Posted by not exactly on February 8, 2003, at 13:00:09
In reply to Re: hey Bob heres a theory !! » not exactly, posted by LAURA777 on February 8, 2003, at 7:20:49
> I have a theory...
> do you think that my brain converts dopamine right to norepinephrineAn interesting theory. I wonder if the source of this theory is my recent post [http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030204/msgs/140070.html] when I suggested: "One possibility is an overzealous enzyme that's converting every bit of dopamine it can find into norepinephrine."
> i remeber in a previous post you had mentioned that cocaine has little to do with NE .. i disagree .. the stimulant effect is directly related to NE .. don't you think ..
I didn't say (or intend to imply) that. Cocaine is a potent dopamine reuptake inhibitor, and a somewhat less potent (tho nevertheless still fairly strong) norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Its stimulant effect results from both of these actions. The way I stated it in my previous post [http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030204/msgs/139371.html] was "...cocaine has no direct effect on serotonin (it is generally understood to be a reuptake inhibitor of dopamine, and to a lesser extent NE)..."
> also cocaine is a NE agonist , and my suspicion is it quickly converts to epinephrine , hence the paranoia , because they say the epinephrine is in invovled in fight or flight
Cocaine is not really an "NE agonist" in the strict sence of the term. An NE agonist would directly stimulate NE receptors instead of (even in the absence of) actual NE. This is not how cocaine affects NE receptors. It only blocks NE reuptake, resulting in higher NE levels. The receptors are then stimulated by this additional NE, not by the cocaine itself.
But this "excess" NE in the brain synapses would not be "convered" to systemic (outside the brain) epinephrine. Systemic epinephrine is synthesized and released by the adrenal gland (hence the name "adrenaline") [see http://arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/adrenal/medhormones.html].
> any addiction in your family ???
Just me. I had an alcohol problem many years ago when I started drinking excessively in response to a very stressful job situation. Fortunately, my abusive boss got the axe and I was able to wean myself off. I don't drink at all now.
- Bob
poster:not exactly
thread:138954
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030208/msgs/140156.html