic neuron.

GABA A receptors

regulate excitability and anxiety, panic, and stress, and are the targets of

benzodiazepines

such as

Ativan, as well as alcohol

.

When alcohol and/ or benzodiazepines are consumed over time, the neurons structurally change to accommodate increased GABA supply

,

setting up the potential for dependence and abuse

. Many other drugs of over-use and abuse work indirectly on GABA receptors.

Gerard Sanacora MD, PhD of Yale has used

magnetic resonance spectroscopy

to measure

GABA

in the brain, finding that people suffering from melancholic depression show low

GABA concentrations in the occipital cortex

. On the other hand the depletion of GABA is not as pronounced in individuals experiencing atypical depression, this finding indicates a diagnostic potential for subtypes of depression.

The Phenylalanine Tyrosine Energetic Reward Cascade Network

Dopamine

Dopamine

the elixir of life and survivorship is a spin-off from L-DOPA. L-DOPA is created from L- tyrosine a progeny of L- phenylalanine. This master recycling plan is the originator of our essence and survivorship. More precisely – L-DOPA is converted to dopamine by action of DOPA decylarboxylase (DDC). L-DOPA itself is converted from tyrosine by the action of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Dopamine release can either be phasic or tonic.

“Phasic” dopamine release

is characterized by

burst firing

and is thought to occur

in response to behavioral stimuli, such as those that may predict reward

.

In contrast, “tonic” dopamine release is slow and irregular.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is implicated in addiction, depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, psychosis, Parkinson’s, ADHD, substance use, and aggressive behavior.

Most dopamine-producing neurons are located in areas near the brainstem

. Their axons extend in one of three specific but overlapping paths (via the medial forebrain bundle) to stimulate specific cortical and subcortical structures. In contrast,

serotonin and norepinephrine patterns of distribution are far more diffuse.

The

nigrostriatal pathway

of dopamine (in the subcortical areas of the brain) has a prominent role in

motor planning and movement, plus cognition.

The

mesocortical pathway

of dopamine, which projects to the frontal and temporal cortices, is believed to be vital to

concentration and executive functions such as working memory

. The

mesolimbic pathway

of dopamine, which projects into the

limbic system

, including

the hippocampus and amygdala

, is particularly important for

motivation, experience of pleasure, survivorship, and reward

.

Cocaine and various forms of meth are infamous for enhancing dopamine production

however medications used for ADD and Parkinsons enhance dopamine generation in a less dramatic way. Likewise antipsychotic pharmacologic agents bind to dopamine D2 receptors consequently they inhibit too much of a good thing. Imprudently, antipsychotic agents don’t just limit themselves to blocking the D2 receptors in the mesolimbic pathway, but also block all receptors in the brain’s dopamine pathways, causing what Stephen Stahl of UCSD calls a “high cost of doing business.”

With the use of street drugs

, neurons structurally change

over a short time to

accommodate the increased dopamine

supply, setting

the scene for dependence

and

abuse.

Furthermore other drugs of over-use and abuse may work primarily on other neurotransmitter systems,

however, ultimately all drugs of abuse exert their tasks

through a downstream effect by

increasing the production of dopamine

in the

pleasure and reward circuits.

In the contrary in case of depression, the lack of dopamine, among other things, would account for lack of pleasure, however in the manic stages too much dopamine acts as a rocket fuel.

Norepinephrine the stress hormone, a link to addiction!

Norepinephrine is a chemical released from the sympathetic nervous system in response to stress. It is classified as a neurotransmitter, a chemical that is released from neurons. Norepinephrine also known as noradrenaline the king of stress, is a stress hormone and a Neurotransmitter that affects every organ in the body. Norepinephrine is produced in the neurons by enzymes that act on the amino acid tyrosine, which convert it into L-DOPA, then to dopamine. Some of the dopamine is then converted to norepinephrine. As soon as norepinephrine is created by enzymes,

it gets destroyed by other enzymes, such as MAO (which also destroys serotonin and dopamine

). Hence the MAO inhibitors represent the first family of antidepressants. Another class of first-generation antidepressants the

tricyclics such as Elavil, have a dual reuptake action on both norepinephrine and serotonin. The later-generation SNRIs such as Effexor work in a similar fashion.

