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Newsweek Article - new drugs

Posted by Bill L on January 8, 2002, at 14:56:16

The recent special double issue of Newsweek has an interesting article on new antidepressants being tested. The magazine is not dated. It has a graphic of September 11 on the cover. The researchers anticipate that the new drugs may eventually replace the SSRI's and other current drugs.

The new drugs block cortisol. Cortisol is thought to cause shrinkage of a part of the brain known as the hippocampus. (I used to think that was a college for hippos). Autopsies show diminished hippocampuses (or is it hippocampi?) in depressed people. The idea is that the cortisol blocking drug will work better than current drugs with less side effects.

There are other drugs that could more directly prevent shrinkage of the neurons in the brain but these drugs taken orally cannot be absorbed. Also, even if injected, they cannot cross the blood brain barrier. The corisol blocking drug however can be taken orally.

This new drug caused less depression in rats. If you read the article it goes into detail of how one measures depression in rats. Apparently depressed rats drown more easily than happy rats.


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poster:Bill L thread:89332
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020103/msgs/89332.html