Posted by Think1234 on June 10, 2006, at 19:14:25
In reply to Klonopin is a Paradoxical Stimulant, posted by Think1234 on June 10, 2006, at 18:40:46
Actually Klonopins actions on the Amygdala are usualy less direct than I explained in the previous post. Glutamate cells, which produce the neurotransmitter Glutamate act directly on the Amygdala. Konopin depresseses the actions of the Glutamate and thus depresses the action of the Gaba within the Amygdala. Generally P-docs use the term paradoxical stimulant when talking about, exacerbated anxiety, aggressiveness, argumentativeness, etc which sometimes occur with the use of klonopin. When I refer to klonopin as a paradoxical stimulant I mean that its is brake for the brains brake (the amygdala). Which makes klonopin, in a sense, a stimulant.
This quote explains the actions of Benzodiazepines from an even more complex perspective than either of my explanation of
klonopins actions.
"Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, but Benzodiazepines
Are Still the Leading Treatments for Anxiety Disorder"
Stephen M. Stahl, M.D., Ph.D
www.psychiatrist.com/brainstorms/br6309.pdf"The amygdala apparently acts as
the brain’s panic button. Push it hard
enough with emotional input from
any of several areas of the brain, and it
will trigger an alarm of fear via mul-
tiple brain pathways connecting to the
body. Some inputs to the amygdala
are fast and precipitate fear reactions
that occur like a reflex and without
thought. Other inputs are detoured
momentarily to the cortex and hip-
pocampus where they are analyzed
before the decision is made to hit the
panic button. Emotional inputs to the
amygdala frequently use the excita-
tory neurotransmitter glutamate to
ring the alarm, but triggering of the
alarm by glutamate can be tempered
by both GABA and serotonin.Gaba interneurons in the cortex and hip-
pocampus inhibit emotional input to
the amygdala, as do serotonergic
nerve terminals from the raphe.
GABA interneurons and serotonergic
nerve terminals in the amygdala itself
act as potential brakes on amygdala
output to the fear response. Thus,
agents that boost output from either
GABA or serotonin neurons each
have at least 2 chances—from both
outside and inside the amygdala—
to diminish the likelihood of anxiety
and fear."
poster:Think1234
thread:654917
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060610/msgs/655336.html