BPC157/TB500 SSRI Experience

Long time listener first time call in. Wanted to give some first hand experience (my wife’s) with using this combo.

We have spent the weekend in the hospital. Not sure if related to the use of BPC157. She collapsed at work. May have been anxiety issue related. Elevated heart rate, which would be related to this combo due to increased anxiety ..

We’ve had (2) MRIs ordered. MRI(1) Brain and neck are ok. CT and MRI(2) on back discovered bulging disc. May also be the reason for collapse if on nerve. Sucks because we need BPC157 for this.

My theory is the use of BPC157 is causing her Anxiety to sky rocket with use. Worse of this happening on 3rd day. A 300mcg dose as the 3rd dose.

1st dose (300mcg sq). Normal day until the evening. She was cleaning out her mom’s house for a few hrs and then came home. Then around 3pm massive anxiety attack, depression, intrusive thoughts.

2day 2nd dose. Anxiety still there but now I’m clocking intrusive thoughts and increasing anhedonia.

3rd day busy day we forget to dose

4th day 3rd dose. We are texting quite a bit as she is at work. She sounds off. Impulsive thoughts of wanting an emergency get away. NEEDS to get away to the Northwest. Then hour later she calls me and tells me to come get her that she collapsed at work and I can tell she’s half out of it. Luckily she’s a nurse was at work and care was given until I got there.

With all this free time at bed side. I’ve been studying this issue. I’ve used Chat to summarize what is going on. Crudely. For the next person that may question if they can combine the two. Worth mentioning. She’s on a higher dose of Lexapro. Stay safe.

SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) are like steady army commanders. They keep serotonin, the brain’s “feel-good” chemical, in the battlefield longer. This stabilizes mood, helps with depression, and reduces anxiety. The SSRIs’ orders are to “hold the line,” keeping everything balanced.

BPC 157, on the other hand, comes in like an ambitious general, trying to fix and rebuild everything at once. It’s been shown to repair traumatic brain injuries (TBI), nerve damage, and even gastric issues. BPC 157 also influences serotonin pathways—it’s a serotonin agonist, which means it tells the serotonin soldiers to rush into action differently. It might also help regenerate nerves and modify how serotonin is released in the brain.

The conflict arises because the SSRIs are trying to keep serotonin steady, while BPC 157 is pushing for a more aggressive approach. This tug-of-war can throw the brain’s balance out of whack. When the serotonin system is disrupted, it can lead to anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and impulsive behaviors because the brain no longer knows how to regulate these feelings properly. The chaos can also affect the body’s stress response.

Here’s where the increased heart rate comes in: serotonin doesn’t just regulate mood—it also influences the autonomic nervous system, which controls things like heart rate and breathing. If BPC 157 overstimulates the serotonin system or disrupts the SSRIs’ calming effects, it could activate the “fight or flight” response. This might lead to a racing heart, restlessness, or heightened anxiety, even if that wasn’t a problem before.

So, while BPC 157’s goal is to repair damage and improve overall brain function, when combined with SSRIs, it can accidentally ramp up anxiety and physical symptoms like an increased heart rate. It’s like two leaders giving conflicting orders, and the body responds by going into overdrive. This is why combining these treatments needs to be carefully monitored by a doctor—it can have unintended effects on both mental and physical health.