Depression

Depression is a serious and common disorder that negatively affects how you feel, think, act and perceive the world. Nearly 30% of all people suffer from depression at some point in their lives, and it is more common in women than men. Depression usually starts in one’s late teens but can occur at any age. No one currently knows what causes depression. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and can differ significantly between people. A large number of patients with severe depression do not see any improvement from current treatments.

These symptoms often include:
* Feeling sad, irritable, hopeless and/or suicidal
* Decreased energy, increased fatigue
* Difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness
* Sleep disturbances
* Losing interest in activities that were previously perceived as fun and interesting.

Heavy metals

Heavy metals, such as mercury, lead and cadmium, are found in air, soil and water. All humans, therefore, ingest small amounts of these metals every day. In some situations, significantly higher amounts can be ingested, for example, from certain industrial processes, but also from some foods and beverages. Fish often contain significant amounts of methylmercury. Furthermore, there may be high levels of lead and cadmium in dark chocolate. Many other foods and beverages, such as wine, can also contain heavy metals. Heavy metals remain in the body for a long time, sometimes for several years or decades. We suspect that heavy metals cause a range of diseases in humans today.

Mercury has neurotoxic effects that damage nerves both in the brain and in the peripheral nervous system. Exposure to mercury is known to cause, among other things, mood swings, irritability, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, nervousness, insomnia and reduced energy. Note that these symptoms are largely consistent with the symptoms of depression.

Also, lead has neurotoxic effects, mainly affecting the central nervous system (brain). Lead can cause a range of symptoms, including irritability, decreased energy, increased fatigue, difficulty concentrating, memory loss and mood swings. These symptoms are also similar to those of depression. It has been shown that high levels of lead more than double (+130%) the risk of developing depression and quintuple (+490%) the risk of panic disorder. Therefore, giving these patients a substance that lowers heavy metal levels in the blood would be logical.

Cadmium causes a range of neurotoxic effects in the central nervous system. It has also been shown that high blood cadmium levels are associated with depression. Therefore, it would be logical to give also these patients a substance that lowers heavy metal levels in the blood.

Causes of depression

There is much to suggest that depression is caused by one or more heavy metals, and that the disorder should therefore be treated with drugs that excrete heavy metals from the body. Clinical studies are planned with PharmaLundensis’ new, effective and gentle* treatment Phal-501. A good treatment effect could bring relief and cure to the millions of people worldwide suffering from treatment-resistant severe depression.

* Phal-501 is not expected to cause any significant side effects, because the substance never enters the blood. After swallowing of a capsule with Phal-501, it binds heavy metals that are present in the intestine, and is thereafter  excreted directly in the faeces.