Posted by zeugma on December 24, 2003, at 17:13:01
In reply to Umm, it's not addictive., posted by scott-d-o on December 22, 2003, at 14:36:33
Every 'addictive' drug raises dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens resulting in some measure of euphoria. Everything from cigarettes to heroin and cocaine does this, and the degree to which they raise these levels is a measure of how addictive they are. Benzodiazepines potentiate the transmission of GABA which inhibits presynaptic release of all the monoamines. Therefore, benzodiazepines may actually even decrease dopamine via attenuation of dopamine release via the increase in GABA levels. This is why many will tell you that benzos make them depressed and less motivated if used in excess.
I wonder if this is the reason why i am feeling more depressed after a month and a half on clonazepam. I think I'm very sensitive to the inhibition of monoamines, because I have a narcolepsy-like sleep disorder (lots of sleep paralysis, hypnagogic hallucinations, etc.) and these symptoms are reduced by AD's which boost monoamine availability (especially norepinephrine). One of the first things I noticed on starting clonazepam was the return of these symptoms...
It seems that there are others who are not sensitive to benzo-induced depression. Maybe they don't have the same degree of noradrenergic dysregulation? My own suspicion is getting stronger that NE is at the root of my mood disorder, so I should avoid anything that decreases NE efficiency. it's unfortunate, since clonazepam IS an extremely effective med for social phobia and general anxiety.
poster:zeugma
thread:292100
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031219/msgs/293199.html