Posted by NoMotic on October 31, 2003, at 17:28:51
In reply to Re: NE/cortisol- found a study, posted by Robert Fairburn on October 30, 2003, at 14:35:15
Cortisol is bad for depression. Even people who's depression is caused by excess cortisol theoretically could benefit from NE reuptake inhibitors and SSRI's, both of which ACUTELY raise cortisol. The problem in depression, in my opinion, isn't lack of Norepinephrine or Serotonin. However, raising those transmitters can alleviate depression. After several weeks of NRI's / SSRI's, those stress hormones will eventually level out and actually reregulate I THINK (dont quote me on this - ) to below levels they originally were - which is part of the antidepressant response. These meds do acutely raise cortisol - and in fact, these meds can acutely cause an increase in anxiety, but this all levels out and things improve as treatment progresses.
Anyway, I think that some forms of depression involve raised stress hormones which indirectly lower NE and 5-HT. But strangely, raising NE and 5-HT also raises stress hormone levels... which is cause for the acute feelings of anxiety for SSRI's or NRI's... yet raising stress hormones via anti-depressants is probably a side effect that levels itself out after receptor reregulation. Does that help slightly? I can't provide complete answers, but maybe a little.
poster:NoMotic
thread:274782
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20031023/msgs/275352.html