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Re: Opiates for depression?

Posted by Squiggles on November 13, 2005, at 17:58:07

In reply to Re: Opiates for depression?, posted by linkadge on November 13, 2005, at 17:47:39

> Opiates can profoundly, if only temporarily, help depression, and the depressive phase of bipolar disorder.
>
> Their long term safety or efficacy however, has never been shown.
>
> They work in depression, because they directly activate the pleasure centres of the brain, like all other agents of abuse, something that other antidepressants don't do.
>
> Another consideration is that, while virtually all antidepressant compounds to date promote neurogenesis, the opiates do not, infact they tend to lead to brain atrophy.
>
> The neucleus accumbens has incredably effective homeostatic mechanisms.
>
> If tollerance to the effects are slow, then it is highly likely that the withdrawl effects will be long lasting.
>
> Linkadge

Well, its efficacy does sound ambiguous
(how is "profoundly" to be compared to
other antidepressants or treatments?)
for different kinds of depression,
but it may be worth a try if a doctor
approves and can monitor the addiction.

If it is very powerful in lifting depression
it may also be a good substitute to
ECT. I have read the arguments that
make this possibly equally ambiguous
treatment justifiable on the grounds
of its speed of reversing suicidal
depression.

Squiggles



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poster:Squiggles thread:575925
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051112/msgs/578286.html