Neurotransmitter panel
I would get a Neurotransmitter panel similar to the one life extension offers for $199, maybe your doctor can prescribe it and insurance can pay, maybe not.
Here is their description.
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DESCRIPTION
- Neurotransmitter Panel
- Item Catalog Number: LC100058
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[TD]Urinary neurotransmitter (NT) levels provide an overall assessment of your body's ability to make and break down neurotransmitters and are representative of whole body levels. Whole body neurotransmitter levels correlate with symptoms and provide a valuable tool for achieving balance and wellbeing.
This panel contains the following 9 neurotransmitters:
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[TD]Neurotransmitter[/TD]
[TD]High levels in urine[/TD]
[TD]Low levels in urine[/TD]
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[TD]Serotonin is an inhibitory neurotransmitter and contributes to feelings of happiness and well-being[/TD]
[TD]May contribute to anxiety, high blood pressure, irritability, and low libido[/TD]
[TD]Associated with depression, worry, obsessive thoughts, carbohydrate cravings, PMS, difficulty with pain control, sleep disturbances, and IBS[/TD]
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[TD]GABA functions as the brain's major inhibitory neurotransmitter[/TD]
[TD]Associated with sluggish energy, feelings of sedation, and foggy thinking[/TD]
[TD]Implicated in feeling stressed, overwhelmed and/or irritable, impulsivity, anxiety, ADHD, and seizure disorders[/TD]
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[TD]Dopamine regulates the pleasure/reward pathway, memory, and motor control[/TD]
[TD]May contribute to hyperactivity, anxiety and schizophrenia. May also be related to autism, mood swings, psychosis, and attention disorders[/TD]
[TD]Associated with memory issues, loss of motor control, cravings, compulsions, loss of satisfaction, and addictive behaviors[/TD]
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[TD]Norepinephrine (noradrenaline) Involved in a wide variety of actions including attention, focus, regulating heart rate, affecting blood flow, and suppressing inflammation[/TD]
[TD]Linked to anxiety, stress, elevated blood pressure, and hyperactivity[/TD]
[TD]Associated with lack of energy, focus, and motivation[/TD]
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[TD]Epinephrine (Adrenaline) is heavily involved in the acute stress response and helps regulate muscle contraction, heart rate, glycogen breakdown, and blood pressure[/TD]
[TD]Associated with ADHD, hyperactivity, anxiety, sleep issues, and acute stress response[/TD]
[TD]Leads to difficulty concentrating, fatigue, depression, insufficient cortisol production, chronic stress, poor recovery from illness, and dizziness[/TD]
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[TD]Glutamate functions as the brain's major excitatory neurotransmitter[/TD]
[TD]Can cause excitotoxicity, a process that damages nerve cells through excessive stimulation. Associated with panic attacks, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, OCD, and depression[/TD]
[TD]May result in agitation, memory loss, sleeplessness, low energy levels, and depression[/TD]
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[TD]Glycine is inhibitory and plays a dual role as both a NT and an amino acid. Glycine improves sleep quality, calms aggression and serves as an anti-inflammatory agent[/TD]
[TD]May be associated with compromised cognitive processing[/TD]
[TD]May contribute to poor sleep, poor cognitive function and issues with memory[/TD]
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[TD]Histamine is an excitatory neurotransmitter involved in the sleep/wake cycle and inflammatory response[/TD]
[TD]May be associated with allergy-like symptoms, gastro-intestinal concerns and inflammation[/TD]
[TD]May affect digestion and appetite control, learning, memory and mood and may result in drowsiness[/TD]
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[TD]PEA (Phenylethlyamine) promotes energy, elevates mood, regulates attention and aggression, and serves as a biomarker for ADHD[/TD]
[TD]May contribute to anxiety with very high levels having amphetamine-life effects. May be associated with higher cortisol levels[/TD]
[TD]May be associated with ADHD, depression, Parkinson’s disease and bipolar disorder[/TD]
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