Posted by King Vultan on September 9, 2004, at 14:16:30
In reply to how do ritalin and cocaine differ ?, posted by linkadge on September 9, 2004, at 14:01:41
> Aren't they both reputake inhibitors of dopamine.
>
> I guess my real question is: how is cocaine addictive if it is just a reputake inhibitor of dopamine, isn't wellbutrin a reputake inhibitor of dopamine? it isn't addictive.
>
>
> LinkadgeWellbutrin isn't, I believe, because it is so weak compared to the stimulants you mention. Cocaine OTH is a powerful inhibitor of dopamine reuptake and also has actions at both the norepinephrine and serotonin transporters. According to Stahl in "Essential Psychopharmacology", "it may actually release dopamine (or norepinephrine or serotonin) by reversing neurotransmitter out of the presynaptic neuron via the monoamine transporters."
He talks about Ritalin possibly being able to do the same thing with the dopamine transporter, but I'm assuming one of the differences in abuse potential between it and cocaine (which are both Schedule II controlled substances BTW) is that Ritalin, again, is not as powerful as cocaine at blocking dopamine reuptake. I believe cocaine may also be somewhat faster acting.
Todd
poster:King Vultan
thread:388746
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040909/msgs/388754.html