Posted by cache-monkey on April 9, 2007, at 18:45:28
In reply to Re: RLS, Akathisia + Dopamine D-2 receptors?, posted by hgi698 on April 9, 2007, at 17:51:35
<< I think that ssri's can reduce the firing of dopaminergic neurons leading to a reduction in dopamine levels and signaling via the D2 receptor. This alone would cause the akathisia. After a few weeks it would be expected that your D2 receptors would upregulate to compensate for the decreased dopamine. I think this upregulation would tend to improve the akathisia because its your brain's mechanism to maintain homeostasis. >>
Thanks for the input! I believe I follow what you're saying. But, I'm wondering what happens when the SSRI is removed. You have all the extra receptors and then dopamine levels go back to normal.
I would think that they then get hyper-stimulated. I would suspect that in most people there ends up being down-regulation and homeostasis is achieved once again. But, I'm wondering if in some susceptible individuals the receptors get stuck being super-sensitive, like in TD. I'm wondering if that would lead to anxiety and an alternative type of akathisia-like experience.
Thoughts?
~cache-monkey
poster:cache-monkey
thread:747867
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070407/msgs/748540.html