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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linkadge on September 11, 2004, at 15:38:44
How is it that two, totally opposite mechanisms of a drug can provide antidepressant properties. Drugs like modafanil cause a release of glutamate and have antidepressant properties. On the other hand, drugs like riluzole reduce glutamate activity and have antidepressant properties.
I'm confused
Linkadge
Posted by TheOutsider on September 11, 2004, at 16:55:23
In reply to glutamate inhibitors, glutamate releasers, posted by linkadge on September 11, 2004, at 15:38:44
> How is it that two, totally opposite mechanisms of a drug can provide antidepressant properties. Drugs like modafanil cause a release of glutamate and have antidepressant properties. On the other hand, drugs like riluzole reduce glutamate activity and have antidepressant properties.
>
> I'm confused
>
> LinkadgeI don't have any scientific evidence to back this up, its just a theory!
Perhapse different kinds of depression could be related to both a shortage, and an overabundance of glutimate.
Maybe anxious depressives have to much glutamate, and lethargic depressives have to little? Just an idea
Posted by SLS on September 11, 2004, at 17:16:06
In reply to glutamate inhibitors, glutamate releasers, posted by linkadge on September 11, 2004, at 15:38:44
> How is it that two, totally opposite mechanisms of a drug can provide antidepressant properties. Drugs like modafanil cause a release of glutamate and have antidepressant properties. On the other hand, drugs like riluzole reduce glutamate activity and have antidepressant properties.
>
> I'm confused
>
> Linkadge
I think it is arguable whether or not modafinil has antidepressant properties. Stimulating, yes. In any event, modafinil has been found to activate orexinergic neurons in the hypothalamus. This property might be responsible for some of its stimulant effects.
- Scott
Posted by 4WD on September 12, 2004, at 17:10:41
In reply to glutamate inhibitors, glutamate releasers, posted by linkadge on September 11, 2004, at 15:38:44
> How is it that two, totally opposite mechanisms of a drug can provide antidepressant properties. Drugs like modafanil cause a release of glutamate and have antidepressant properties. On the other hand, drugs like riluzole reduce glutamate activity and have antidepressant properties.
>
> I'm confused
>
> LinkadgeI have read that with many (most?) a/d drugs, the antidepressant effect may not be a result of the drug's direct action. It may rather lie in the brain's adaptions elsewhere to the drug. That is, when you take an SSRI, the AD effect may not come from the increased amount of available serotonin but from the brain's making physiological changes elsewhere in response to the increase in serotonin or decrease in reuptake. Neurons are forced to adapt and change in response and an AD effect is the result. This would also explain why serotonin reuptake accelerators (is that reboxetine?)can have the same effect as inhibitors.
I think I read this in a book *The Noonday Demon: An ATlas of Depression.*
Marsha
Posted by 4WD on September 12, 2004, at 17:42:09
In reply to Re: glutamate inhibitors, glutamate releasers, posted by 4WD on September 12, 2004, at 17:10:41
> > How is it that two, totally opposite mechanisms of a drug can provide antidepressant properties. Drugs like modafanil cause a release of glutamate and have antidepressant properties. On the other hand, drugs like riluzole reduce glutamate activity and have antidepressant properties.
> >
> > I'm confused
> >
> > Linkadge
>
> I have read that with many (most?) a/d drugs, the antidepressant effect may not be a result of the drug's direct action. It may rather lie in the brain's adaptions elsewhere to the drug. That is, when you take an SSRI, the AD effect may not come from the increased amount of available serotonin but from the brain's making physiological changes elsewhere in response to the increase in serotonin or decrease in reuptake. Neurons are forced to adapt and change in response and an AD effect is the result. This would also explain why serotonin reuptake accelerators (is that reboxetine?)can have the same effect as inhibitors.
Whoops. My mistake. It's tianeptine, not reboxetine, that's a serotonin reuptake accelerator.
>
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 13, 2004, at 15:44:44
In reply to Re: glutamate inhibitors, glutamate releasers, posted by 4WD on September 12, 2004, at 17:10:41
> I think I read this in a book *The Noonday Demon: An ATlas of Depression.*
I'd just like to plug the double double quotes feature at this site:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#amazon
The first time anyone refers to a book without using this option, I post this to try to make sure he or she at least knows about it. It's just an option, though, and doesn't *have* to be used. If people *choose* not to use it, I'd be interested why not, but I'd like that redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020918/msgs/7717.html
Thanks!
Bob
Posted by 4WD on September 13, 2004, at 21:15:05
In reply to Re: double double quotes » 4WD, posted by Dr. Bob on September 13, 2004, at 15:44:44
> > I think I read this in a book *The Noonday Demon: An ATlas of Depression.*
>
> I'd just like to plug the double double quotes feature at this site:
>
> http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#amazon
>
> The first time anyone refers to a book without using this option, I post this to try to make sure he or she at least knows about it. It's just an option, though, and doesn't *have* to be used. If people *choose* not to use it, I'd be interested why not, but I'd like that redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration:
>
> http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020918/msgs/7717.html
>
> Thanks!
>
> BobJust didn't know about it. Thanks for the heads up. "The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression"
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 14, 2004, at 6:54:03
In reply to Re: double double quotes » Dr. Bob, posted by 4WD on September 13, 2004, at 21:15:05
This is the end of the thread.
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