Posted by linkadge on October 25, 2009, at 10:18:55
In reply to Re: SSRIs as slow speed cocaine - dose related?, posted by Fred23 on October 24, 2009, at 18:11:00
>A related angle is the idea that SSRIs can make >one feel better than normal, and even give one >an advantage over those not medicated.
This has happened for a very small proportion of those that take antidepressants. It may be in those who have a bipolar disposition.
>What I wonder is that feeling better is dose->related.
No I definately don't think this is the case with most antidepressants. I felt substantially worse on higher doses of citalopram than lower doses. SSRI's only boost serotonin which can have inhibitory effects on the release of dopamine. Oftentime SSRI induced apathy is ameleorated by a decrease in SSRI dose.
Dopamine increases motivation, so increasing an SSRI dose too high would ultimaltely decrease energy and motivation.
>(A practical purpose would be that if one has >such a diagnosis that results in taking >Lexapro, the path to low cost life insurance is >blocked. So, one might want to have a way to >work more to earn more money to make up for >that, so why not pursue something that gives >that advantage?)As a rule of thumb, don't persue anything that is abnormal. Overproductivity is not something to strive for. The brain has normal homeostatic mechanisms in order to help keep itself healthy in the long run. The concept of taking antidepressants to boost work performance is:
a) not well suported in terms of *actually working*.
b) probably not mentally healthy for you in the long run. The brain finds ways to counteract the action of drugs when they are directly opposing a normal biological homeostasis.
Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:922238
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20091021/msgs/922367.html