Posted by JohnX on October 11, 2001, at 15:28:27
In reply to Anybody tried clonidine (Catapres) for depression?, posted by SLS on October 11, 2001, at 10:15:06
> Drugs like Remeron that block NE alpha-2 receptors seem to make my depression worse. I'm wondering if a drug like clonidine would help. It does the opposite of Remeron. It stimulates NE alpha-2 receptors.
>
> Any comments are appreciated.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
> - ScottScott,
What makes you believe that the alpha-2 antagonism
is causing depression. The alpha-2 receptor causes
inhibition of norepinephrine release. Generally
blocking alpha-2 is an anti-depressant. At high
doses, buspar is a good alpha-2 antagonist and it
is believed by some people that this explains its
high dose anti-depressant activity more so that
its serotonin properties.If anything, I may guess the anti-histamine in
Remeron could make you feel tired and depressed.Clonodine is good for anxiety and impulsiveness
(add) and to help with benzo detox. But its actions
statistically would lean more towards depressing
than anti-depressing (unless its anti-anxiety effect
lifts psychological barriers). Clonodine will
inhibit firing of norepinephrine neurons in the
locus coerulus (LC - (spelled right?) area of the brain.
Generally this relieves anxiety. The alpha-2 antagonism increases
firing in the LCrea. People who
have been traumatized (PTSD) often have messed up
feed back mechanisms in the locus coerulus due
to repeated hyperstimulation. There are some
anti-depressants that reduce firing rates in the
LC , one is wellbutrin, wellbutrin releaves anxiety
for some (like me) but makes others jittery.
Another option would be Tenex (guanfacine), this
is a clean alpha-2 agonist with a longer half-life
than clonodine, but it doesnt block the post
synaptic alpha-1 receptor like clonodine.
Anyways, clonodine and tenex have been shown
to be effective adjuncts to anti-depressants in
people with ADD or PTSD.Hope this helps and is not too confusing.
Unfortunately,
I tend to confuse people with information
overload.-john
poster:JohnX
thread:80969
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011007/msgs/81001.html