Posted by OldSchool on March 13, 2002, at 22:37:12
In reply to Re: Dopamine » IsoM, posted by Bob on March 13, 2002, at 22:02:18
> > I really agree with Old School's idea about dopamine depletion. Dopamine seems to be at the root of the changing face of depression over the years (especially after AD treatment) in depressed people. For me, I find that something that boosts my dopamine levels (or whatever it does to change their expression) works much better in me now than any simple AD.
>The reason is the war on drugs. Pharmaceutical companies dont want to go there and develop dopaminergic antidepressants for legal/liability reasons. See, the drug companies are afraid that if they create ADs which are heavily dopaminergic, they might become drugs of abuse. Many of the illegal drugs of abuse cause a sudden spike or surge in dopamine, which is extremely pleasureable (cocaine, crack, amphetamines).
The other reason has to do with the fact dopaminergic meds might be worse at causing mania or inducing psychosis...again its a liability thing more than anything.
Presently in the USA, if you want a dopaminergic antidepressant you are basically limited to the older MAOIs. Stimulants like Ritalin can be used also as can parkinsons drugs like Mirapex or Amantadine. But these can be troublesome to work with and have bad side effects. Really, all thats available for depression is MAOIs.
There was an antidepressant marketed briefly back in the eighties called Nomifensine. It was extremely dopaminergic and a lot of people really liked it. It was supposed to be great for retarded depression, severe depression, etc. Sadly it was recalled by the FDA. It was the only real true dopaminergic antidepressant ever fielded in the USA besides the MAOIs.
Oh yeah...ECT increases dopamine a lot. ECT has off label anti-parkinsons properties. Its pretty weird that the two best treatments for severe depression...MAOIs and ECT...are both heavily dopaminergic. Kinda tells ya something maybe huh?
Old School
poster:OldSchool
thread:97638
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020313/msgs/97874.html