Posted by Michael Bell on July 16, 2004, at 12:45:38
In reply to Alcohol - an equivalent?, posted by CindyLou on July 14, 2004, at 14:31:45
Alcohol has effects on many transmitter and hormonal systems. Primarily, it potentiates GABA while at the same time stimulating the mu-opioid receptors and releasing dopamine. This seemingly contradictory action is probably what makes two or three drinks stimulating yet calming at the same time (as far as anxiety is concerned).
Combining a benzo + mu-opioid agonist + stimulant will probably mimic some of the positive effects of alcohol, but alcohol affects so many systems that, even today, there is no drug out there that perfectly replicates it.
poster:Michael Bell
thread:366129
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040714/msgs/366861.html