Posted by Adam on December 17, 1999, at 3:27:56
In reply to Re: Marplan and insomnia (or something), posted by Elizabeth on December 16, 1999, at 21:51:54
Well, of possible relevance to this thread (and my own obvious problems with
insomnia, given that it's about 4:00 AM EST and I'm wide awake)...I've been reading up on beta-adrenergic receptor mediated control of melatonin
production. I was aware that the pineal gland was involved in regulating circadean
rhythms, but I was not aware of diurnal changes is norepinepherine levels, and
how this periodic increase and decrease in NE controled melatonin production,
and hence, rhythmic sleep patterns.Research has shown that beta-blockers can interfere with this process by inhibiting
NE signalling (beta-adrenoreceptors on the pineal gland regulate the expression of
5-HT-N-acetyltransferase). Both 1 and 2 beta-ad. receptors are likely involved.Perhaps this is a partial explanation for this shift in sleep patterns and food
cravings: your body can't tell night from day as well as before. Could well-timed
use of melatonin plus Ambien help reset your clock and get at least some sleep while
on pindolol and Marplan? Is such an approach safe? It seems for people who have
had sleep distrubances related to shifts in sleep patterns, melatonin can help at
least with the timing, if dosed properly.I'm kind of interested in what you think of melatonin, Elizabeth, if it's not too
much trouble.Also, a paper on the molecular mechanisms of NE-regulated melatonin production in
the pineal gland is here, if you are interested...http://www.biomednet.com/library/fulltext/JNRB.nb8523
I had no problem reading it from home.
poster:Adam
thread:16983
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19991212/msgs/17046.html