Posted by zeugma on August 6, 2004, at 9:35:07
In reply to Re: Why stay away from dopaminergics? » linkadge, posted by KaraS on August 6, 2004, at 8:34:34
So you weren't kidding on the alternate board when you said that you think you have brain damage from all of the meds you've taken...
Now you've got me wondering whether my anergic/low dopamine symptoms are a result of long-term Effexor use.
Kara,
What sort of symptoms led you to take Effexor in the first place? No anergia or apathy?
Linkadge,
What sort of reaction do you have to caffeine? Caffeine has been shown to be neuroprotective, probably because of the indirect dopamine stimulation. Another possibility is provigil, which is also neuroprotective. I read parts of Glenmullen's book and though he exaggerates there is a very real possibilty of dystonias and other Parkinson's-like symptoms on SSRI's. But I think that the potential for neurological damage on SSRI's might depend on the nature of the dysfunction you are treating.
For example, I read a study in which fluoxetine attenuated cocaine-induced positive responding in rats, suggesting that fluoxetine interfered with dopaminergic-mediated responses. But in rats that suffered from an animal model of depression, fluoxetine had an opposite effect. the authors of the study concluded that fluoxetine's effects on dopamine were at least partially dependent on the 'hedonic set-point' of the animal.
I read the post that Kara referred to on the alternate board where you said you had brain damage. I think that this is a symptom of depression interfering with self-perception. A lot of times I feel like I damaged my brain from avoiding meds for many years.
-z
poster:zeugma
thread:373385
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040805/msgs/374648.html