Posted by CLAIREZ on August 3, 2001, at 6:23:34
In reply to Re: Q for JohnL: So...why's Prozac so different?, posted by JohnL on July 31, 2001, at 4:57:03
> > You've said more than a few times recently that Prozac's way different from the other drugs in its class, and maybe shouldn't even be grouped with the rest of the SSRIs. I was wondering if you (or anyone else) could explain, in as much detail as you can (I think I've got a pretty good understanding of the current thinking in psychopharm for a layperson) why you think that. I'm curious, although I don't mean to imply that I disagree.
> >
> > Thanks, and I look forward to the discussion.
> >
> > -pm
>
> I have read about the intricate details of how the different SSRIs affect different receptors in the brain. I mean, they all raise serotonin levels, but there is other stuff going on. It's that other stuff that makes the difference. In that other stuff category, I have to admit to you I do not understand it. But I do know that it is quite different than what the other SSRIs do. In layman terms for example, while other SSRIs might dull or shut down certain receptors, Prozac stimulates them and opens them up. Technically speaking, this is far from accurate. But in layman terms, it goes something like that.
>
> Usually when someone considers how Prozac is different than other SSRIs, they refer to its long half life. But that's not what I'm talking about, and may or may not be relevent to anything. At a molecular level, Prozac just does stuff that the others don't.
>
> Hopefully someone else here with more technical expertise can jump in and explain it better.
> JohnJohn: I have a question as you seem familiar with Prozac - though a question re:PMS maybe you've read something informative. I take Wellbutrin and have tried multiple other meds (serzone, prozac, buspar) at other times but have found them not quite what I needed or with odd side effects relative usually to "control". However, I do suffer as many do from awful moods periodically; can I combine prozac as its prescribed as Serafem along with Wellbutrin? Isn't the concept of prescribing serafem for 2 weeks a month for PMS as sort of odd?
Curious as to your opinions.
Thanks.
CLAIREZ
poster:CLAIREZ
thread:72515
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010731/msgs/73279.html