Jennifer – Menopause Causing Alcoholism

After Jennifer entered menopause, she suddenly needed alcohol to “quiet her anxious brain.”     

Estradiol modulates the function of two important brain chemicals, serotonin and dopamine.     

Jennifer’s 4 years of drinking alcohol caused severe serotonin and taurine deficiencies and her excessive histamine levels were causing excessive electrical activity throughout her brain.     

     

Jennifer’s brain chemistry analysis below reveals a classic pattern Dr. Sponaugle observes in all of his alcoholic patients.     

   

  

 

The Arizona rehab center had just incorporated SPECT brain imaging into their addiction treatment.    

Dr. Sponaugle has used SPECT imaging in alcoholics since 2005. Dr. Sponaugle’s staff advised Jennifer that she should bring her SPECT scan to her first appointment at Florida Detox & Wellness Institute.    

Jennifer’s Brain Scan (surface)     

The holes seen at the top of Jennifer’s surface scan represent a localized dopamine deficiency which causes sub normal  activity in her brain’s prefrontal cortex, the brain region behind her forehead. This finding on Jennifer’s scan matches her inherited personality profile, one that was over shadowed by changes in personality when she entered menopause.     

Jennifer’s localized dopamine deficiency is derived from inheriting a gene that produces a super COMT enzyme, an enzyme that metabolizes or breaks down dopamine four times faster than normal.     

Patients who inherit a “super COMT enzyme” metabolize Dopamine before it can activate sequential brain cells in the prefrontal cortex. The holes represent “a string of light bulbs” that have failed to activate.    

Jennifer’s SPECT scan below is called a deep scan. The white and red oval in the middle of Jennifer’s scan represents her severely overactive deep limbic system. The deep limbic system resides in the midbrain and is about the size of a walnut. It is larger and more active in women than men, this makes women more sensitive and more adept at discerning social cues than men.    

    

Dr. Sponaugle’s research has proven that excessive activity in the deep limbic system is caused by alcohol induced serotonin and taurine deficiency.     

Jennifer also has an overactive basal ganglion [dopamine factory] just above and to the right of her deep limbic system. This can be a normal presentation, if abnormal, it can be derived from excessive dopamine activity.     

In Jennifer’s case, her dopamine levels were normal. Her basal ganglia was overactive due to excessive histamine activation derived from alcohol induced leaky gut syndrome. Histamine activates dopamine receptors throughout the brain. This causes generalized anxiety and insomnia.    

When the deep limbic system is quiet, we are much more relaxed and much happier. When the deep limbic system becomes overactive, we develop symptoms of depression, moodiness and irritability. If you have recently developed an overactive emotional center, you are experiencing feelings of hopelessness and excessive guilt. You no longer enjoy things that you once considered fun and you generally feel more depressed. You have developed a more negative personality and your desire to socialize is less that before.    

During Jennifer’s initial consultation, Dr. Sponaugle noticed considerable tension between Jennifer and her husband. Jennifer’s Arizona rehab doctors had suggested to Jennifer’s husband that her relapse just four days after leaving their rehab center was her fault, that she was not serious about her sobriety. Jennifer insisted that she needed the alcohol to calm her anxious brain and lift her depression.    

Jennifer did not know why, but, she insisted alcohol made her “feel more normal and that without it, she felt miserable.    

Dr. Sponaugle explained to Jennifer’s husband, a hospital administrator from Atlanta, that Jennifer was most likely being truthful. Dr. Sponaugle explained that Jennifer was suffering “dry drunk” syndrome. Dry drunk syndrome is the miserable state alcoholics feel when alcohol induced brain chemistry deficiencies are left uncorrected. This it is the number one cause of early relapse in alcoholics.    

At Florida Detox & Wellness Institute, Dr. Sponaugle’s addiction research has matched SPECT brain imaging with specific brain chemistry profiles, female hormonal deficiencies and alcohol craving patterns. Alcohol craving is truly biochemical in nature – craving for the biochemical effect alcohol has on the brain.    

The pertinent brain physiology regarding menopause is that serotonin receptors in the female brain close and are unavailable for serotonin activation when estradiol levels fall below 60-80 pg/dl. Dr. Sponaugle  recently taught this concept to Dr. Daniel Amen and 200 psychiatrists at an Amen brain conference in Washington D.C.    

Women with normal serotonin production, but, post menopausal estradiol levels suffer serotonin deficiency symptoms! Post menopausal women get less benefit from a serotonergic medication like Lexapro because their serotonin receptors are closed and cannot receive serotonin molecules.     

When Jennifer turned 50, she reached full menopause and her estradiol production ceased. She began suffering classic symptoms of serotonin deficiency depression with the inability to enjoy things that used to be fun, increased moodiness, irritability, negativity, less desire to socialize, feelings of hopelessness, excessive guilt, and she became more easily offended.    

Serotonin is a calming brain chemical – serotonin deficiency causes excessive electrical activity in the brain’s emotional center – the deep limbic system. Jennifer’s brain scan below demonstrates a severely overactive emotional center [deep limbic system].     

