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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 44. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by iforgotmypassword on October 30, 2006, at 12:52:55
MAIN QUESTION: does anyone know if melatonin reduces seratonin activity anywhere, at specific receptors, or just in general? or does it increase seratonin?
(END MAIN QUESTION; for people who have trouble focusing and reading long messages.)
i am replacing all lights in my house with yellow "bug" lights (to hopefully block the blue) so i can actually sleep given all the time i spend in bed. i always have to sleep with the light on due to fear and general anxiety. yellow aparently does not cancel out melatonin production. blue does.
another huge factor is if it reduces seratonin, it may help my bruxism and akithisic feelings, and hopefully reduce apathy and give energy. (and less catecholamine and acetylcholine suppesion?)
i will have to either wear special sunglasses or put a shield on my monitor as apparently monitor light may be a big sleep disrupter. i use my laptop all the time.
i figure i may have huge problems with melatonin secretions as i have a pineal gland cyst and hit puberty notably early (thus did not grow very tall, especially compared to other family members.)
aparently problems with melatonin secretion are common, in SAD or with people like me who are learning to really dread winter moods. pineal cysts are also apparently quite common. 2-4% apparently in random samples, 40% apparently in cadavers.
On light, Dr. Phelps' PsychEducation page has interesting info (skip to yellow for what i am talking about, but the whole page is very interesting):
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/LightDark.htmif this works (or doesn't) and i may start to use a blue light slectively (and continue with the yellow) for when i need to be up and not giving up.
if anyone is interested i will keep people updated on if this helps or has any effect.
Posted by zeugma on October 30, 2006, at 16:35:11
In reply to effect of melatonin on seratonin?, posted by iforgotmypassword on October 30, 2006, at 12:52:55
Melatonin stimulates the 5-HT1A receptor, which lowers serotonin levels. 5-HT1A agonists sich as Buspar can help with melatonin-implicated disorders (such as problems with the 'internal clock' in relation to diurnal variation)by mimicking melatonin's effects. 5-HT2A receptor stimulation reversed this effect, presumably disrupting the body's internal clock. 5-HT2A agonists also reverse the antidepressant effects of melatonin in animal screens.
When serotonin, or antidepressants, are injected directly into the pineal gland, they are observed to inhibit melatonin. Luvox has an additional effect: it blocks the enzymatic degradation of melatonin in the liver, leading to greatly elevated melatonin levels and damaging levels of sleepiness. The medications considered most destructive to the synchrony of the body's internal clock with diurnal variations in light are Luvox and Haldol, and perhaps clozapine as well, and these drugs all block the metabolism of melatonin.
-z
Posted by johnnyj on October 30, 2006, at 17:55:41
In reply to Re: effect of melatonin on seratonin? » iforgotmypassword, posted by zeugma on October 30, 2006, at 16:35:11
I am confused as my doc wants me to go on luvox and now I am kind of scared. I need some sleep bad...
How does it damage the internal clock and is this dose related?
johnnyj
Posted by iforgotmypassword on October 30, 2006, at 18:12:57
In reply to Re: effect of melatonin on seratonin? » iforgotmypassword, posted by zeugma on October 30, 2006, at 16:35:11
you are amazing. thank you.
does melatonin stimulate more the pre-synaptic or post-synaptic receptors? how does it compare to buspar in this respect? does it have any other receptor affinities? no anatgonistic D2 affinity, i hope. heh.
do you think my theory of only yellow light in my house and a yellow shield on my monitor, with windows closed whenever i am here, makes sense? at least to ramp up melatonin to see what happens.
i am hoping that i will get special yellow sunglasses for outside.
i cannot stand the dark, will this be basically the same effect as the dark?
i don't really know if this will have a meaningful effect on melatonin, though. or serotonin 1A receptor either though.
