Posted by zinya on July 25, 2003, at 14:48:23
In reply to Re: Side Effects: why? (For you scientific types), posted by catachrest on July 25, 2003, at 11:22:25
Well, i'm no physiologist but i'll take a stab: I think it's because the drug is a chemical that targets our serotonin, an essential catalyst or something in our daily functioning and presumably, i guess, if in fact we need a serotonin-related drug to "correct" an imbalance we may have, that imbalance is probably one our body has adapted to over a long period of time, and because it -- like hormones too -- affects so much throughout our bodies, things that have adapted to getting by sort of 'on crutches' trying to compensate for a deficiency (of serotonin-processors?), our bodies can react in different ways as it tries to readjust back to normal. In some cases, the same side effects could be because the person didn't really have a serotonin problem and the body may be trying to reject it. I think that's why you have to wait a while (days or weeks) to see over time if the body adjust in a positive way and we start to feel better or if we just keep feeling only the bad side effects.
Similarly, Effexor also works on norepinephrine as well as serotonin, so there's two different systems in our bodies making adjustments though apparently at the beginning it's mostly the serotonin effects we feel first. But then, if i understand correctly, the norepinephrine affects our adrenal system, and obviously adrenalin levels affect all kinds of reactions in our bodies too.
Well, that's about all i can take a stab at, and maybe this isn't what you meant. If somebody knows better or has another idea, please speak up!
:)
zinya
poster:zinya
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030723/msgs/245237.html