Posted by Mistermindmasta on December 15, 2004, at 0:24:37
In reply to Re: This horrible depression » Mistermindmasta, posted by tensor on December 15, 2004, at 0:04:35
> Hi and thanks for your reply,
>
> in addition to remeron i also take 100mg of zoloft. How do you think this affect dopaminergic underactivity?
>
> Kind regards,
> Mattias
Well, I've read that SSRI's can cause a 50% drop in dopaminergic activity in the nigrostriatal tract. That's enough to cause the restlessness you describe. I'm trying to find exactly which serotonin receptor SSRI's cause this effect act, but I can't find much info.Prozac can induce what they call "Extrapyramidal-Induced Dysphoric Reaction", from inhibition of dopamine in the nigrostriatal tract, which they actually think is what causes suicide and aggression from prozac. I'm sure Zoloft could cause a similar reaction in susceptible people at high enough doses.
It seems like a very valid possibility that the combo of Remeron and Zoloft is effecting your dopamine levels in the nigrostriatal zone negatively. Less dopamine = less GABA, so that's what the benzo's calm you down. They oppose the effects that an SSRI might have.
I'm thinking that a dopamine agonist would quell your restlessness symptoms better than a benzo but that's sort of uncharted territory I think. DA agonists are used for restless legs sydrome, which also results from too little dopamine activity in that same pathway. I haven't ever heard of using DA agonists for SSRI induced EPS, but theoretically it makes sense.
poster:Mistermindmasta
thread:429387
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041211/msgs/429742.html