Posted by JohnL on May 17, 2000, at 4:18:50
In reply to Serotonin Response??, posted by AndrewB on May 16, 2000, at 10:30:24
> I took Serzone for 7 months and never felt anything but fatigued, foggy headed, and emotionally numbed. My mood never improved, from low to high doses. Does that indicate other serotenergic ADs also would not change my mood. Why do some serotenergic ADs, but not all, give some but not all people these side effects?
>
> Thank you,
>
> Andrew BFailure on one serotonin medication does not predict failure with others. Though the details are beyond my knowledge, the serotonin meds all work in very different ways in accomplishing the same end result. I think it's HOW they inhibit serotonin that makes the difference. They all do so in very different ways. Some attach to the serotonin molecule preventing its reuptake. Others block the reuptake pump. And there are other mechanisms as well. But like I said, my knowledge of these mechanisms is not good. I do know however that they all work differently to accomplish the same end result. Those different mechanisms determine how well a drug works or not for a particular person--varying depending on that particular person's unique chemistry.
Serzone has additional mechanisms to complicate the picture. It blocks some serotonin receptors. And it also has some norepinephrine reuptake inhibition. And it antagonizes somewhat alpha-1 receptors. All of these things contribute to how well it works, doesn't work, or causes worsening, depending on the unique chemistry of each person. It's just my own opinion and theory, but I believe many of the complaints concerning Serzone are a result of its alpha-1 antagonism. I say this because I am one of those people--like you--who responded very poorly to Serzone. But I responded very positively to Adrafinil--which is an alpha-1 agonist, not antagonist like Serzone.
These varying mechanisms of action also account for the varying side effects. I think it's very simple to say they all inhibit serotonin reuptake. But in reality, there is a whole lot more than that going on at a molecular level.
JohnL
poster:JohnL
thread:33608
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000517/msgs/33743.html