Posted by SLS on March 28, 2015, at 8:33:34
In reply to Low dose antipsychotics increase dopamine?, posted by Chinaboy on March 27, 2015, at 23:22:02
I'm not sure I agree with your conclusions regarding dopamine as being the primary site of pathology, but antpsychotics do increase the rate of manufacture and release of dopamine at synapses by blocking presynaptic autoreceptors. However, these same drugs block postsynaptic autoreceptors, which prevents the extra dopamine from increasing postsynaptic neural excitation.
There are a few antipsychotics that are preferential for presynaptic autoreceptors at low dosages. Drugs like amisulpride and sulpiride will increase dopamine activity at a low dosage and reduce it at high doaages.
Abilify is an interesting drug. As a partial DA receptor agonist, it seems to act as an antidepressant or antimanic / antipsychotic, depending on synaptic dopamine levels.
- ScottSome see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:1077883
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20150223/msgs/1077888.html