Posted by JohnL on July 21, 2001, at 9:38:48
In reply to Re: Dopamine function in Social Phobia, posted by Else on July 21, 2001, at 7:48:30
Hi Else,
Yes, APs do block dopamine function, but primarily at higher doses. At lower doses they actually stimulate dopamine function. I am referring to Zyprexa and Risperdal and Amisulpride. All the others do indeed block dopamine. But then again, a lot of weird emotions including depression can be caused by excess dopamine. That's why they call it 'chemical imbalance'. Chemical imbalance can be too much as well as too little. Restoring the correct balance is the goal, but sometimes we don't know ahead of time whether we need to increase it or decrease it. We always tend to think in terms of increasing it, but that is not always the case. Excesses are just as bad as deficiencies. Back to the APs though, the newer ones are sort-of dual action. They work differently at low doses than they do at high doses. There is generally very little risk of TD, Parkinsons, or other weird things at low doses. Usually those kinds of things occur with people taking heavy duty doses.
John> Hi John
> I agree with you about SSRIs doing nothing but numbing emotions but I'm surprised that an antipsychotic would increase dopamine function. Aren't APs suppose to block dopamine receptors and decrese dopamine function? If not then why do they cause Parkinsonism. Unless new APs are completely different, but the warnings in the PDR, CPS and the like are the same about EPS and TD (except for clozaril but as you must know it causes a different set of severe problems in some people). I don't think Adrafinil is available in Canada (nothing good is). I have my sights set on Ritalin or Parnate but it might be years until my doctor aquiesces.
> Thank you for the input
> >
> > Hi,
> > I think (just my opinion) that dopamine is indeed a major player in social phobia. Usually SSRIs are prescribed for social phobia. I think the reason they can work is because they merely numb emotions.
> >
> > I was on a European drug called Amisulpride for quite a while. It is an antipsychotic that only increases dopamine function. It has no effect on anything else. When I was on it I noticed my shyness went away, I became more talkative, comfortable around people, confident, etc.
> >
> > Since then my treatment has evolved into Prozac+Zyprexa+Adrafinil. Zyprexa sort-of replaces Amisulpride, and sort-of does the same thing, while Adrafinil helps even more with the social phobia thing. Even normal people who take Adrafinil can notice an increase in socialability and they become more talkative, more outgoing, and more comfortable in a crowd. Prozac is in the mix because I like a mildly stimulating antidepressant, and it just happens to combine super with Zyprexa and/or Adrafinil.
> >
> > Just my random thoughts. Hope something here is helpful.
> > John
poster:JohnL
thread:71110
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010720/msgs/71200.html