Posted by chemist on July 11, 2004, at 0:21:41
In reply to Seroquel - don't think so » chemist, posted by barbaracat on July 10, 2004, at 22:59:42
> A question for chemist and a comment on Seroquel. I am bipolar II and have been on every AD on the book, most recently lithium and lamictal. I stopped everything this past January after coming down with SJS and tried to do it au natural. Didn't work and went back on lithium and pharmaceutical grade St. John's Wort and was and was doing great, really good. But sleep has always been a problem, even with Ambien, and I thought to try Seroquel for sleep and any extra therapeutic protection against bipolar depression.
>
> I started with 12.5 mg 4 days ago and am crashing into a vegetative, yet agitated depression since. A very small amount, I know, but I'm tired and jaggy all day PLUS, it has not helped me sleep. I'm afraid to take more considering how strongly I've been affected. I am constantly hungry, hungry, hungry and have gained 7 pounds in 4 days. I just feel yicky, somewhat like my short trial of zyprexa.
>
> Chemist, you mention the histamine blockade with Seroquel. I'm reading that some of us can have disordered histadine/histamine production which can result in depression and paradoxical med effects. Also the affinity to a particular serotonin receptor you mentioned. Now, doesn't Seroquel work in part by reducing dopamine (which could by itself cause a lack of pleasure seeking activity) and doesn't it also reduce serotonin through the affinity with this receptor? I don't get this since reducing serotonin does not seem logical in light of it's touted antidepressant behavior. Reduced serotonin could also explain my haunting the cupboards and fridge prowling for sweets. Normally I could care less for cupcakes and brownies, but I drool at the thought, probably an attempt to increase serotonin. Any comments appreciated. In the meantime, I will drop Seroquel, go back on Ambien and note if I start feeling better. It will be a good test and I will post back with my progress which I hope improves. - BarbaraCat
>
> p.s. BTW, the www.psycheducation.org site is consistently fab, in my book.
hello there, chemist here.....seroquel is an antagonist for several serotonin, histamine, dopamine, and adrenergic receptors. an antagonist inhibits reuptake of the compound that ought to righfully be in the receptor, thus preventing the receptor from doing it's work. hence, you are keeping levels of all of these neurotransmitters high by using seroquel, because seroquel binds to the receptors more tightly than do the ``rightful owners,'' if you will. so actually seroquel acts as a pretty wide-spectrum drug. the extrapyramidal side effects (such as those related to movement) are caused by the same mechanism that the are in patients with Parkinson's disease, in that the dopamine system gets shut down (diminished, perhaps, is a better word) and there is only so much dopamine out in the brain (and this dopamine needs to be replenished and is not geting replenished, thus, movement disorders, among other things). a parting shot: low doses of seroquel make one quite drowsy. higher doses (200 mg-800 mg) are less sedating and more for use in treating psychoses. you might have better luck on 25 or 50 mg, strange as it may seem. please do let me know if your questions have been addressed satisfactorily, i will do my best to provide info should you need it...all the best, chemist
poster:chemist
thread:339744
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040710/msgs/364888.html