Posted by bleauberry on February 18, 2008, at 20:15:04
In reply to Seroquel - is it a serotonin antagonist?, posted by jms600 on February 15, 2008, at 16:36:48
It's complicated to try to explain, and frankly even the most educated explanation of any human falls short of how complicated the brain is. But very basically, the blockage of those receptors can do two things. It can stimulate the release of more neurotransmitters, and it can mute the effects of those extra neurotransmitters at the receptors that cause side effects, but not so much at the receptors are desired for mood improvement. More potential antidepressant action while minimizing side effects of other drugs at the same time.
Antipsychotics are often used to augment antidepressants. The more common ones I've seen in literature and here are prozac plus zyprexa, lexapro plus risperdal, and effexor plus risperdal. Seroquel is used probably more than any of the others for insomnia, but at higher doses can add some antidepressant augmentation as well.
Mileage varies. One person will feel better. Another will get akathisia or sedation. Another will feel worse. Despite all the theory we try to explain, the only true test is to take the doses and see what happens.
> I have been reading on the net that Seroquel is a serotonin antagonist. Can, therefore, Seroquel interfere with the action of antidepressants such as the SSRIs??
poster:bleauberry
thread:812957
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080207/msgs/813503.html