Before You Increase Your SSRI, Check Your Nutrient Levels w/ Dr. Oscar Coetzee

What if the antidepressant isn't failing because it's the wrong medication, but because the body doesn't have enough of what it needs to make serotonin in the first place?

As a pharmacist, I've filled thousands of antidepressant prescriptions. But there is a question we rarely stop to ask before increasing a dose or trying another medication: Where does serotonin actually come from? An SSRI can help the brain reuse the serotonin that is already available, but the production of neurotransmitters also depends on what is happening elsewhere in the body.

This means symptoms we identify as anxiety or depression may sometimes have more than one possible driver. Low vitamin D, iron deficiency, unstable blood sugar, poor digestion, inflammation, and an imbalanced microbiome can all influence how we feel.

In this episode, I'm joined by nutritionist, author, and speaker Dr. Oscar Coetzee. We explore the missing nutritional and biological "third leg" of mental healthcare and why mood disorders can have a lot more to do with what's on your plate than you think.

What You'll Discover In This Episode

The overlooked question we should ask before assuming an antidepressant has "stopped working"

Why the gut microbiome helps provide the raw materials the body needs to make serotonin and dopamine

How nutrient deficiencies can interfere with neurotransmitter production even when someone is eating a seemingly healthy diet

Why poor digestion may matter just as much as the nutrients we consume

The "three-legged stool" of mental healthcare and the leg that is often missing

How low blood sugar, anemia, and vitamin deficiencies can mimic symptoms associated with anxiety or depression

Why a healthy gut depends on microbial balance, not simply eliminating every "bad" bacterium