Posted by PaulB on November 11, 2001, at 3:02:57
In reply to Re: klonopin......Thrud, posted by gilbert on November 8, 2001, at 11:13:41
The themes written about in the posts on depression and Klonopin are issues that I have looked into in the past. I thought they were interesting to read and would add that Klonopin, I think, is different from Ativan, and other typical benzodiazepines with pro-GABA effects only because it is also an anticonvulsant, with marked sodium cannel blocking properties. This for a start can help to alleviate or worsen depression. In fact in the UK, Clonazepam is marketed almost exclusively as an anticonvulsant under the trade name Rivotril. Klonopin's seroternergic properies stem from its metabolite mCPP which is an agonist at the 5-HT2c receptors. This metabolite is metabolised by the CYP2D6 isoenzyme so Im sure it doesnt take long for the liver to metabolise it too quickly to have any effect. The only other reason I can think that Klonopin is likely to cause or worsen depression, more so than the other benzodiazepines is because of its high-potency. It very tightly binds to the bz receptors to exert its anti-anxiety action. This may cause a more severe dampening of the monoamines in the brain.
PaulB
poster:PaulB
thread:83124
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011104/msgs/83859.html