Jennifer began drinking more alcohol for it’s calming GABA effect. Alcohol activates the Xanax receptor – the GABA receptor. Activation of the GABA brain receptors reduces electrical current in the brain. Alcohol produced a calming effect Jennifer badly needed once she reached menopause –  her menopausal estradiol levels fell too low for her serotonin receptors to accept serotonin.    

Once Jennifer began using wine as a medication to calm her overactive brain, she developed a myriad of alcohol induced brain chemistry imbalances. Dr. Sponaugle’s research has proven that Alcoholic patients develop a toxic gut – an intestine that suffers excessive overgrowth of Candida yeast and Klebsiella bacteria. Toxins from these foreign invaders shut down Serotonin production in the small intestine causing a deficiency of this important calming brain chemical.    

Enzymatic breakdown of Candida Yeast in the alcoholic gut produces excessive production of Beta-alanine, a protein that competes with Taurine for re-absorption in the kidneys. Taurine is a calming brain chemical. Dr. Sponaugle’s research in alcoholic patients has proven that all alcoholics suffer Serotonin and Taurine deficiencies. Dr. Sponaugle has designed an intravenous protocol to quickly correct deficiencies of these and other brain chemicals to prevent  the alcoholic patient from relapsing.    

Dr. Sponaugle’s research has proven that deficiency of these two brain chemicals produces excessive electrical activity in the deep limbic system, a brain region that is often referred to as our emotional center because it stores our emotional memories. You will notice that Jennifer’s SPECT scan reveals severe over activity in this specific brain region.    

The toxins from pathogenic yeast and bacteria destroy the intestinal lining allowing abnormal “leakage” of undigested food particles, parasites and toxins. This phenomenon is known as LGS or “leaky gut syndrome.” The alcoholic intestinal wall ”leaks” larger than normal proteins from the gut into the bloodstream. Antibodies naturally attack these ”foreign bodies” like they would a bacteria or virus as they have no business floating around the bloodstream.    

The constant antibody attack up-regulates the immune system producing excessive levels of inflammatory cytokines and excessive levels of circulating histamine. The classic “red flush” on the alcoholic’s face is derived from excessive histamine levels. Most psychiatrists are unaware that Histamine is an excitatory or “electrifying” brain chemical. Histamine has a similar chemical structure to dopamine and it can activate the brain’s dopamine receptors causing excessive electrical current throughout the brain – this is a common cause of anxiety and insomnia in Americans.    

With knowledge of the Gut – Brain connection, especially the classic alcohol induced changes in brain chemistry revealed through Dr. Sponaugle’s research, we can better explain why - the more an alcoholic drinks – the more “over electrified” their brain becomes – the more they must drink - to quiet their brain!!    

Jennifer relapsed to alcohol just four days after leaving alcohol rehab because her Arizona rehab doctors failed to correct multiple biochemical issues that made her crave alcohol so badly that she was planning her next drink in rehab. Even with the assistance of a SPECT scan, they failed to properly diagnose multiple biochemical imbalances that must be corrected immediately to stop alcohol craving.    

They had learned from my colleague, Daniel Amen of the Amen Clinic, that increasing serotonin activity would most likely calm Jennifer’s overactive deep limbic system, the brain region that was most significant in causing Jennifer to self-medicate with the GABA effect of alcohol.    

Placing Jennifer on Lexapro, an SSRI, serotonin enhancing anti-depressant, failed to calm her anxious brain leaving her with alcohol craving because:    

Jennifer’s  menopausal estradiol levels were too low for her serotonin receptors to remain open, they were not available for increased serotonin activation from Lexapro.    

Alcoholic patients like Jennifer produce no serotonin in their intestinal factories, therfore her brain’s serotonin storage units were empty. Drugs like Lexapro do not assist patients in making one molecule of serotonin, they work with available serotonin in the brain, in Jennifer’s case, there was very little serotonin availability for Lexapro to work with.    

In alcoholic patients, Candida mycotoxins and Klebsiella endotoxins block the first step, the gut step, of serotonin production, the gut conversion of tryptophan into 5-Hydroxytryptophan. 5-HTP undergoes conversion to serotonin inside the brain’s serotonin factories. Normally, the brain’s serotonin factories receive a healthy supply of 5-HTP from the gut, however, in the alcoholic gut, tryptophan is converted into a toxic chemical called kinurenic acid.    

Jennifer’s rehab doctors failed to treat the localized dopamine deficiency in Jennifer’s pre-frontal cortex. The estradiol dropout Jennifer suffered with menopause exacerbated her inherited dopamine deficiency -  Estradiol enhances dopamine production and prevents the breakdown of dopamine.    

Estradiol enhances tyrosine hydroxylase, the enzyme that converts tyrosine into dopamine and estradiol inhibits monoamine oxidase, the enzyme that metabolizes dopamine.    

