Posted by Questionmark on April 9, 2003, at 0:37:12
In reply to Re: Cortisol » Dave1, posted by Pfinstegg on April 8, 2003, at 21:04:00
... and meds:
Honestly now-- this really concerns me-- i understand that depression and anxiety and the associated high cortisol levels can damage the brain (esp. the hippocampus [?]), but do you think that any medications can as well (even those to COMBAT depression/ anxiety)? i mean excitotoxicity is a major means by which brain cells die (esp in the hippo.) right? So if certain drugs elevate neurotransmitter levels too high then can this be damaging? (Particularly maybe with a glutamatergic drug like modafinil cuz glutamate excitoxicity in the hippocampus seems to be a common means of neuronal death[?]) --Or heck with any psychoactive med though.? And like with alcohol i think the main way it kills brain cells is because at first it enhances GABA transmission and thereby decreases glutamate release, and then there is a rebound excess release of glutamate as the alcohol is eliminated. So could benzodiazepines possibly cause brain damage as well?
i have read articles discussing whether SSRIs can kill serotonergic neurons and whether amphetamines (or at least meth) can kill dopaminergic neurons. This may not have been proven but it hasn't been disproven either has it? i am concerned. And i CERtainly believe that antidepressant (or what have you) withdrawal can damage the brain and probably really elevate cortisol/stress levels. Ever since coming off Paxil a few months ago i've felt that my mind just hasn't been working right-- like seriously, i can't come up with words, my memory is just horRENdous, and, ah i dunno, i just can't think. (i am currently not on any meds.) Many docs would probably just attribute this to the depression and relapse (er relapse- worsening) from Paxil. But i think that very often what they call RELAPSE is much more a factor of WITHDRAWAL (or just plain due to withdrawal). Relapse my ass.
i'm sorry this is so dam* long. But please provide some of your thoughts on this stuff.
poster:Questionmark
thread:215282
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030407/msgs/217670.html