Mental health issues affect a significant portion of the population, with many people suffering from depression. Modern stressors, such as demanding workloads and social media fatigue, are linked to higher rates of depression and anxiety and an increased reliance on antidepressants. Today, nearly 1 in 10 Americans rely on depression treatment to ensure their well-being, with women almost twice as likely to take antidepressant medications than men. However, while medications are available to treat depression, they also bring severe potential side effects and health risks.
Until recently, the stigma around mental health issues limited the options for seeking support. However, in recent years, the public spotlight has illuminated these issues, with more conversations around mental health surfacing during events like the Tokyo Olympics and in popular streaming shows like Ted Lasso. As the importance of mental health enters our culture’s daily conversation, individuals are becoming empowered to take the first steps and reach out. And the demand for alternatives to prescription antidepressants—like PE-22-28 and its benefits—is also increasing.
Harmful Effects of Anti-Depression Medication
Sadly, many anti-depression medications have harmful side effects. Nearly a quarter of women on antidepressants are prescribed medication with significant side effects. For instance, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) use has been linked to an increase in stroke. SSRI use has also been found to elevate the risk of certain tumors. One example of a potentially dangerous SSRI is Paroxetine, which is used to treat depression and other mental health issues. Paroxetine use has been found to be associated with an increase in breast cancer risk, with a 720% increase in some cases. Moreover, breast cancer patients using Paroxetine are at greater risk of death.
ADVERSE SIDE EFFECTS LINKED TO TRADITIONAL DEPRESSION MEDICATION
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Gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, diarrhea, gastric bleeding, dyspepsia)
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Weight gain and metabolic abnormalities
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Cardiovascular disturbances (heart rate, QT interval prolongation, hypertension, orthostatic hypotension)
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Sexual dysfunction
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Osteoporosis and risk of fractures
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Central nervous system disturbances (lowering of seizure threshold, extrapyramidal side effects, cognitive disturbances)
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Sweating and sleep disturbances
As the above list indicates, the potentially harmful side effects that patients may experience with many contemporary antidepressants are extensive. That’s one reason researchers are committed to discovering therapies that reduce these potential harms.
The Quest for an Alternative Depression Treatment
Fortunately, SSRIs are not the only option for individuals suffering from depression. In 2006, the TWIK-related potassium channel-1 (TREK-1) protein was discovered as a potential drug target for treating depression. TREK-1 was also discovered to play a role in treating strokes, particularly a type of depression called “Post-stroke depression” (PSD).
Scientists worked to discover a way to inhibit TREK-1 in an effort to treat depression without using harmful SSRIs. Spadin, a TREK-1 channel-blocker, was found to exert significant antidepressant effects within four days without unwanted side effects. Over time, a shorter analog of Spadin, the 7-amino acid peptide PE-22-28, a.k.a. Mini-Spadin was discovered and synthesized in 2017.
PE-22-28 Benefits for Mental Health Treatment
PE-22-28 has been found to be a natural and fast-acting therapeutic peptide that may treat depression better than other TREK-1 blockers. The optimal PE-22-28 dosage for depression is 400 mcg administered intranasally once a day in the morning. While its effectiveness has been proven, PE-22-28 is a new peptide that does not have a published study involving human subjects. Presently, experiential data suggests that PE-22-28 may possess almost no harmful side effects while being equally or more effective than current and classic antidepressants.
PE-22-28 are natural peptides, which generally have higher levels of safety than most antidepressants. Additionally, unlike prescription antidepressants, natural peptides do not provoke withdrawal behavior when no longer used. Moreover, PE-22-28 is fast-acting. Currently, marketed antidepressant drugs often take several weeks to become effective. PE-22-28 only needs four days to exert their effects. Additionally, PE-22-28 is effective regardless of how it is administered.
While research and data collection continues, PE-22-28 benefits look promising. And with the growing public awareness of the importance of mental health, PE-22-28 offers a potential new way to envision depression treatment without the harmful health risks.
YOUR BODY TRANSFORMATION IS A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PE-22-28 BENEFITS AND MY BODY TRANSFORMATION’S INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO FITNESS AND WELL-BEING, SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION WITH ASHIKO.
ASHIKO WESTGUARD
Ashiko Westguard, founder of Limitless Body Transformation, approaches health, nutrition, and body transformation according to each client’s unique needs. Her background as a National Academy of Sports Medicine-certified personal trainer led to her initial consultation and later partnership with esteemed anti-aging and integrative health physician, Uzzi Reiss, M.D., to develop this client-centered wellness transformation.