Posted by ed_uk2010 on August 11, 2010, at 16:00:39
In reply to Re: Should I try Requip?, posted by Dima on August 10, 2010, at 19:51:40
>It seems to me like my dopamine is too low and my serotonin is too high.
Dima, you can't possibly know whether (or not) you have 'low dopamine' or 'high serotonin' (if indeed such conditions actually exist). The causes of psychiatric illness are incredibly complex and involve a multitude of genetic, environmental, social, psychological and even educational factors. It's not generally a case of one or two neurotransmitters being too high or too low. It doesn't work like that.
This form of oversimplification and reductionism doesn't even make sense. What does 'low dopamine' mean?
In which region of the brain is dopamine 'low'?
How can we demonstrate that this is the case?
Is dopamine biosynthesis occuring at the usual rate?
Are we talking about intra-synaptic neurotransmitter levels.... or perhaps intra-neuronal levels?
Are we talking about neurotransmitter turnover?
Is dopamine re-uptake occuring at a higher than normal rate?
Is there an abnormality affecting dopamine release?
Are dopamine receptor densities reduced?
Which dopamine receptors are affected? D1, D2, D3, D4, D5?
When dopamine binds to a receptor, is the usual response occuring?
Are dopaminergic neurons damaged in some way?
Which dopamine 'pathways' are involved? The mesolimbic pathway? The mesocortical pathway? Others?
There are thought to be over 100 different neurotransmitters in the brain, including at least 50 neuropeptides. How would you know that your problems were related to dopamine, rather than one of the others?Do you see what I mean? You cannot possibly know that your mental health problems are due to 'low dopamine'.
>And my dad has Parkinson's, so low Dopamine.
The underlying cause of Parkinson's Disease is not clear. It appears that only a minority of cases are genetic in origin.
I'm not saying that Requip or Mirapex won't help. They might. In particular, they might reduce your restless leg symptoms. All I'm suggesting is that you need to be very careful about making sweeping generalisations about the cause of your illness. The reality of the situation is that the true cause(s) of psychiatric symptoms are never really known. We can only guess. I really think it's important not to get too hung up on any particular theory. The problem with theories is that they can lead you down the wrong path........and discourage the trial of other treatments which might be of benefit, despite not acting directly on the neurotransmitter(s) which you believe to be at fault.Talk of 'low dopamine' is very common on psycho-babble. We hear of babblers wanting to experiment with dopaminergic medications in attempt to relieve their depression, anhedonia, fatigue, lack of motivation and apathy. We have become dopamine obsessed. Whilst we are busy worrying about dopamine, our attention is drawn away from other possible causes or contributing factors to our illness.
Dopamine has undoubtedly become the neurotransmitter du jour!
poster:ed_uk2010
thread:957858
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100811/msgs/958266.html