Posted by linkadge on March 6, 2006, at 16:33:31
In reply to Re: SSRIs and the heart » linkadge, posted by Larry Hoover on March 6, 2006, at 10:54:26
Well, first of all, the cocoa has been a very positive experience. I have a few of my own gold standards; omega 3 is probably at the top followed closely by cocoa.
As far as antidepressants on cardiac function I am not suggesting that I know the answer. We do know that a few studies have linked the TCA's to increased mortality esp. in patients with pre-existing arythmia.
I think it is necessary to keep an open mind to all possabilities. For instance, SSRI's are sometimes used in IBS, but they can also cause increased rates of GI bleeding etc.
Like I mentioned above, SSRI's will eventually lead to an increased release of serotonin. The 5-ht2b receptors have been implicated in fenfluramine induced cardiac events (a metabolite is actualy a 5-ht2b agonist).
Nevertheless, an SSRI increasing agonism at all serotonin receptors, can induce an array of side effects including sexual function (overactivation of 5-ht2c) psychic anxiety (overactivation of 5-ht2a), may indeed increase the likelyhood of cardiac problems (overactivation of 5-ht2b).
http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/nm/journal/v8/n10/full/nm764.html
As a side note...
Yes, I know. Chocolate may increase PEA, and increased PEA may lead to paranoid psychosis. :)Linkadge
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