Posted by hyperfocus on September 4, 2011, at 17:14:55
In reply to Re: Do antidepressants alter dopamine for the worse? (nm), posted by Michaelho on September 4, 2011, at 13:52:18
A lot of psych drugs can cause apathy and anhedonia - a loss of response to normally pleasurable or gratifying things like hobbies, movies, books, social interactions etc. This is what I think people mean when they talk about 'lowering dopamine'. But it's really not that simple. It's way way way more complex than just altering one neurotransmitter. Anyway SSRIs have a reputation for doing this which can persist after ending treatment, called Post-SSRI syndrome. But not TCAs. I never really read a report here of people experiencing anhedonia on Elavil. The usual unwanted effects, apart from the yucky TCA sleepiness and dry mouth and cognitive effects etc., is agitation and anger.
How much Elavil are you taking? What's your diagnosis?
C-PTSD: social phobia, major depression, dissociation.
Currently: 300mg amitriptyline single dose at night.
Also: Allegra, 1000mg Vitamin C.
Improving.
poster:hyperfocus
thread:995799
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110902/msgs/995845.html