Posted by Hordak on April 20, 2018, at 13:31:05
In reply to Re: Sertraline is making me 'numb' and indifferent. » Hordak, posted by bleauberry on April 19, 2018, at 13:25:33
"I think that SOME cases of depression are caused by chemical factors in the brain, but it's not as simple as the serotonin-only theory (which was pushed hard by the SSRI manufacturers ever since Prozac was being developed and marketed). There are many other chemicals in the brain, and some cases of depression are no doubt related more to norepinephrine, dopamine, and others than to serotonin. There is almost no question that the MAOIs are more effective than the SSRIs, almost certainly because they increase not just serotonin but also norepinephrine and dopamine. Some of the tricyclics (amitriptyline, clomipramine, imipramine) are also regarded as more effective than SSRIs by clinical psychiatrists, once again because they increase norepinephrine in addition to serotonin (or more so) plus they have some dopamingeric & anticholinergic action."
"Despite these facts, it is truly amazing how widespread the idea of 'low serotonin = all cases' of depression became entrenched in our society from the 1990's onwards, not just with doctors but with the general public. The SSRI drug companies truly utilized the power of selective study publication, "education programs" (i.e. drug pushing) for doctors, and mass media articles to make "depression = low serotonin" such a widely believed theory for so long."
poster:Hordak
thread:1098205
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20180331/msgs/1098273.html