Posted by laima on December 16, 2006, at 15:33:30
In reply to Dopamine deprivation - starvation?, posted by ronaldo on December 16, 2006, at 12:44:15
I'm not savvy enough about bio-chem to know much about zyprexa or ADD meds are thought to work, but I do read zyprexa's supposed to help the negative symptoms you mention for many people, and know that it is also prescribed for depression as well as for schizophrenic symptoms. But I've used both zyprexa and stimulants, and they don't seem to cover the same issues, and they sure don't produce the same effects. I'm guessing they work quite differently.
Stimulants such as ritalin and adderall have helped me considerably with issues such as apathy, avolition, and social withdrawal, among others. My first short trail of zyprexa was quite helpful in terms of mood and sociability, but second trial a few years later mostly made be groggy and gave a voracious appetite. Not sure why. I personally didn't do well with its side effects either time.
I hope you experience some relief soon.
Best wishes,
Laima
> I suffer from the negative symptoms of schizophrenia namely:
> affective flattening, alogia, apathy, AVOLITION and social withdrawal. Am I right in saying that these symptoms are caused by a dopamine deficit in certain areas of the brain? "Reduced dopamine concentrations in the prefrontal cortex are thought to contribute to attention deficit disorder and negative schizophrenia." [Wikipedia] Am I also right in saying that Zyprexa is a dopamine antagonist? IOW is Zyprexa helping to maintain my negative schizophrenia symptoms by starving my brain of dopamine?
>
> My dx is bipolar disorder in remission but most pdocs thought I was question mark schizoaffective disorder. One doctor was unconvinced that I was bipolar and unconvinced that I was schizoaffective. I just wish I could clear my brain of the Zyprexa and make a new start.
>
> I ask all you educated people, with tears in my eyes, please lend me your attention. I need to find out what is wrong with me. I only see the pdoc once in every three or four months and then only for fifteen minutes. I have to take control of my illness myself. I have only my gratitude and good will to offer in return.
>
>
> ....ronaldo
poster:laima
thread:714230
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061212/msgs/714266.html