Posted by Mistermindmasta on July 27, 2005, at 21:44:43
In reply to Re: Questions about dopamine » Mistermindmasta, posted by squaw16 on July 22, 2005, at 16:28:55
> Dear Mistamindmasta,
> Thank you for putting that answer so succintly. I now know why I'm on Abilify. Your answer also cleared up another big mystery for me: my pdoc once put me on Prozac, and my cravings for booze, food and cigarettes went THROUGH THE ROOF. That must be what you meant by some SSRIs can inadvertently mess up your dopamine levels - that must have happened to me on Prozac.Yep, got that right. They think that the extra serotonin lowers dopamine in some people and can caused cravings.
>I'm still stumped about what to do about the binge-drinking. My pdoc put me on klonipin, which he says "works on the same brain receptors as alcohol" and should therefore lower my alcohol cravings. Is he full of it, or is there some truth to it? I haven't noticed any reduction in my alcohol cravings at all. I'm thinking of asking for naltrexone (Sp?) or something like that. Anyway, thanx a million
> Squaw16Well, your doctor is half right, I'd say. Klonopin and alcohol both increase activity at GABA receptors. But alcohol works on MANY receptors, not just GABA. If you're the type of person who drinks alcohol to help anxiety, then yes, he's right, klonpin could help. But many people drink to get a nice buzz, a good feeling going. Alcohol does this partially by acting as an agonist an mu-opioid receptors, thus the reason why naltrexone can reduce cravings, since it also works to sort of normalise the mu receptors.
You actually might be better off with bupriopon or wellbutrin, something that doesn't work on serotonin. You might see your cravings lessen then. Who knows.
poster:Mistermindmasta
thread:529647
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20050722/msgs/534515.html