Most of the

norepinephrine

action takes place in an area of the

brainstem

known as the

locus coeruleus,

which act as a referee to external stimuli and human responses to such external stimuli (such as fight or flight) and pain

. Norepinephrine and the locus coeruleus are also believed to play a role in cognition, mood, emotions, movement, and blood pressure

.

Difficulty concentrating, fatigue, apathy, and depression are some of the symptoms that can result from norepinephrine going AWOL.

In depression, the prevailing theory is that lack of norepinephine is what accounts for psychomotor retardation. In anxiety, too much of the neurotransmitter is seen as part of the stress reaction.

The Tryptophan. Serotonin and Melatonin Circadian Circuitry

Serotonin

(5HT) is synthesized in the neuron from the amino acid tryptophan, which is converted to 5HTP, then to serotonin. Serotonin is then released into the synapse in a similar fashion to

norepinephrine

.

Serotonin

has some

17 different types and subtypes of receptors

, which underscores its importance as a neurotransmitter. Serotonin-producing neurons project from

, thus implicating itself in a host of functions, from mood to anxiety to sleep (serotonin makes melatonin, which regulates sleep) to sexual response and to food craving and (in)digestion.

A presynaptic transporter sucks up excess serotonin from the synapses in preparation for the next release of this ubiquitous neurotransmitter.

In depression, lack of serotonin would explain over-obsessing on grieving thoughts. Not surpsingly, serotonin enhancers medications such as SSRI also help with OCD. SSRI antidepressants are believed to work by binding to

this reuptake pump, thus keeping more serotonin in circulation

. If this was completely true, why antidepressants would not have an immediate effect, instead of taking at least two weeks to start making an impression and another two to six weeks to achieve full clinical benefit? One explanation would be

blocking the seretonin transporters desensitizes the neurons in a way that dampens normal firing for four weeks

. Another explanation is that antidepressants also work on intracellular processes downstream of the neurotransmitters.

Serotonin stimulant drugs of abuse include ecstasy and LSD.

Other Neurotransmitter Systems

Acetylcholine

– Damage to this system has been linked to

Alzheimer’s. Cholinesterase inhibitors such as Aricept are believed to work by preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine.

Specific

nicotinic receptors in the acetylcholine

system are linked to nicotine addiction, but safe alpha7 nicotinic agonists (for improving cognition) are being investigated for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Oxytocin and Vasopressin

– As both neurotransmitters and hormones, these two peptides mediate a range of physical and mental functions, but their role in pair-bonding has earned them the reputation as the “love hormones.”

Opioids

–

Endorphins

are a popular term to describe complex chemical activity involved in killing pain, inducing sleep, and creating sensations of pleasure. Opiates such as heroin and morphine and opiate-derived painkillers such as codeine and oxycodone appear

to mimic natural endorphin activity by binding to opiate receptors

. The immediate effect is blocking pain and causing drowsiness

. A domino effect results from reduced GABA release failing to inhibit dopamine release

. Medications such as methadone are aimed at mimicking the mimickers. Naltrexone, on the other hand, works by countering the opiate effect and blocking cravings.

Adenosine

– Caffeine gets its effect by binding to these receptors, thus blocking fatigue-inducing adenosine neurotransmitters. A downstream effect is mild dopamine release. Once the blockade wears off, however, adenosine comes back into play, which is why coffee is only a temporary fix. The only cure for missing out on sleep is – drumroll – catching up on sleep.

Hypocretins

– Also called

orexins

, these

neuropeptides have recently been identified in sleep regulation

. Breakdown in hypocretin function is believed to result in narcolepsy. The novel wakefulness agents Provigil and Nuvigil are believed to act on hypocretin.

