Posted by falconman on April 9, 2003, at 19:13:02
In reply to Re: Thanks for the advice but are..., posted by mambo on April 9, 2003, at 9:26:14
> Hi Mark,
>
> thanks for the reply, are MAOI's addictive, if not what is the difference between those and SSRI's are they more effective in relieving depression, I was diagnosed with bi-polar, but they are not entirely sure because they think that the manic episode may have been caused by stress ans smoking weed. (Which I havent smoked since (1 year). I dont have any other signs of manic depression either so who knows? I have had long term depression which I find totally annoying, and I am finding extremely hard to shift.
>
> Cheers
> AndyHi Andy,
MAOI's are not addictive, they just work in a different way to SSRI's. The idea behind all antidepressants is to increase the availability of certain chemicals (neurotransmiters) in parts of the brain. These are released into small 'gaps' between cells in the nervous system where they act to aid communication between cells. After a neurotransmiter (eg. Seretonin, dopamine, neuradrenaline)has been used a significant amount is reabsorbed back from the 'gap' into a cell from where it was released, or broken down. The idea is to interfere with one of these processes in some way so that chemicals stay in the 'gap' for longer therefore increasing their availability and ability to communicate.
Selective seretonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI's) block seretonin from being re-absorbed back into a cell, whereas MAOI's stop seretonin, neuradrenaline and dopamine from being broken down. So both types of antidepressants increase the amount of neurotransmiters in the 'gap', they just go about it in different ways and effect different types.
Alot of people can try several different SSRI's with limited/no success. MAOI's can often help these people alot and be much more effective, but are rarely used as a first line of therapy. This is because potentially they can be dangerous if they interact with certain foods eg. mature cheeses. If you follow certain dietry restrictions and keep to the reconmended dose they are very safe to use.
If SSRI's are the only antidepressants you've tried it could be a good idea to try a different type like an MAOI. There are actually many other pharmacological avenues that could help also, and you shouldn't have to put up with long term resistant depression!
Although this is very simplistic, symptoms such as lack of drive/motivation/sex drive/numbness are often associated more with a lack of dopamine and neuradrenaline rather than seretonin. Therefore considering the symptoms you said your experiencing, and because you haven't found satisfactory relief from an SSRI, it seems reasonable that taking a drug which will increase levels of dopamine and/or neuradrenaline could give you much better results.
There are several people on this message board that found SSRI's completely inaffective and have been 'rescued' by an MAOI.
Peace
Mark
poster:falconman
thread:217726
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030407/msgs/218001.html