Posted by Cressida on March 16, 2002, at 22:22:03
In reply to Re: General Remeron Questions, posted by Else on March 13, 2002, at 22:04:19
But I wonder... Effexor and Remeron are both supposed to act on serotonin AND noradrenaline
(as far as I know). What makes them so different? I know Remeron has anti-histamine properties and doesn't block all the serotonin receptors that
effexor does but still... It makes me think there are two different disorders present./////////////////////////////////////////////////
I have not read the follow-up threads on this post, so hopefully I'm not repeating anything. The following is from a referenece book on psychiatric drugs, "Psychotropic Drugs, 3rd Edition" by Keltner and Folks:
On Effexor - "Venlafaxine is a structurally novel antidepressant that causes clinically significant inhibition of serotonin and norepinephren reuptake. It is a weak inhibitor of dopamine reuptake at higher dosages. It is unique, promoting rapid onset of noradrenergic subsensitivity and acts as an atypical serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Venlafaxine has no impact on alpha-adrenergic, histaminergic, or cholinergic receptors."
On Remeron - "Mirtazapine is a reletively new antidepressant, demonstrating efficacy over placebo in several clinical studies. As with many of the other atypical new-generation antidepressants, mirtazapine is devoid of side effects often observed with the classical TCAs or the second-generation SSRIs. Mirtazapine has a unique structure and mechanism of action, different from that of TCAs, SSRIs, and MAOIs, and could be best described as a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant. Mirtazapine is a 5HT2 antagonist, or blocking agent, similar to nefazodone, but is also a potent and direct alpha-2-adrenoreceptor antagonist, causing enhancement of both noradrenergic and serotonergic transmission."
Just FYI...So, did you already know this??? Hopefully not all of it! Take care and best wishes...
poster:Cressida
thread:1924
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020313/msgs/98360.html