Posted by jerrympls on November 13, 2005, at 18:08:44
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
>
>How long is temporarily? A couple months? a year? 2 years? OH and I did stop taking the hydrocodone for a week without any withdrawl symptoms. Not sure why you're making such generalizations. And for someone like me who has been through the gauntlet of med combos - I would gladly take being on an opiate to my only other option (according to my docs) brain surgery.
Many antidepressant meds do not have long-term safety & efficacy data - and the withdrawl from some SSRIs can be just as bad as a controlled substance.
Link - why are you so negative about the use of opiates for depression? I'm not saying that everything you've posted is wrong or that one shouldn't take into consideration before starting an opiate (under a doctor's care). But you just seem against it.
And like I've always said - opiates are not a cure and they don't fix everything. They do, however, work with dopamine, NE and other neurotransmitters in the brain. When I take the hydrocodone, I do not feel high or buzzed - I feel almost clost to "normal."
I'm interested in how opiates lead to brain atrophy? Do you have any info you can share on that?
Thanks
Jerry
poster:jerrympls
thread:575925
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051112/msgs/578290.html