Posted by scott-d-o on January 28, 2004, at 1:00:41
In reply to Re: Do anti-psychotics act on dopamine the same as » scott-d-o, posted by Karen Moore on January 27, 2004, at 22:31:41
> OK, I'm asking, "how do you know"??!! I've been on Seroquel for years, initially it was the only thing that kept me from tearing my head off during mixed mania (which was triggered by Effexor, I had know idea it was mania then...). Now I take it for sleep, nothing else works, but I suspect overall it may be making me worse. I have comorbid ADD which I highly doubt is helped by the Seroquel. I strongly suspect my dopamine system is a wreck and now I'm beginning to wonder if Seroquel has made it worse....But without it I don't sleep and end up again in dysphoric mania!
> Thanks for your posts,
> KM
>hey karen,
the fact that seroquel alleviated your effexor-induced mania does not suprise me, since it is a alpha-1 adrenergic antagonist. mania is usually caused by an excess of norepinephrine, of which effexor blocks it's reuptake into presynaptic neurons. central alpha-1 adrenergic receptors are postsynaptic and central alpha-2 adrenergic receptors are presynaptic. therefore, the alpha-1 antagonism of seroquel blunted your brains response to the increase norepinephrine from effexor.
I agree the effects of seroquel on your dopaminergic system at that dose cannot be helpful. Surely there is another drug out there that will help you sleep. I assume you've already tried benzos, ambien, sonata?
If your insomnia does not respond to gaba potentiating meds then what about trazodone? It acts solely via serotonin receptors.
If seroquel is the only thing that keeps you sane while on effexor, than perhaps you should not be on effexor. Are you taking the effexor for ADD? Do you have the same manic reaction to stimulants?
scott
poster:scott-d-o
thread:306217
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040127/msgs/306297.html