Posted by Larry Hoover on August 2, 2004, at 10:10:47
In reply to Larry, translation please!, posted by mcp on August 1, 2004, at 21:51:56
> Larry, is this a good or bad thing. Seeing that I am taking Gingko for SSRI withdrawals and I plan on taking it after, I would appreciate if you would put this in laymen's terms. Thanks
A translation of my translation? No problemo. No point spouting words that don't get caught on the other end, eh?
One of the effects of SSRI meds is to reduce the intensity of stress responses. Cortisol, the adrenal hormone, is a key player in stress responsivity. It's not exactly clear where the SSRIs have their effect on stress, but everything's kind of all connected together in such a way that the end result is that you release less cortisol when you use an SSRI. SSRIs help take the load off.
Now, as a simile, then. If your legs are tired, you might sit in a chair. SSRIs are like the chair for your tired stressed self. And, just like the literal chair, you kind of quickly get used to having the SSRI there, propping you up. Withdrawing from an SSRI suddenly is like having the chair break, or being pulled out from under you. It's not that you can't support your weight. You weren't ready to do it.
Taking Ginkgo helps replace the cortisol suppressing activity of the SSRI while you are withdrawing from the latter. It does so by a different mechanism, but so what. It helps support you while the other support is weakened.
That was a gross simplification, and may not apply to all people (adrenal (dys)function with depression can take many forms). I think the simplification applies to you, though.
Lar
P.S. I'm gone for a couple weeks of R and R.
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:372598
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040718/msgs/373129.html