Posted by Larry Hoover on March 1, 2006, at 12:02:15
In reply to Re: provigil mechanism of action?, posted by SLS on March 1, 2006, at 7:17:55
> Most of the excitatory neurons in the brain use glutamate as their neurotransmitter. Glutamate should not be made to look like a scourge. You can't live without it. That a drug like modafinil raises levels of extracellular glutamate might not necessarily translate to neurotoxicity. I haven't really studied this issue well enough to speak with confidence.
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> Interestingly, some regions of the brain demonstrate overactivity in depression. Perhaps glutamate antagonists help to reduce this.
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> - ScottI just want to point out that the most direct antagonist of glutamate is taurine. In every glutaminergic synapse, there are also dedicated taurine reuptake pumps. Taurine is always released with glutamate. Sometimes, though, the balance is not comfortable.
It is blessedly simple to dampen glutamate signalling. Taurine readily crosses the blood/brain barrier. Oral doses are efficacious in minutes.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:612884
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060227/msgs/614636.html