Posted by JohnX2 on March 7, 2002, at 3:06:40
In reply to Re: Anti-depressants and dystonia/dyskenesia, posted by sue doe on March 6, 2002, at 17:53:59
Hi Sue,I've looked a bit into a similar phenomina called tardive dyskinesia
and it seems as though the latest concensus is that most of these disorders
occur as a part of a progressive neurodegenerative process. In the case
of schizophernia clearly there is a genetic link. Its my understanding
that people can carry the schizophernia gene but not activate the disease,
I don't know if these people taking SSRIs are predisposed to
dystonia, dyskinesia etc. Down to the nitty gritty it has to do
with glutamate (excitatory) transmission and how serotonin medicines goof with
this.The neurodegenerative process seems to be understood and I even have seen
good strategies to treat it beyond those commerically available (I have dug
up patent disclosures, hints into the future). One curiousity I saw was "trick" published
by a physician to treat dystonia with an anti-alcoholism medication
in Europe called Acamprosate. In just happens to protect the neurons in the
brain pathways that get decomposed from excessive stimulation caused from
these neurodegenerative disorders. Ironically when I saw this medicine I thought it might also be useful
for bipolar disorder as it had neuromodulatory action at multiple sights, and alas
I see clinical trials are popping up for bipolar. There's ?a? connection (grabbing at straws)...
someone like CAM will buzz in and spoil my elaborate hope.Sorry to hear such an ugly story. :(
I loved your poems today by the way.
-John
> Why do ssri's cause dystonia in some people?(I was predisposed to it).
>
> I am not well informed, but I read a lot. I have seen dystonia mentioned in genetic studies of Tourette's Syndrome. there seem to be genetic connections between many of the mental illnesses, alcoholism, obesity and dystonia. Is the dystonia just another ramification of our proneness to mental illness. In my family three siblings are bi-polar, one is schizophrenic, one committed suicide at age 19, and one has serious problems with dystonia. Our children are beginning to show mental illness symptoms also. My pet theory is that these illnesses are all in the same, they just reveal themselves in different ways.
> Does anyone think I may have a good point here?
> Sue doe (nym)
poster:JohnX2
thread:94409
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020301/msgs/96847.html