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EPISODE · Sep 15, 2025 · 12 MIN

Gut Health, Hiatal Hernia and Surprising Side Effects of SSRIs

from What's the Root Cause? by Dr Vikki Petersen · host Root Cause Medical Clinic

SSRIs affect your gut in a way that can not only worsen your symptoms of anxiety and depression, but also worsen your hiatal hernia. How? ➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/Call us directly: 727-335-040020% of our population takes an SSRI. SSRIs, are drugs designed to make serotonin remain in your system to elevate your mood.Yet common side effects are well known: 60% of those who take it feel emotional blunting and numbness, while 70% experience sexual dysfunction.Less well known here in the U.S., but widely known in the European Union, Australia, Canada and Hong Kong, is that these common side effects can persist, even once the drug is discontinued.If you have a hiatal hernia or acid reflux, we know that you already have dysbiosis, increased intra-abdominal pressure and vagus nerve dysfunction, based on the symptoms you suffer from.Let's tie this data together. We have recently learned that SSRIs behave like antibiotics, inhibiting the growth of good bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidus, while allowing the overgrowth of bad bacteria.One results from this will be a worsening of hiatal hernia and acid reflux symptoms due to the leaky gut, intra-abdominal pressure increase and vagus nerve dysruption this will cause. But it's important to note that the way your body naturally makes serotonin is in your gut. 90% of serotonin is created in your gut and you need good bacteria present in enough abundance for that to occur. Without sufficient good bacteria you will instead produce kynurenine and neurotoxic agent. SSRIs are preventing you from possible making adequate serotonin naturally, the very chemical they're supposed to be protecting. Additionally, the serotonin produced in your brain now only requires a healthy microbiome to make serotonin, but it also requires a healthy vagus nerve. SSRIs alter vagus nerve signaling, impairing the message that allows your brain to release serotonin.There are more natural ways to balance the gut, normalize vagus nerve function and serotonin levels. I hope this information was informative for you.If you'd like help we're here for you. The best next step is to contact us for a consultation and then we can determine if what we do is a good fit for you. Call 727-335-0400.ReferencesMaier L, et al. Extensive impact of non-antibiotic drugs on human gut bacteria. Nature. 2018;555:623-628. doi:10.1038/nature25979. PubMedRukavishnikov G, et al. Antimicrobial activity of antidepressants on normal gut microbiota (in vitro). Front Behav Neurosci. 2023;17:1132127. PMCAyaz M, et al. Sertraline enhances antimicrobial activity (combo/efflux mechanisms). J Biol Res (Thessalon). 2015;22:4. PMCWang Y, et al. Sertraline antibiofilm/antimicrobial vs Listeria. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(5):4678. MDPIAit Chait Y, et al. Unravelling antimicrobial action of antidepressants (mechanistic). Sci Rep. 2020;10:16391. NatureOu J, et al. TCA/SSRI selection pressure for efflux-dependent antibiotic resistance in E. coli. mBio. 2022;13:e0219122. PubMedLyte M, et al. Fluoxetine alters murine gut microbiota (depletes Lactobacilli). Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2019;31:e13600. PMCCussotto S, et al. Psychotropics shift microbiome & increase ileal permeability (animal). Psychopharmacology. 2019;236:1671–1685. PubMedYano JM, et al. Indigenous bacteria regulate host serotonin biosynthesis (EC cells). Cell. 2015;161:264-276. PubMedWei L, et al. Enterochromaffin cells–gut microbiota crosstalk (review). Front Cell Neurosci. 2022;16:837166. PMCGao K, et al. Tryptophan metabolism and the microbiota–brain axis (review). Adv Nutr. 2020;11:709-723. PMC

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SSRIs affect your gut in a way that can not only worsen your symptoms of anxiety and depression, but also worsen your hiatal hernia. How? ➡️ Click HERE to Book a Consultation: https://rootcausemedicalclinics.com/hiatal-hernia-natural-treatment/ Call us directly: 727-335-0400 20% of our population takes an SSRI. SSRIs, are drugs designed to make serotonin remain in your system to elevate your mood. Yet common side effects are well known: 60% of those who take it feel emotional bl...

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