Posted by AndrewB on December 11, 2000, at 1:56:59
In reply to glycine? Re: negative symptoms, posted by Maniz on December 4, 2000, at 12:35:05
Maniz,
I will be brief because it is bed time for me. If you have symptoms that resemble negative symptoms it does not mean you have schizophrenia. However, this similarity can give you important clues as to what medicines may work for you.
Background: Schizophrenia is postulated to involve hypofunction of parts of the dopaminergic system and hyperfunction of others. Negative symptoms may involve hypofunction of the dopaminergic system in the prefrontal cortex. It is important to know that the prefrontal cortex directly effects the shell of the nucleus accumbens. In both of these areas dopamine receptor function is mediated by the glutaminergic system, especially the NMDA receptor. Glycine agonists (including glycine) increase NMDA receptor function.
Now you don't have schizophrenia, but you may have dysfunction at the dopaminergic prefrontal cortex and the shell of the nucleus accumbens. If you do, the same drugs that work for negative symptoms may work for you. These drugs include the antipsychotics amisulpride, sulpiride and Zyprexa taken in small doses. Email me for more info on amisulpride to treat such symptoms (andrewb@seanet.com).
Glycine and cycloserine are more experimental but may be considered as a second option or an add on to the above drugs. Both glycine and cycloserine lack neurotoxicity. Effective glycine doses may need to be as high as 30mg./day though. Cycloserine is effective in the 50-100mg. range. It also has been shown to improve cognition, but tolerance for this effect may develop shortly.
Please research and then discuss with your p-doc about the safety and possible interactions involving cycloserine.
Best Wishes,
AndrewB
poster:AndrewB
thread:49706
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001130/msgs/50373.html