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Test Don’t Guess: Neurotransmitters Uncovered
NPO Conference
Tamara Owen, RN, MS, PMHNP 503.788.7726 October 8-10, 2015 at Sunriver, Oregon
Testing can help you:
- Provide rapid symptom relief, improving compliance
- Pinpoint the root cause of health issues for long-
term positive outcomes
- Shorten the time to wellness
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www.tamaraowen.com 503.788.7726
Understanding the role of neurotransmitters and key players
Inhibitory Neurotransmitters
- Serotonin: mood, appetite and sleep
- GABA: primary inhibitory neurotransmitter -
necessary to feel calm and relaxed
- Glycine: like GABA, helps to calm and relax the
body
- Taurine: important for proper heart function, healthy
sleep and promoting calmness
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- Epinephrine (Adrenaline): important for motivation, energy
and mental focus
- Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline): important for mental
focus, emotional stability and endocrine function.
- Dopamine: responsible for feelings of pleasure and
satisfaction, also muscle control, muscle function, and GI issues.
- Glutamate: primary excitatory neurotransmitter necessary
for memory and learning.
- PEA (phenylethylamine): important for focus and
concentration.
- Histamine: helps control sleep-wake cycle, plus energy and
motivation.
Excitatory Neurotransmitters
Cortisol and DHEA
- Cortisol: primary glucocorticoid produced by the
adrenal gland. Regulates body’s stress response.
- DHEA: produced by the adrenal glad and is a
precursor to estrogens and androgens.
Why Test?
Patients may present with the same complaint, but associated imbalances differ. (Anxiety Illustration)
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Treating a patient’s specific imbalances provides symptom relief, improving compliance. (Fatigue illustration) Results also provide insight into the root cause
- f symptoms, shortening the time to wellness
and reducing costs
(Insomnia illustration)
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Physical Stress Psychosocial Stress Exposures to toxins Hormonal Shifts Emotional Stress Poor diet, medications Persistent immune activation
Addressing the root cause allows you to fully restore balance and health Root Causes/ Contributors
Assessment and Testing
HPA axis and neurotransmitters Inflammation/ Oxidative Stress Hormone and neurotransmitter interactions Toxins Genetics Lyme’s Disease
Stress - the primary contributor
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
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impacts adrenal output…but it isn’t just about DHEA and c How can we effectively assess adrenal function?
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Stages of Adrenal Dysregulation
Normal Stress Response
Compensation Mechanism
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Biomarkers for Early Stage Biomarkers for Early Stage
Biomarkers for Mid Stage
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Biomarkers for Mid Stage Biomarkers for End Stage Biomarkers for End Stage
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Case Review
49 year old male:
- Low energy
- No motivation
- Some anxiousness
- Levothyroxine 75mcg
Adrenal results Neurotransmitter results
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Calming Neurotransmitters
Stimulating Neurotransmitters
Adrenal Results
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Patient Care Cycle
Identify Imbalances for Personalized Patient Care
Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, Dopamine, DOPAC, PEA, Glut 5-HIAA 4-point cortisol
Inflammation/Oxidative Stress
The Source of Many Clinical Conditions
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Inflammation underlies many clinical conditions
Inflammation is the body’s response to an immune challenge
The nervous, endocrine, and immune systems are intricately interconnected.
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Inflammation affects other systems of the body and leads to clinical conditions
Inflammation contributes to neurotransmitter imbalances Oxidative Stress is a byproduct of inflammation
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Consequences of inflammation and oxidative stress
Low grade inflammation leads to:
Case Review
23 year old male:
- Low energy
- No motivation
- Some mood issues
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Adrenal Results
Neurotransmitter Results: Inflammation
Calming Neurotransmitters
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Stimulating Neurotransmitters
Adrenal Results
Sex Hormone Interactions with Neurotransmitters
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Sex hormones and neurotransmitters impact each other
Estrogen and Serotonin
Estrogen/Serotonin Connection
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GABA and Progesterone
GABA/Progesterone relationship Progesterone and monoamine oxidase
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Dopamine and testosterone
Dopamine/Testoterone Relationship
Therapy considerations
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Toxins and Heavy Metal Exposure
- n the Nervous, Immune and
Endocrine Systems
Symptoms of metal hypersensitivities
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Occupations and industries with high metal exposure
Sources of metal exposure: Frequency of Metal Sensitivity
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Many patients are sensitive to more than one metal
Dental fillings (amalgams)
Medications can contain metals
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Smoking tobacco products
Jewelry Cosmetics
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Cosmetics Food Occupational exposure
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Sources of metal exposure:
Comprehensive assessment yields the most data
Test:
- Neurotransmitters
- 4-point cortisol
- Sex hormones
www.tamaraowen.com 503.788.7726