Furthermore, Jennifer, like all alcoholics, suffered severe Vitamin D deficiency and iron deficiency. Both Vitamin D and iron are necessary co-factors for tyrosine conversion  to dopamine.    

Alcohol stimulates a temporary dopamine surge from brain storage units, with decreased dopamine activity, Jennifer would have craved the dopamine effect of alcohol more than she would have in her premenopausal life.    

Jennifer’s rehab doctors failed to diagnose her severe testosterone deficiency and her alcohol induced hypothyroidism. Testosterone in both sexes and Thyroid T3 hormone are necessary for dopamine receptivity in the dopamine driven pleasure [reward center]. The combination of alcohol induced hypothyroidism and menopausal dropout of testosterone and estradiol caused diminished Dopamine D2 activity and subsequent depression that responds to a temporary dopamine hit from alcohol.    

Jennifer’s rehab doctors failed to perform extensive hormonal testing and therefore failed to diagnose her alcohol induced adrenal insufficiency. The alcoholic gut toxins are neurotoxins, they readily travel from the gut to the brain and shut down pituitary function.    

The reduced production of pituitary hormones TSH [thyroid stimulating hormone] and ACTH [adrenocorticotropic hormone] cause subsequent deficiencies of thyroid hormone, Cortisol, DHEA and Adrenaline. This produces physical fatigue, Jennifer felt like she had a 20 pound cement block attached to each leg. The “dopamine hit” derived from drinking alcohol gave her fake energy.    

At Florida Detox & Wellness Institute, we give our addicted patients a comprehensive Brain Wellness Program that provides evaluation of 250 biochemicals. We optimize and balance all brain chemistry and hormonal issues immediately, this stops alcohol and drug craving.    

As of this writing, Jennifer is doing amazing well. She has chosen to continue follow up for through our anti-aging/wellness program. She has now been alcohol free for 2 years and denies any craving for alcohol! She is back on the tennis court and her husband is a happy man!    

Read Jennifer’s full story here, and visit our blog to read more patient stories.    

Our Safe and Painless Alcohol Detox Protects the Brain

We do not allow our patients to suffer any of the typical alcohol withdrawal symptoms associated with alcohol detox. No tremors, no twitching, no spasms, no mini seizures. These alcohol withdrawal symptoms are forbidden in our detox unit because they are indicative of excessive electricity that causes damage to the brain.    

You have lost enough brain cells from chronic alcoholism, you can’t afford to lose more going through a dangerous alcohol detox. The loss of brain cells you have sustained from alcohol abuse already increases your risk of getting earlier Alzheimer’s Disease.    

Fortunately, our Brain Wellness program has recently reversed Alzheimer’s Disease and is provided to our alcoholic patients at no additional cost. See our Alzheimer’s page under Wellness programs. We can heal brain damage derived from your alcoholism.    

Our painless alcohol detox protects your brain from detox induced loss of brain cells.

Recent PET scan studies performed at the University of Toronto have revealed that the old fashioned “shake and bake” alcohol detox performed at most detox centers destroys more brain cells than continuous alcoholism. The University doctors found that the brain of patients who drank alcohol without once stopping in a ten year period sustained better brain volume than the patients who went through alcohol detox once a year.    

During your alcohol detoxification, we begin rejuvenation therapy with my intravenous treatment protocol for healing the brain. We replace vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other nutrients that are commonly deficient in alcoholic patients. This aggressive restoration treatment facilitates a much faster recovery and enhances our ability to prevent relapse to alcohol.    

Alcohol patients who simply undergo detox, have so many hormonal and biochemical deficiencies, they feel terrible unless they start drinking again. This is called the “dry drunk” syndrome. They might not be drinking, but they feel miserable.    

Our six week alcohol treatment program is not mandatory, it is provided at no extra cost to our alcoholic patients. Most of our patients come back for several outpatient appointments, even if they live in California, because they benefit so much from our advanced anti-aging and wellness treatment. Most of our patients look ten to fifteen years younger after just four weeks of this program.    

Below is a list of just a few biochemical causes of alcohol craving:    

• Attention Deficit Disorder
• Anxiety Disorders
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Nutritional Deficiencies
• Hormonal Imbalance
• Hidden Food Allergies
• Allergies to the wheat or corn in the alcohol itself
• Hypoglycemia
• Systemic Yeast and Fungal Overgrowth
• Mold Toxicity
• Lyme’s Disease
• Bartonella
• Babesia
• Epstein Barr
• etc.

If you have already been to a rehab center for alcoholism, you know they did not even look for most of these.    

We do not discount the fact that patients use alcohol to anesthetize emotional pain, however, we have never treated an alcoholic patient who did not also have many treatable biochemical issues that also caused alcohol craving. We refer those alcohol patients who are suffering  severe emotional pain to some of the best counselors in America.    

Isn’t it time you chose scientific alcohol treatment that stops your alcohol craving?

(888) 775-2770

Jennifer’s history of alcohol abuse tells the real story.