Posted by linkadge on November 1, 2006, at 8:42:30
In reply to Re: nicotine » linkadge, posted by zeugma on November 1, 2006, at 8:14:33
But, doesn't nicotine enhance REM sleep ?
Its important to destinguish presynaptic from postsynaptic. I think post-synaptic 5-ht1a receptor agonism decreases REM sleep.
Presynaptic autoreceptor agonism would likely increase REM, since it would decrease serotonin release, and hence decrease postsynaptic 1a agonism.
Some people think that anxiety is a hyperserotoniergic state, and that depression is a hyposerotonergic state. Serotonin can be highly anxiogenic, expecially firing in the amygdala, and DRN. The reason SSRI's are anxiolitic for some is complex. I think its got nothing to do with serotonin uptake. All of the currenly available SSRI's also increase the activity of the potent GABAergic neurosteroid allopregnanalone some 20 times. Has this more to do with SSRI anxiolysis than serotonin uptake inhibition?
Especially since the recent findings that those who posess short alleles of the serotonin transporter, and hence lower baseline serotonin uptake, actually suffer more stress related events, including depression after stressfull life events.
SSRI withdrawl still persists with me too. Zero latency for REM sleep, as well as profound pessimism. Got to love the way SSRIs mess with the brain.
Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:699037
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061028/msgs/699547.html