Posted by Bekka H. on April 11, 2002, at 22:32:48
In reply to Re: Melatonin as a sleep aid » Bekka H., posted by Ron Hill on April 11, 2002, at 22:10:24
> >I found a flow chart of the synthesis and metabolism of serotonin, and I see that melatonin is synthesized FROM serotonin in the pineal gland.
>
> Interesting. Do you have a URL link to share?I don't have a link because I found it in a book, PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE, edited by JD Barchas, PA Berger, RD Ciaranello, et al. It's old -- it was published in 1977. There is a diagram of the serotonin pathway that begins with tryptophan, which is transformed to 5-hydroxytryptophan, which is transformed to 5-hydroxytryptamine, which IS serotonin. From there, serotonin can follow several different pathways, and one of those pathways, which occurs in the pineal gland, is for serotonin to be changed into N-acetylserotonin, which is then changed into Melatonin.
> >Since I tend to sleep excessively on SSRIs, I wonder whether too much melatonin is being made???
>
> I also slept excessively on SSRI's. Your question is very intriguing. However, I attribute the SSRI induced anergy (including sleepiness) and anhedonia to low dopamine. Whatever the cause, SAM-e fixed it for me.
> -- RonYes, I think you are right about the low dopamine levels causing anergy and anhedonia. In PROZAC BACKLASH, Joseph Glenmullen, M.D. cites a number of studies in which SSRIs caused lowering of dopamine levels by at least 50%!!
Bekka
poster:Bekka H.
thread:102586
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020408/msgs/102826.html