Posted by SLS on December 27, 2008, at 14:31:30
In reply to Coffee good or bad in your opinion for anxiety/dep, posted by Phillipa on December 27, 2008, at 12:53:19
> Since coffee has dopamine and is stimulating do you personally find it's good or bad for anxiety/depression. This was brought to my attention by a coffee drinker. Phillipa
>
> http://www.topendsports.com/nutrition/coffee.htm
That's a great article.Caffeine acts on different people differently, although the pharmacology is the same. As is explained in the article, the main action of caffeine is to block adenosine A2a receptors. These are thought to function as calming receptors. So, to block them should allow for more stimulation, as they no longer inhibit catecholaminergic (DA+NE) activity. However, an increase in stimulation is not the same as being anxiogenic, although caffeine certainly can be for some people. It doesn't affect me that way. In the past, any effects of caffeine to enhance dopaminergic neurotransmission have been characterized as being an indirect effect. Actually, the biological activity of caffeine is not well studied nor understood, and I read one study suggesting a more direct effect on dopamine in fruit flies. I would not count on that, though.
My recommendation is for you to simply experiment with it and find out how your own system reacts to it. Some people can't sleep without it.
Caffeine has always been a good tool for me. It gives me more psychic energy and allows me to read and comprehend somewhat more effectively. Amphetamine puts me to sleep.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:871025
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20081223/msgs/871034.html