Posted by zeugma on March 4, 2006, at 14:45:33 [reposted on March 5, 2006, at 17:22:57 | original URL]
In reply to Re: Yes » zeugma, posted by ed_uk on March 4, 2006, at 13:06:52
> Hi Z :)
>
> >When people withdraw [fixed my own spelling- I took an afternoon dose of Provigil today] from an SSRI the serotonin system is depleted, and they enter REM prematurely, experiencing those 'zap' sensations from cholinergic hypersensitivity, which results from the sudden aminergic weakness.
>
> Some people take diphenhydramine (Benadryl), an antihistamine and anticholinergic, to reduce the symptoms of SSRI withdrawal. I imagine the anticholinergic effect reduces the withdrawal symptoms and the antihistamine effect reduces any insomnia which may be present.
>at one time there was an interest in 'cholinergic probes' to determine if depressives would experience reduced REM latency in response to a cholinergic drug.
although the depressives examined in studies dating back to the 80's exhibited a reduced REM latency generally,even without a cholinergic probe, those with something called 'psychotic depression' would show REM latencies something like mine, ie. latency of less than a minute.
Who knows what these studies and constructs were worth. (Progress has not been made in the study of depression, were those researchers examining blind alleys? I have no idea.)
In any case some still maintain a cholinergic dysregulation exists in depression and/or ADHD. Anticholinergic agents were found to be efficacious in the treatment of REM-associated phenomena in narcolepsy, but as you might imagine, the side effects were not tolerable considering the doses required.
yes, I've heard that Benadryl is a good OTC treatment for SSRI withdrawal. (american Benadryl=diphenhydramine.)
-z
> Warm regards
>
> Ed
>
>
poster:zeugma
thread:616287
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20060228/msgs/616288.html