Posted by scott-d-o on December 12, 2003, at 13:37:25
In reply to Ritalin Boosts serotonin !?, posted by linkadge on December 11, 2003, at 19:23:41
> http://www.hhmi.org/news/caron2.html
>
> Strange.
>It doesn't sound so strange to me.. Ritalin is very similar to cocaine, albeit with a longer half life. Cocaine actually blocks the reuptake of all the monoamines and is actually most selective for the serotonin transporter although this doesn't get very much attention since it's not responsible for the drug's "stimulant" and euphoric effects. I believe the "dulling of emotions" that one gets from cocaine use is the same effect many experience with the SSRI antidepressants.
Does this mean SSRI's could help with attentional problems? I don't think so, but they may work just as well at turning your "hyperactive" kid into a zombie, if that's what you're looking for. That being said, for many severely depressed individuals this emotional dulling is much preferrable to the pains of depression.
Have you ever wondered why Clonidine is used for "ADHD" in children when it is essentially the exact opposite of a stimulant and actually *suppress* the release of catecholamines? Are things becoming clearer now? :-)
scott
poster:scott-d-o
thread:288926
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031208/msgs/289122.html