Substance P

– In the spring of 2003, this peptide, which is

released in response to stress

, was ready for prime-time.

Again, the Brain is Not a Neuro-Chemical Soup

Even though the focus of our article is on Amino acids therapy and Neurotransmitters our near-exclusive focus on neurotransmitters may tend to blind us to the convolution and sofstication of the brain machinery. The brain is an intricate ecosystem, a complex machine, it is the ultimate machine, it is the true not just an artificial Intelligence engine. The brain is the CEO of this complex intelligence machine that encompass a microuniverse inside each neurons, a dynamically interactive systems and networks of neuro-systems , a continuous and dynamic interplay between genes and the environment. Again because the focus of this article is on Neurotransmitters I will recap dopamine, epinephrine, the adrenal and HPA system, hormones, hormonal system create the symphony of our being; The ventral tegmental area sends dopamine to other areas of the brain like the nucleus accumbens and the prefrontal cortex. When we are exposed to pleasurable things like brownies, new clothes, a shiny new car, sex, or drugs, dopamine is shunted to the nucleus accumbens. This area of the brain is highly associated with pleasure, motivation, and the reward system (i.e. I did this action, I got this awesome reward. Lots of feel good dopamine hormone was sent to the nucleus accumbens; now I’m motivated to do that again. And again. And again.)

Drugs like cocaine and other stimulants hit those reward centers hard and addiction is likely. There is a growing body of knowledge that links people who have an extroverted personality and are more in tuned to the dopamine-related reward system are more daring reward-seeking behavior explorers. Let us also keep this in mind if one ever feels an overwhelming need to workout, specially if one knows he or she shouldn’t may mean that one is a dopamine junkie and may put one at a higer risk to addiction, what we may call an addiction personality.

Back to the basics of dopamine: Dopamine acts as a hormone specifically in the hypothalamus. When dopamine is released it inhibits the hypothalamus from releasing prolactin. Prolactin stimulates lactation or milk production and is also involved in sexual satisfactions. Dopamine is related to sexual arousal. Dopamine is high before sex and then drops once orgasm is achieved.

It is worth noticing that dopamine cannot cross the blood brain barrier so it’s useless to treat Parkinson’s or any other disease related to a shortage in dopamine with dopamine. Amino acids such as Penylalanine and or L-tyrosine, L-DOPA on the other hand,are viable precursor in the formation of dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine and can cross the blood brain barrier. L-DOPA is effectively prescribed to treat several diseases and symptoms.

Now that we’ve discussed what dopamine is and the super important role it plays in the body, let’s talk about how we produce it. Just as with norepinephrine and epinephrine, the amino acids L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, and L-DOPA are crucial for dopamine to be synthesized in the body. Here’s the breakdown of this whole synthesis pathway:

L-phenylalanine is converted to L-tyrosine.

L-tyrosine is then converted to L-DOPA.

L-DOPA is converted to dopamine.

Dopamine will move down the conversion chain to yield norepinephrine and epinephrine.

Now, let’s review the dopamine transporters and receptors, or in simpler terms, how dopamine actually get from point A to B to so it can “do work.” Dopamine is released from presynaptic vesicles, given the correct stimulus, and then binds to post-synaptic receptors. There are several different types of dopamine receptors including: D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5. These receptors are either excitatory or inhibitory if stimulated, although the end result is not always so straightforward. Next dopamine, epinephrine, adrenal system, hormones, hormonal system Dopamine is taken up by something called DAT, then undergoes enzymatic breakdown by MAO into DOPAC, or is repackaged into the presynaptic vesicle and recycled. Cocaine, amphetamines, and methamphetamines inhibit DAT from up-taking dopamine so that dopamine continues to stimulate the receptors causing euphoria and hyperactivity.