Posted by iforgotmypassword on October 30, 2006, at 18:17:46
In reply to Re: effect of melatonin on seratonin?, posted by johnnyj on October 30, 2006, at 17:55:41
i think most people sleep lots on luvox, unless augmented. this may be something that wears off.
insomnia with luvox may be a sign of akithisia (only some people are susceptible for this in SSRIs; it's what causes the suicide risk) or possibly impending bipolar and music from Jaws. or so i'm guessing.
Posted by iforgotmypassword on October 30, 2006, at 18:21:43
In reply to Re: effect of melatonin on seratonin? » iforgotmypassword, posted by zeugma on October 30, 2006, at 16:35:11
Posted by Phillipa on October 30, 2006, at 19:47:14
In reply to Re: effect of melatonin on seratonin?, posted by johnnyj on October 30, 2006, at 17:55:41
Johnny I have the same question as I'm on luvox. I don't understand. Can anyone explain this in more simple terms? Thanks Phillipa
Posted by johnnyj on October 30, 2006, at 21:20:55
In reply to Re: effect of melatonin on seratonin?, posted by iforgotmypassword on October 30, 2006, at 18:17:46
If I do start luvox I pray it helps me sleep. How does one know if it is the typical increased anxiety upon starting an ssri or akithisia? Or does one have increased anxiety but still have sedation? This would be good info for me to know if I decide to go that route.
I will also need something to tame by bruxism which can become worse with an ssri? maybe neurotonin or buspar??
johnnyj
Posted by Phillipa on October 30, 2006, at 22:06:40
In reply to Re: effect of melatonin on seratonin? » iforgotmypassword, posted by johnnyj on October 30, 2006, at 21:20:55
Johnny only SSRI I haven't had side effects from. love Phillipa
Posted by zeugma on October 31, 2006, at 5:18:07
In reply to Re: effect of melatonin on seratonin? » iforgotmypassword, posted by johnnyj on October 30, 2006, at 21:20:55
> If I do start luvox I pray it helps me sleep. How does one know if it is the typical increased anxiety upon starting an ssri or akithisia? Or does one have increased anxiety but still have sedation? This would be good info for me to know if I decide to go that route.
>
> I will also need something to tame by bruxism which can become worse with an ssri? maybe neurotonin or buspar??>>Luvox interferes with circadian rhythms, not sleep per se. this refers to the synchronization of sleep-wake periods with the 24-hour diurnal rhythm. The mechanism is purported to be the elevation in plasma melatonin induced by Luvox, which is not a serotonin-mediated effect as other SSR's do not have this specific effect, but rather due to the inhibition of melatonin metabolism in the body, leading to phase delays in the sleep/wake cycle (specifically, late-sleep/late-wake periods relative to normal diurnal rhytms).
I will write more on this when I get back from work, must run now.
-z
>
> johnnyj
Posted by linkadge on October 31, 2006, at 6:33:45
In reply to Re: effect of melatonin on seratonin? » iforgotmypassword, posted by zeugma on October 30, 2006, at 16:35:11
Zeugma, I didn't realize melatonin was a presynaptic autoreceptor agoinst. I knew it worked to potentiate postsynaptic 5-ht1a responces.
Anyhow, I'd heard that melatonin blocks the antidepressant effect of SSRI's, but never heard that serotonin blocks the antidepressant effect of melatonin.
Serotonin and melatonin work at kind of a yin yang, via 5-ht2a as zeugma mentioned. Drugs that block 5-ht2a (like mirtazapine for instance), generally have melatonergic properties.Melatonin itself can sometimes be depressogenic.
Long term blockade of melatonin excretion is probably a bad thing. Sudies of situations where people have reduced melatonin output (night shift workers) have found links to cancers etc. Some question the long term use of SSRI's for these reasons.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on October 31, 2006, at 6:36:26
In reply to Re: effect of melatonin on seratonin? » johnnyj, posted by zeugma on October 31, 2006, at 5:18:07
>leading to phase delays in the sleep/wake cycle
>(specifically, late-sleep/late-wake periods >relative to normal diurnal rhytms).I'm confused, does normal melatonin administration have this effect?
