Posted by Cam W. on March 19, 2000, at 11:39:29
In reply to Re: Brain Cell Damage, posted by Cindy W on March 19, 2000, at 10:24:15
Cindy - That's an interesting concept. I don't know if your response to hallucinogens predicts response to antidepressants. SSRIs and hallucinogens (like LSD or psylocibin) both act on serotonin receptors. Both are thought to act by increasing serotonergic transmission (SSRIs via reuptake blockade and LSD via direct agonist action at a certain serotonin-2 subreceptor - ?2F-alpha). Here's a research project for a budding PhD.As to the long term effects of antidepressants, the answer is, we don't absolutely know for sure. Many recent studies have suggested that there have been no long term problems in the offspring of mothers who were pregnant while taking TCAs or Prozac. These kids are in their 20's now & so far no real differences from their peers (wait another 5 or 6 years until these 'Prozac babies' have past the most common age of first break for psychiatic disorders - eg schizophrenia and bipolar). A lecture I attended (Dr.E.Roy Chengappa) had suggested that the reason for the increase in bipolar disorder since World War II probably wasn't because of better reporting or change of diagnosis, but could be caused iatrogenically by antidepressant use. I have not seen any published studies suggesting this. In a nutshell (no pun intended), many of us have taken antidepressants for extended periods of time and we still have grown a third eye or started a religious cult based on brocolli, so it is probably safe to say that any long term, permanent changes would not manifest themselves until long after our normal lifespan, but I have no proof. Hope this helps - Cam W.
poster:Cam W.
thread:27200
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000312/msgs/27560.html