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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by PhoenixGirl on January 24, 2001, at 14:41:28
Drugs that increase the effect of serotonin apparently decrease dopamine. If these drugs are taken for years, can dopamine depletion continue even after they are stopped?
I've heard that drugs that increase dopamine, like amphetamines, will in the long term deplete dopamine (or something like that). Do scientists even know about long-term dopamine depletion from serotonergic and dopaminergic drugs?
The reason I'm asking is that I used to have a decent libido when I was on imipramine for a few years, but lost it during subsequent drugs like anafranil and celexa. I was on imipramine for about 3 years, and on the more serotonergic drugs for about 5 years. In the past two months, I've been on desipramine, which is similar to imipramine and actually less likely to cause sexual side effects than imipramine, but my libido has only slightly improved
and is not as good as it was on imipramine. I am wondering whether the especially libido-ruining drugs
have caused long-term libido problems in my brain.
Posted by MarkinBoston on January 24, 2001, at 15:44:35
In reply to Long-term dopamine depletion from meds possible?, posted by PhoenixGirl on January 24, 2001, at 14:41:28
> Drugs that increase the effect of serotonin apparently decrease dopamine. If these drugs are taken for years, can dopamine depletion continue even after they are stopped?
> I've heard that drugs that increase dopamine, like amphetamines, will in the long term deplete dopamine (or something like that). Do scientists even know about long-term dopamine depletion from serotonergic and dopaminergic drugs?A great question I'd like to know the answer to also! Generally dopamine output naturally declines with age. Kids run around like crazy, everything is a major crisis for a teen, Spring Break and keg parties are a blast for college kids, and later on, you're watching Masterpiece Theatre on PBS.
The bad news is when you've lost most of your dopamine production capacity. Its called Parkinson's disease and continues to get worse. Many of the interesting drugs that augment dopamine levels are listed for treatment of narcolepsy and/or Parkinson's. One drug, now illegal that helps both of these diseases is GHB. When taken at bedtime, it antagonizes dopamine neurotransmitters while you sleep, and after its worn off, there is more dopamine produced during the day. The patented, legal version under review by the FDA for Parkinson's is called Sodium Oxybate. If GHB conserves dopamine, and other drugs turn it up, perhaps there may be a burn out effect. Does Richard Prior have MS because he freebased so much (dopamine agonizing) cocaine?
There's also a brain anti-oxident school of thought where certain drugs help clean up waste products in the brain. See www.lef.org for some of that and their like of deprnyl.
Posted by Ant-Rock on January 24, 2001, at 16:24:38
In reply to Re: Long-term dopamine depletion from meds possible?, posted by MarkinBoston on January 24, 2001, at 15:44:35
> > Drugs that increase the effect of serotonin apparently decrease dopamine. If these drugs are taken for years, can dopamine depletion continue even after they are stopped?
> > I've heard that drugs that increase dopamine, like amphetamines, will in the long term deplete dopamine (or something like that). Do scientists even know about long-term dopamine depletion from serotonergic and dopaminergic drugs?
>
> A great question I'd like to know the answer to also! Generally dopamine output naturally declines with age. Kids run around like crazy, everything is a major crisis for a teen, Spring Break and keg parties are a blast for college kids, and later on, you're watching Masterpiece Theatre on PBS.
>
> The bad news is when you've lost most of your dopamine production capacity. Its called Parkinson's disease and continues to get worse. Many of the interesting drugs that augment dopamine levels are listed for treatment of narcolepsy and/or Parkinson's. One drug, now illegal that helps both of these diseases is GHB. When taken at bedtime, it antagonizes dopamine neurotransmitters while you sleep, and after its worn off, there is more dopamine produced during the day. The patented, legal version under review by the FDA for Parkinson's is called Sodium Oxybate. If GHB conserves dopamine, and other drugs turn it up, perhaps there may be a burn out effect. Does Richard Prior have MS because he freebased so much (dopamine agonizing) cocaine?
>
> There's also a brain anti-oxident school of thought where certain drugs help clean up waste products in the brain. See www.lef.org for some of that and their like of deprnyl.I also would like to know if this is possible. My libido has never been the same after years of on & off use of parnate. Parnate also worked less & less every time I restarted. Wish I had some answers but fear I never will.
Just a side-note, Sodium Oxybate is under review for Narcolepsy, as far as I know. Maybe it could work for Parkinsons, that would be great.Anthony
Posted by SLS on January 24, 2001, at 19:37:14
In reply to Long-term dopamine depletion from meds possible?, posted by PhoenixGirl on January 24, 2001, at 14:41:28
Dear P.G.
At this point, I think your lack of libido may be integral to your depression. Depression and its symptoms tend to get worse over time. Your libido may be more affected now than several years ago. If you found imipramine more helpful than desipramine, I recommend that you consider trying nortriptyline. When your depression remits, your libido should return.
Hopefully. No guarantees, of course.
- Scott> Drugs that increase the effect of serotonin apparently decrease dopamine. If these drugs are taken for years, can dopamine depletion continue even after they are stopped?
> I've heard that drugs that increase dopamine, like amphetamines, will in the long term deplete dopamine (or something like that). Do scientists even know about long-term dopamine depletion from serotonergic and dopaminergic drugs?
> The reason I'm asking is that I used to have a decent libido when I was on imipramine for a few years, but lost it during subsequent drugs like anafranil and celexa. I was on imipramine for about 3 years, and on the more serotonergic drugs for about 5 years. In the past two months, I've been on desipramine, which is similar to imipramine and actually less likely to cause sexual side effects than imipramine, but my libido has only slightly improved
> and is not as good as it was on imipramine. I am wondering whether the especially libido-ruining drugs
> have caused long-term libido problems in my brain.
This is the end of the thread.
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