The Effects of Phenylethylamine on Caffeine Addicted Planarian 1

Alison Stefansic

Mrs. Nancy Curran

Medical Interventions, 4th period

20 August 2019

The Effects of Phenylethylamine on Caffeine Addicted Planarian

After studying the natural antidepressant, phenylethylamine (PEA), Kaufman R. (2016)

concluded that taking the PEA hormone works as a replacement to “correct an underlying

deficiency or defect in neural transmitter functioning”. Through this study, phenylethylamine

was connected to an increase in cognitive functions and social behavior. Similarly, research by

Ash M. (2010) focused on the PEA hormone’s positive effects on mood due to it being a

neurotransmitter. It was found that in depressed individuals the phenylethylamine rate was

extremely low and upon administration of the PEA drug a “60% increase of depression [was]

relieve[d] in animals” (Ash, 2010). While both articles focus on a natural remedy for depression,

phenylethylamine was introduced to the scientific community as a side-effect free alternative to

many medications. It was found through these researches that the phenylethylamine hormone’s

positive “euphoric” feelings to the user can be altered to treat many life-threatening medical

conditions and diseases. Which suggests that phenylethylamine may have the potential to replace

methadone for drug users during withdrawals. This potential would give the drug users a natural

high while still suppressing withdrawal symptoms.

Promising pharmaceutical medications are often tested on planarian because of their

capabilities to adapt in their environment and relation to neurological research. The Turbellaria

flatwork (planarian) is used to advance researchers knowledge on substance use disorders.

 The Effects of Phenylethylamine on Caffeine Addicted Planarian

According to Forray A. and Sofuoglu M. (2014), “there are no approved pharmacological

treatments for cocaine, methamphetamine and cannabis addiction”. Researchers Sacavage S.,

Patel H., Zielinski M., Acker J., and Phillips A. (2008) studied the effects of withdrawal on

planarian and concluded the behavioral differences based on locomotive activity. Data was

collected from three different drugs - methamphetamine, cocaine and caffeine. With the statistics

from this research, it is now possible to determine when the planarian are experiencing

withdrawals to test phenylethylamine on them to conceal the symptoms of withdrawal. Scientists

drew initial guidelines where planarian were located then marked every time they crossed the

point. By tracking the planarian’s locomotive activity, it was then possible to record behavioral

results to the drug the scientists were testing. While this hypothesis may yield positive results,

data from Janssen P. A., Leyson J., Megens, A., and Awouters F. (2010)’s article conclude that

an excess in phenylethylamine has been linked to mental diseases in particular schizophrenic

disorders. With an excess amount of the PEA hormone results in schizophrenia and a dearth of

PEA causing depression, it is important to moderate the dosage of phenylethylamine the

planarian are given.

While little research has been done on the effects of an excessive amount of

phenylethylamine, it still has proven to suppress depressed individuals symptoms.

Phenylethylamine is a promising, naturally-occurring pharmaceutical that has the opportunity to

expand scientific knowledge on neurological disorders and bring relief to individuals suffering

from mental health issues.

Works Cited
 The Effects of Phenylethylamine on Caffeine Addicted Planarian 3

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_in_planarians.pdf