Posted by Schess81 on July 25, 2006, at 16:31:01
In reply to Re: Stimulants for depression, any long-term succe » Schess81, posted by Oppycat on July 24, 2006, at 12:30:38
I beleive the reason amphetamines are thought to cause dopamine depletion is because of the way it effects dopamine in the brain. Amphetamine tricks the cell to dump large amounts of dopamine into the synapse. However, prolonged high dose use can deplete you brains dopamine stores, which RJ is decribing. Ritilin may not cause this because it acts as more of a dopamine re-uptake inhibitor, similair to an ssri but instead affecting dopamine, keeping more of it in the synapse longer.. However, both amphetamine and ritilin cause a down regulation of dopamine receptors on the receiving cells, as they react to the increase of dopamine they are receiving. This is what is thought to cause tolerance, as the brain adapts to the effects of the stimulants. After being off the drugs for sometime receptor density goes back to normal, but in the meantime it can be a very miserable experience. (this is one of the theories behind drug addiction). Also, it is sometimes discussed here that taking dopamine amino acid precursors like DPLA may also help with dopamine depletion, but I dunno.
What I am phobic about is the long term, unknown adaptations or damage etc. that may result from stimulant use, expecially for depression. In depression, when tolerance to stimulants builds, I think it obvioulsly puts one in a much worse situation than any recreational user would be in. But if only tolerance was the problem, taking a few days off here and there would be able to fix the problem. However stimulants can 'poop-out,' cause longterm anxiety, insomnia, and be unpleasant when they wear off- none of these problems is explained by simple tolerance models. Ive actually been thinking of trying something milder like provigil, perhaps it could be effective and have less side effects.
I wish the exact mechanisms of severe refractory depression was better understood, because it seems whatever I do my brain wants to fight back to its equalibrium, which unfortunaltely seems to be depression. Anyway, I dont mean to be so negative, but I guess I'm just.. depressed.
poster:Schess81
thread:668459
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060724/msgs/670404.html