Posted by zeugma on December 3, 2004, at 18:20:12
In reply to Re: why not dopamine for depression?, posted by SLS on December 3, 2004, at 9:41:12
> My gut feeling is that dopaminergic limbic and prefrontal pathways represent circuits that are downstream and secondary from the primary pathology. As such, agents that target these pathways exclusively are more palliative than corrective. Perhaps this is why psychostimulants and DA receptor agonist usually produce incomplete and short-lived antidepressant effects.
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> - Scott
I'm inclined to agree with this. Drugs that target the noradrenergic system, such as nortriptyline and atomoxetine, have a definite antidepressant effect, while Ritalin most certainly does not give an AD 'boost'. Even the much maligned buspirone is more of an AD, in my opinion, than Ritalin.Among the psychostimulant class, I would attach a question mark to Provigil. It may be an antidepressant. And despite the many and unsettling side effects I experienced during my trial of it, I had remarkably little anxiety. This, again, is in complete contrast with Ritalin.
By the way, I have often seen posters attribute Ritalin's anxiogenic effect to NE reuptake inhibition or release. This theory does not work for my case at least, because NE reuptake inhibitors have a strong antipanic effect, and an effect which, if not anxiolytic, is at least not anxiogenic.
poster:zeugma
thread:413480
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041201/msgs/424102.html