Posted by phidippus on September 16, 2012, at 22:33:33
In reply to alcohol, meds, posted by gman22 on September 15, 2012, at 17:55:57
What alcohol can and does do to your brain is affect the way your neurons get their firing triggers from glutamate. It infiltrates the glutamate receptors in your synapses, hurting their ability to send off their normal "fire" messages. Alcohol has this impact all across your brainthe parts that control muscles, speech, coordination, judgment, and so on. Keep that in mind the next time you or someone else claims that they drive, golf, or otherwise perform some task better with alcohol's help.
A recent theory, supported by several researchers, pins alcohol's effect on voltage and ligand-gated ion channels that control neuronal activity. Two distinct ligand-gated channels have been identified, inhibitory ones (GABA receptors and strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors) and excitatory ones (N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA glutamate-activated channels and the 5HT3 subtype of serotonin receptors).
The inhibitory aspect occurs due to a hyperpolarization of neurons, secondary to an influx of chloride ions. The neuron becomes less likely to achieve the threshold membrane potential. The excitatory receptor is dependent on the NMDA and non-NMDA glutamate receptors that control the influx of sodium and calcium, which bind to endogenous neurotransmitters (glutamate or aspartate) and depolarize the neuronal membrane. The NMDA receptor seems to have a high permiability to calcium, which acts as a catalyst to several intracellular events.
Chronic exposure to alcohol seems to alter the NMDA receptors and this may play a role in the clinical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. In vitro studies have demonstrated an increase in the binding sites for MK801 (dizocilpine) in neurons chronically exposed to alcohol. This rise may account for the acclimation process, in which greater concentrations of alcohol are needed to cause experimental and clinical symptoms of intoxication. NMDA can cause seizure activity. Mice that have been exposed to chronically elevated levels of alcohol reveal increased numbers of NMDA receptors and NMDA related seizure activity. The NMDA antagonist MK801 has been shown to decrease the severity of seizures in these mice during withdrawal. Through a complex process of cell membrane ion pumps and neurotransmitter stimulation, the multi-faceted effects of alcohol and alcohol withdrawal are becoming better understood.
studies with animals show that high doses of alcohol lead to a disruption in the growth of new brain cells; scientists believe it may be this lack of new growth that results in the longterm deficits found in key areas of the brain (such as hippocampal structure and function)
Brain Structure affected:
Frontal Lobe (A) Loss of reason, caution, inhibitions, sociability, talkativeness and intelligence
Parietal Lobe (B) Loss of fine motor skills, slower reaction time, shaking
Temporal Lobe (C) Slurred speech, impaired hearing Occipital Lobe (D) Blurred vision, poor distance judgement
Cerebellum (E) Lack of muscle coordination and balance
Brain Stem (F) Loss of vital functionsAlcohol can increases the risk and intensity of some of the side effects associated with SSRIs. Though there have been many different side effects reported during the use of SSRIs, most are infrequent, but some are more common and even expected. Here is a quick list of the side effects of SSRIs that can be heightened by alcohol use.
Clouded Judgment
Drowsiness
Slowed Reflexes
Suicidal ThoughtsAlcohol can interfere with the SSRI as it attempts to treat your depression. Alcohol is a depressant and SSRIs are anti-depressants, so it doesn't make sense to combine the two.
Most physicians who prescribe SSRIs do not know that alcohol also increases the level of serotonin in the brain which may cause essentially too much seretonin in the brain. This is called the "serotonin syndrome " which can be very dangerous physically and mentally.
Eric
poster:phidippus
thread:1025736
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120912/msgs/1025837.html