Posted by SLS on July 21, 2004, at 15:05:47
In reply to Re: What chemical is released when you drink caffein? » cherylann, posted by Larry Hoover on July 21, 2004, at 7:22:03
> > When my anxiety is under control, I can handle caffeine. In fact, it seems to release some chemical that makes me feel very "on top of the world". Does anyone have any info on this?
>
> The neurological effects of caffeine, the alerting and cognitive enhancement, are primarily due to caffeine's stimulation of adenosine A1 receptors. Some people get the opposite effect from coffee. It makes them dopey. They tend towards adenosine A2 effects. There is also a rather broad increase in dopamine activity, which is generally associated with pleasurable feelings.
>
> The peripheral effect is probably the one that gets you when you're anxious. Caffeine stimulates adrenaline (epinephrine) release. If you're already a little elevated on the adrenal stress hormone thingie, this will probably make your experience unpleasant.Caffeine also acts to inhibit the cAMP PDE enzyme, which, like adenosine receptor blockade, leads to an increase in cAMP and the excitability of the neuron. It's hard to believe that things in the cell happen so quickly, though, to become so stimulated so fast after drinking one cup of coffee.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:368383
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040718/msgs/368678.html