Posted by King Vultan on August 29, 2004, at 22:50:20
In reply to Re: A possible explaination. » linkadge, posted by owensmar on August 29, 2004, at 20:19:29
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> Another thing for me to think about is that I have galactorrhea (breasts produce small amounts of fluid). I have read that this can be due to dopamine depleting agents (or to a pituitary tumor called a prolactinoma). However, since the galactorrhea started when I started on a/ds in 1986 I wonder whether the increased serotonergic and/or norepineprinergic (is that even a word) receptor activity has somehow caused the dopamine receptors to inactivate or go into hiding, as it were. That would explain my anhedonia - which actually seems to be worse on Effexor. I feel very little on Effexor, can't cry, don't feel grief, etc. as well as not feeling joy or pleasure.(Admittedly I would rather be anhedonic than weeping constantly and imagining possible suicide scenarios.) AT least I think so.
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Good try, but "noradrenergic" is the term that seems to be used to refer to norepineprinergic type activity. The term is derived from noradrenaline, which is another word for norepinephrine; likewise, adrenaline and epinephrine are the same thing, giving rise to the analogous term "adrenergic".If you're on a low dose of Effexor, the effect is almost all serotonergic, which may tend to further deplete dopamine in the pleasure centers of the brain. I also noticed the emotional aloofness on Effexor you describe and would recommend trying something that has a more powerful effect on norepinephrine. This seems to be the neurotransmitter that is most involved with feeling deep emotion, spirituality, and empathy. Well, that's been my experience, anyway.
Todd
poster:King Vultan
thread:383680
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040825/msgs/383915.html