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Re: Wellbutrin increases or decreases dopamine?

Posted by JohnX2 on March 3, 2002, at 18:04:20

In reply to Wellbutrin increases or decreases dopamine?, posted by Jill K. on March 3, 2002, at 2:41:40


Look, Wellbutrin is not the most well understood medicine in
the world , but it is probably the MOST misquoted medicine in
the world. Without looking at ANY of the clinical data on its
mode of action, at SOLELY looking at behavioral tests of animal
models and subsequent follow ups in human trials, there is every
bit of evidence that Wellbutrin affects the dopamine system in
responders to the medicine. In the animal models, when they look
into the dopaminergic system, they often look for behaviours that
are consistent with the administrations of dopaminergic medicines
like amphetamines, which Wellbutrin passes the test.
Also in human trials, Wellbutrin has been shown to be affective
in disorders such as ADHD which are known to be dysruptions in the
dopaminergic system. Also many responders to Wellbutrin report getting
an amphetamine like feeling on the medicine.

Now as far as clinical data. Many people base their opinions of the medicine
on the parent compound bupropion hcl which has LITTLE IF ANY clinical value
in the medicine what so ever. Wellbutrin (bupropion hcl) is what is known
as a pro-drug, its metabolites (the thing the 1st pass of the liver breaks
it down to, do almost all of the work). So looking strictly at binding assays, concentrations of, etc of bupropion
hcl is of value, but gives a SERIOUS misconception of what is seriously going on. What has been discovered is that the active metabolites
primarily hydroxy-bupropion and threohydroxybupropion accumulate at levels in
the body so potent to make the dopamine reuptake properties substantial.
It may be true that through some genomic mechanism the release of
dopamine is diminished, possibly through a feedback mechanism. But this
is even seen with norepineprine reuptake inhibitors, decreased firing,
yet more noradrenaline in the synpatic cleft from the reuptake inhibition.

Here is the best article I have read to date with
a clear and concise summary of research findings
on Wellbutrin (bupropion hcl) and myths/misconceptions
regarding its dopaminergic mode of action:

http://www.preskorn.com/columns/0001.html

Best wishes,
John


> My pdoc has also recommended wellbutrin for my social phobia/apathy. I am also on neurontin for mild anxiety. He thinks I need more dopamine. He says that is why I smoke cigarettes. I read wellbutrin actually decreases the dopamine and that is why it has a low incidence of inducing mania.
>
> Does anyone know whether wellbutrin helped with dopamine or not?
>
> Jill


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poster:JohnX2 thread:96141
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020301/msgs/96214.html