Posted by Cam W. on April 7, 2000, at 20:05:12
In reply to Prozac and Buspar, posted by Big Mama on April 7, 2000, at 12:21:45
> My shrink has me on 20 mg. of Prozac and 15 mg. of BuSpar daily. Aren't these two drugs containdicated in terms of what they do to serotonin levels?
Big Mama - At first glance you would think that a serotonin reuptake blocker and a serotonin-1A receptor agonist would interact (eg the Buspar would shut down the outflow of serotonin from the presynaptic neuron because the Prozac is raising serotonin levels in the synapse by blocking its reuptake). It doesn't (or it doesn't make a difference if it does).
Why, you ask. Probably because we don't really know how in hell either of these drugs "really" works (but that's too simple an answer).
Buspar affects a variety of dopamine mediated biochemical and behavioral events (acts as a mixed agonist/antagonist at dopamine-D2 receptors). Since it attenuates punishment suppressed behavior in animals and exerts a taming effect, the manufacturer decided to try it for anxiety in people. They were able to design studies to show that it does have antianxiety effects in people, the regulatory agencies in the U.S. (FDA) and Canada (Health Canada) approved it for use in anxiety disorders. Even though they call Buspar a serotonin-1A agonist, it is probably exerting its effects through dopamine (I know, I don't understand it either).
The only antidepressants that cannot be used with Buspar are the MAOIs (surprize, surprize). The two together can cause increased blood pressure.
Sorry to confuse you further, but Prozac and Buspar are used together quite often (and many times successfully) - Cam W.
poster:Cam W.
thread:29193
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000401/msgs/29237.html