Posted by zeugma on November 1, 2006, at 8:14:33
In reply to Re: nicotine » zeugma, posted by linkadge on November 1, 2006, at 7:21:08
> Nicotine acts as a kind of presynaptic 5-ht1a autoreceptor agonist. It decreases hippocampal serotonin, and serotonin firing in the DRN. This is the supposed mechanism for its anti-anxiety effects.>>
This is very interesting, since one of the reasons REM activity declines sharply from birth to adulthood is postulated to be the stimulation of 5HT 1A receptors.
One of the cardinal symptoms of major depression is increased REM activity. A study of nortriptyline responders vs. nonresponders found that the difference between the two groups was that the responders had downregulated presynaptic 5HT 1A receptors, while nonresponders did not.
I have often felt like my baseline is a state of antidepressant withdrawal (hypercholinergic activity, zero REM latency). maybe it's better described as a state of constant nicotine withdrawal?
-z
>
> Linkadge
poster:zeugma
thread:699037
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061028/msgs/699541.html