Posted by MB on July 25, 2001, at 1:36:28
In reply to Re: MDMA and depression, posted by Angelique on July 24, 2001, at 22:41:16
The problem with MDMA is that it depletes the serotonergic neurons of serotonin, they just keep dumping it and dumping it. It attaches to the (re)uptake pump and allows it to act backwards in pumping the serotonin out of the cell and into the synapse. When the serotonin is depleted and the MDMA had detatched from the reuptake pump, there is a problem. Dopamine, which has a lower affinity for the serotonin uptake pump than serotonin, no longer has to compete with serotonin to attatch to the pump. It attatches to the pump and is brought inside the serotnergic neuron, where it is broken down by the wrong enzymes--it is broken down by the enzymes meant to break down serotonin, not dopamine, and the product is a peroxide which damages the cell. If you take the Prozac immediately after your MDMA trip, it will block the serotonin uptake pumps, and the dopamine will not be pumped into the serotonin cells. But, don't take the Prozac before or during your MDMA trip. It will bind to the serotonin uptake pump, blocking it, and the MDMA will not be able to do it's work...it will be a waste of $25.
I don't know if Prozac would help if were taken *after* the damage was done. If the post-MDMA depression were due simply to depletion, it might help. If brain damage has been done, I don't think the Prozac will help the calls regenerate. There is evidence (and hell, I can't remember the article, but a medline search should turn something up) that the cells might regenerate, but I think they will reconnect themselves differently...ah, now I remember. The abberant regeneration was seen after serotonergic cell death due to phen/fen. I don't see why it wouldn't apply to cell death from MDMA, but who really knows, aye?
poster:MB
thread:71521
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010720/msgs/71742.html