The revolutionary Amino Acids Treatment accelerates Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER)

Amino Acids Addiction Treatment can hasten Neuro-Endocrine Restoration (NER). NER is gaining steam as an effetive natural addiction. Three recent studies, one about compulsive gambling and two about cocaine addiction, examine the role played by simple amino acid in the treatment of addiction. These amino acids taken regularly in the diet can also help in normalizing the brain chemistry of those people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol.

Amino Acids treatment for addiction, thereby offers much hope for a non-toxic, relatively economical option for treating addicts and helping them stop abusing substances.

Scientic research supports that restoration of cystine/glutamate exchange by intracranial perfusion of cystine or systemically administered N-acetylcysteine normalized the levels of glutamate in cocaine-treated subjects. The role of Amino acid in the treatment of Addiction and restoration of brain chemistry is well documented Amino acids restore neurotransmitters imbalances and cement the desire to quit drugs and helping individuals to modify their behavior.

The biochemical imbalances resulting from substance abuse can be restored with the suitable and skillful administration of lithium, B vitamins, aminoacids and dietary manipulations. The field of optimizing brain chemistry has continued to receive a boost with many doctors venturing into finding the natural, inexpensive, safe and effective nutrients to help treat addiction.

Let us keep in mind if we are missing out on any of the amino acids required for this biosynthesis, the resulting hormones and neurotransmitters will also have deficienciesand imbalances. With dopamine being as important as it is on it’s own, and also being a precursor to the norepinephrine/epinephrine, we can rest assured that keeping these neurotransmitters/stress hormonee in balance is crucial to the adrenals and overall health.

So where does this all put us? Our adrenal system, including all the hormones and neurotransmitters that go with it, is a very complex system that has the ability to greatly impact every system and organ in our body. Because of the massive changes it can cause in other systems, any major issues with our adrenal system can affect virtually any function in the body. This is something that extends past just having a bad workout or our body composition suffering a bit. We’re talking about the possibility of severe mental illness or life-altering neuromuscular diseases. By keeping this in mind as we continue to learn more about the pieces and parts of our bodies that make up our adrenal system. As we also learn that seeking balance and ways to nurture our bodies and prevent stress are key in long-term health and physical and mental well being.

The adverse effects of Stress and addiction on the HPA, HPG, HPT should not be overlooked when we treat patients suffering from any addictive disorder. The effect of addiction and neurochemical imbalances on neurotransmitters aminoacids network are so complex, intricate, and misunderstood. Therefore it makes it compelling to physicians to take an innovative fresh approach to properly addressing the disease of addiction. More physicians need specilized training in understanding the dynamic changes that are happening in the entire being of an addict. Taking into account the makeup of the Psycho-Neuroendocrine-Immune system, the addiction physician of tomorrow should be able to maintain a harmonic balance between homeostasis and the allostatic load

Training physicians to handle drug addiction is becoming a necessity

In summary, with the prevalence of addiction and substance abuse in our society today we need to re-evaluate our action plan to ascertain that proper restoration of Spirit, Mind, body is properly addressed to prevent and treat addiction. The purpose of this article is to raise the awareness about the magnitude and complexity of the problem of all types of addictions from drugs to tobbaco, to alcohol, to gambling, to sex, and internet, etc… I cannot emphasize enough the importance of a fresh training system offering physicians the tools to better assess, diagnose and effectively treat addictions, naturally and safely. Undertstanding the complexity of this epidemic of the disease of addiction is the beginning. Equiping all practitioners with enovative tools to help them impact the course of addiction treatment should be our goal. This education endeavor should begin by raising the awareness of addiction in general including substance abuse. Natural addiction recovery training should and will focus on better understanding the amino acid revolution in Addiction Medicine, and how to create, taylor and individualize IV amino therapy for different kinds of addiction while respecting patient unique individuality. The proper inderstanding of IV Amino Acids and peptide therapy in all phases of addiction training will be emphasised. The creative manipulating of amino acids therapy and how to individualize Integrative Addiction Medicine is our only salvation. In order for us to overcome the addiction crisis, and save generations from the PAIN and Chaining of addiction we must comprehend addiction from a diffferent prospective.

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