Linkadge
Posted by johnnyj on October 31, 2006, at 9:20:27
In reply to Re: effect of melatonin on seratonin?, posted by linkadge on October 31, 2006, at 6:33:45
I melatonin is increased in the blood stream by luvox how does this equate to reduced melatonin output? Wouldn't this be the opposite? So luvox might guard against cancer? This is very confusing
johnnyj
Posted by linkadge on October 31, 2006, at 10:46:20
In reply to Re: effect of melatonin on seratonin? » linkadge, posted by johnnyj on October 31, 2006, at 9:20:27
>melatonin is increased in the blood stream by >luvox how does this equate to reduced melatonin >output?
Luvox is atypical in that it has some ability to increase melatonin. Other SSRI's are likely to reduce melatonin output.
>Wouldn't this be the opposite? So luvox might >guard against cancer? This is very confusing
I don't know. Certain forms of cancer are proably supressed by *normal* melatonin excretion. I don't know what proof there is that extra melatonin is anti-cancer or anything.
Linkadge
Posted by zeugma on October 31, 2006, at 17:26:32
In reply to Re: effect of melatonin on seratonin? » zeugma, posted by linkadge on October 31, 2006, at 6:36:26
> >leading to phase delays in the sleep/wake cycle
> >(specifically, late-sleep/late-wake periods >relative to normal diurnal rhytms).
>
> I'm confused, does normal melatonin administration have this effect?>>
Melatonin administration will produce phase changes in your sleep cycle, depending on when you take it.Since melatonin release in the non-sleep-wake-cycle-disordered person is designed to promote a normal sleep cycle (e.g. sleep from say 11 pm to 7 am) and pharmaceutical administration of melatonin is designed to mimic this effect, if you took melatonin to produce phase advance (ie. to wake up earlier and go to sleep earlier) you would take melatonin in the evening. It seems melatonin release is designed to be highest 12 hours after the exposure to light (about 6-8 p.m.). So melatonin at night makes you somewhat drowsy.
Luvox on the other hand causes melatonin levels to lose their relationship with the diurnal cycle, because the amounts are continuously high. It induces, in other words, a constant feeling of twilight drowsiness. Not in all patients, of course.
-z
>
> Linkadge
Posted by zeugma on October 31, 2006, at 17:57:37
In reply to effect of melatonin on seratonin?, posted by iforgotmypassword on October 30, 2006, at 12:52:55
> MAIN QUESTION: does anyone know if melatonin reduces seratonin activity anywhere, at specific receptors, or just in general? or does it increase seratonin?
Melatonin probably lowers serotonin levels in many regions of the brain. Serotonin levels are highest during wakefulness, and melatonin levels are highest in the period of drowsiness leading to sleep, in what was probably the normal course of things before Edison, 12 hours after the first exposure to significant amounts of sunlight (an hour or so after sunrise?).
>
>
> i am replacing all lights in my house with yellow "bug" lights (to hopefully block the blue) so i can actually sleep given all the time i spend in bed. i always have to sleep with the light on due to fear and general anxiety. yellow aparently does not cancel out melatonin production. blue does.>>this is interesting. The receptors in the retina that are sensitive to blue and yellow light are said to be dopaminergic (probably D2) receptors. I have extreme color-insensitivity, in fact unless on a significant dose of Ritalin I can barely process color at all. (Don't hire me to decorate your house.) Now besides Luvox, the class of meds that tends to produce circadian sleep disorders is the D2 antagonists, a.k.a. typical antipsychotics. Atypicals such as Risperdal are much less prone to this effect, probably because the 5-HT2A antagonism (which seems to promote normal melatonin release) counteracts the D2 antagonism and consequent retinal insensitivity to yellow- which is, more or less, the color of the sun. Ritalin actually helped me with circadian issues more than any other med. it certainly helped me see color.
