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Originally Posted by *Laurie*
Hi, I'm confused by your post. Are you saying that there are blood tests or scans to measure the amount of dopamine, serotonin, and other neurochemicals and that those test results can be used to determine which medications to take (if any)?
I'm confused because I have read and been told by pdocs that there are no such reliable tests yet available. Even the tests done for MS are not entirely dependable, as I understand it.
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yes there are blood tests and scan that measure the chemicals in the body including dopamine, serotonin GABA, lithium, zinc, iron, vitamins and minerals the whole works.
yes there are blood tests that tell doctors whether or not medication is needed, not which medications because medication is not a one size fits all situation, but here in america we have a vast range of medications including those that are called psychotropic medications. (medications for mental issues) But medical doctors have been trained to know how much of each chemical a normal body has. they are able to prescribe medications that will correct the difference between where a person should be vs how much of the chemicals a person does have.
yes there are spinal fluid tests that also show whether someone has a problem with brain or body chemicals that can affect a person in mental and physical ways.
there are even urine and spit tests that can tell a medical doctor when there is something wrong in the body's chemical make up.
yes there are brain scans that measure things like how the brain is functioning, whether or not the neurons/ receptors/ neuro tranmitters are working. some of these tests are very common like a person who has seizures goes through these tests like EEG's, MRI, CAT Scans to evaluate whether that persons brain is functioning correctly including how the neurons, receptor and transmitters are working.
my suggestion is the next time you see your medical doctor ask to see and have explained to you what blood work panels / labs / brain scans that they do order and for what. maybe they will even order them for you so that you can go through them. if so ask to see your scans. its really interesting with each part of the brain lit up in different colors, watching the neurons/ receptors, neuro transmitters working. I have them record mine so that after I get out from that noisy MRI machine. be sure to wear ear plugs when in that machine. EEG is also really interesting to have recorded and watch after the test is done.
you can also find these tests on youtube or any medical show on cable, or sometimes the tv show "the Doctors" talk about all the different kinds of blood tests and brain scans there are.