Posted by med_empowered on April 27, 2006, at 2:09:08
In reply to Re: Med-empowered ... Q, posted by UgottaHaveHOPE on April 26, 2006, at 23:03:33
hi! Seroquel is a "neuroleptic" ((a term that means "to seize the nerves"))--in the US, "neuroleptics" are usually called either "antipsychotics" or "major tranquilizers". There are old ones (like, say, Thorazine or Haldol or Trilafon) and new ones, like Seroquel, Zyprexa, Risperdal, Abilify, Geodon, Clozaril, etc. The old ones have a bad reputation for causing problems like movement disorders (they induce a sort of brain damage that results in "tardive dyskinesia," a persistent set of uncontrallable, involuntary movements, usually of the face, that can persist years after meds are withdrawn).
The new antipsychotics cause TD less often ((probably)) than the old ones, although there is still a risk w/ all of them except maybe Clozaril. So, Seroquel could cause TD.
Seroquel and other antipsychotics work by blocking off dopamine, specifically D2 receptors. Basically, your body is still pumping out dopamine, but the seroquel blocks the receptors, so your brain doesn't pick as much of it up. The old antipsychotics ((Thorazine, etc.)) worked mostly or entirely on these D2 receptors and blocked them TIGHTLY: at usual doses, 80+% of these receptors were blocked. The newer ones tend to block off 60-80%, causing fewer side effects.
The newer antipsychotics also work on serotonin, and block off some receptors there, too...this may be what makes them more helpful for anxiety than older drugs.
Here's the problem: when you block off D2 receptors, your brain will adapt by sprouting new ones; the result can be a need for ever-increasing amounts of the drug to achieve the same results. Also...the antipsychotics can often make anxiety **worse** and sometimes their primary "anti-anxiety" effect is actually just generalized sedation--one reason Seroquel is RX'd so much for anxiety is that it is so heavily sedating. Sounds good, until you realize LOTS of drugs are heavily sedating--Benadryl, for instance--without having any real anti-anxiety effect.
Now for Depakote...
Depakote is an anticonvulsant--it was developed and designed for various forms of seizure disorders. It seems to work on GABA, boosting levels in the body ((among other things...)). It can also cause liver problems, hormonal imbalances, and hair loss. People on Depakote will need to have blood work done, usually every 3months or so ((I think)). Depakote does not cause movement disorders, and may be helpful with panic and anxiety ((because of its effects on GABA)). Since it has a "taming" effect, it may reduce aggression and hostility (kind of like a neuroleptic).
So...there you have it. Here's a good analogy:
Imagine that that your brain is a stereo, pumping out music. If you take an antipsychotic, its like using earplugs--you're basically blocking out a lot of the music, but its still playing. A mood-stabilizer, like depakote, works to turn down the volume overall.
I hope this helps.
poster:med_empowered
thread:637298
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060423/msgs/637397.html