Posted by sukarno on October 24, 2006, at 10:39:08
In reply to Re: tianeptine with other meds, posted by tessellated on October 14, 2006, at 14:44:20
Tianeptine accelerates the reuptake of serotonin and increases levels of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens and cortex. SSRIs such as Prozac inhibit the reuptake of serotonin and tend to lower dopamine.
Since the action of tianeptine is the opposite of SSRIs, I am not sure that one would receive a satisfactory response when taking it along with an SSRI.
I believe the reason why MAOIs are contraindicated with conventional tricylic antidepressants and SSRIs is because those drugs inhibit the reuptake of serotonin, thus flooding the brain with this excitatory neurotransmitter. Monoamine oxidase breaks down serotonin and dopamine as far as I know, so taking an SSRI or TCA (thus boosting serotonin levels in the brain) and then inhibiting monoamine oxidase so it cannot remove this excess amount would be dangerous.
One would imagine that this may lead to the serotonin syndrome.
With tianeptine though I doubt that MAO inhibition would have much effect. Tianeptine does not cause serotonin syndrome...that's for certain.
poster:sukarno
thread:692490
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061020/msgs/697296.html