Posted by Ame Sans Vie on September 18, 2003, at 21:13:13
In reply to Maoi's diff. effect on Serotonin than SSRI's?, posted by matthhhh on September 18, 2003, at 20:47:55
Nardil is typically sedating; Parnate is more amphetamine-like, and some people (though this is very rare) actually develop addictions to the speedy effects of Parnate.
As for their mechanisms of action on serotonin itself, I don't believe there's any difference worth noting... they both inhibit MAO-A, the enzyme which breaks down excess serotonin and noradrenaline in your brain... so they both actually raise levels of serotonin. SSRIs don't; they just sort of put your serotonin system into overdrive. Nardil has more of a GABA effect though (supposedly), so that may affect its serotonergic effects, while Parnate's tendency to cause a release of noradrenaline into the brain and throughout the body could at least partially account for the appetite loss, decreased need for sleep, etc.
poster:Ame Sans Vie
thread:261482
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030917/msgs/261488.html