Posted by mtdew on November 19, 2003, at 20:51:40
In reply to Wellbutrin neurotoxicity?, posted by Ofan on August 7, 2003, at 3:21:51
I would say it's quite likely, at least using a broader definition of neurotoxicity. The majority of stimulants are neurotoxic. Amphetamine neurotoxicity is well known. Wellbutrin is gentler than amphetamine, in a sense, in that it blocks reuptake of 5-HT, DA, and NE, whereas amphetamine dumps them. However, other reuptake blocking drugs have been shown to be neurotoxic. Prozac and Zoloft can cause the same changes to serotonin cells as MDMA, which dumps serotonin. Cocaine is primarily a reuptake blocker, but it has been shown to cause damage (including cell death, I think) in animals after 3-5 days of constant exposure. The relative gentleness of reuptake blockers over releasers seems to only buy time. Effects that are subtle at first will become pronounced after long-term exposure. If you are worried by such abstractions as the risk of long-term brain damage, you are better off staying away from psychiatric drugs. The lack of evidence for damage from a particular substance should not be seen as evidence of safety. Also remember that when you ask questions like this to people in the mental health community, you are not likely to get an unbiased answer, considering that pretty much everyone is already sold on the idea of psychiatric drugs. I hope I don't sound alarmist, but I personally am concerned about brain damaging drugs, and it was unreasonably difficult for me to find the information I mentioned above. I think a good reference for more information is Dr. Peter Breggin's books (although I haven't read them).
Hope this helps.
> Greetings, all.
>
> I'm hoping someone more biochemically literate than I am can shed some light on a nagging question...
>
> I have recently started on Wellbutrin (I am concurrently taking Celexa for OCD, but it isn't doing enough for the depression I'm also experiencing.) One difficulty I have with switching or adding medications (and staying on them once switched) is a fear of drug toxicity.
>
> As is usual, I researched the drug as thoroughly as my limited knowledge of neurobiology allows. I discovered that bupropion is chemically rather similar to diethylpropion, a drug apparently used to treat obesity. Further research yielded
> several journal abstracts indicating a level of neurotoxicity associated with diethylpropion, related to oxidative stress and excitotoxicity.
>
> So here's the question: Given the chemical similarity between bupropion and diethylpropion, is it possible that bupropion might exhibit
> neurotoxicity as well?
>
> Anyone have any thoughts on this?
poster:mtdew
thread:248841
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031116/msgs/281452.html