Posted by SLS on March 23, 2002, at 14:07:17
In reply to Fachad, others: question about TCA's and receptors, posted by Janelle on March 23, 2002, at 1:09:47
Hi Janelle.
> However, if acetylcholine is a *good* thing, why would a TCA be designed to block it, or is it an unwanted thing that a TCA blocks acetylcholine? I other words is the acetylcholine blockade an unwanted side effect of a TCA?
...just to make things more interesting...
At this point, I'm not sure that the anticholinergic properties of TCAs can be ruled out as playing a role in their therapeutic effects. I don't have any compelling reason to think they do, but...
One of the older theories proposed for the etiology of depression involved the balance between opposing cholinergic and dopaminergic pathways - too much acetylcholine and too little dopamine.
I like following the threads that you start. I learn so much. There are a lot of very smart people here, including those who ask smart questions!
Take care.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:99599
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020322/msgs/99656.html