>
> another huge factor is if it reduces seratonin, it may help my bruxism and akithisic feelings, and hopefully reduce apathy and give energy. (and less catecholamine and acetylcholine suppesion?)
>Buspar is actually somewhat helpful with bruxism issues. So is Klonopin, and benzodiazpines stimulate melatonin release.
-z
Posted by zeugma on October 31, 2006, at 18:00:28
In reply to Re: effect of melatonin on seratonin? » linkadge, posted by johnnyj on October 31, 2006, at 9:20:27
> I melatonin is increased in the blood stream by luvox how does this equate to reduced melatonin output? Wouldn't this be the opposite? So luvox might guard against cancer? This is very confusing>>
Luvox can produce continuously elevated levels of melatonin. I don't know what effect this would have on proneness to cancer.
-z
>
> johnnyj
Posted by iforgotmypassword on October 31, 2006, at 18:11:14
In reply to Re: effect of melatonin on seratonin? » linkadge, posted by zeugma on October 31, 2006, at 17:26:32
even though i do spend a lot of my life in bed miserable, i spend just as much time pacing and talking non-stop... and i chew through my teeth all day. i don't even have to be agitated. it is often associated with agitation that i have, tho. it is purely akathisic and started with paxil years ago. i even start twitching again on most ADs, even dopaminergic ones. (i figure its a paradoxical response analagous to what levodopa does to parkinsonian people.)
i knew it was akithisic related and it was a lot more encouraging to find attitudes supporting this:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=10665633&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_docsum
ECT, that seems to reset the RECEPTORS of the brain seems to have a remarkable therapeutic effect in at least this one case:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=12972988&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_docsumi think my problems are basically the opposite of a depressed person. i think my problems lie in what causes akithisia. serotonergic OVER activity. or sertonin receptor hypersensitivity. which of course causes dopaminergic and acetylcholinergic failure. like how it treats OCD. it basically unplugs the anterior cingulate and possibly the parts of the frontal cortex that depend on it (what we usually blame for cases like mine.) this all leading to extreme terrible problems with executive function and apathy. the story of my life.
does anyone know of any drugs that help this?
i am looking into 5HT-2a agonists, but they all seem illicit. maybe that is why i love them so much. i literally have feelings again on mushrooms. apart from being kind of wacky from an illict drug, it's the closest i feel to normal. i don't think it's exactly a solution for my executive functionning though.
Posted by iforgotmypassword on October 31, 2006, at 18:24:00
In reply to Re: effect of melatonin on seratonin? » iforgotmypassword, posted by zeugma on October 31, 2006, at 17:57:37
thank you so much, i am so glad that this may make so much sense for me... i hope.
i tried buspirone... may have helped SLIGHTLY. i think i really need something that has a bit more definite effect.
i like the idea of how 5HT-2a agonism may reduce D2 antagonism. maybe paradoxical D2 antagonism, and it's basically being a failed antipsychotic that causes akithisia in some, practically negates it's ability to help with me.
i may increase my estrogen (i'm transgenedered) which i think is supposed to increase 2A sensitivity.
i also worry if i may be a psuedo-'tardive' case, which they say is much difficult to treat. being that i still have problems years after Paxil. (like 5 years.)
Posted by iforgotmypassword on October 31, 2006, at 18:29:09
In reply to thank you. » zeugma, posted by iforgotmypassword on October 31, 2006, at 18:24:00
what i said: "i like the idea of how 5HT-2a agonism may reduce D2 antagonism. maybe paradoxical D2 antagonism, and it's basically being a failed antipsychotic that causes akithisia in some, practically negates it's ability to help with me."
but you were talking about antagonism in risperdal. sorry i have trouble reading, and tend to not be able to read unless i pseudo speed-read. (if i try to read normally i get confused so i can never read books, stories or long personal letters to me properly!) i have to make multiple passes often to make sure i didn't misinterpret.
Posted by zeugma on October 31, 2006, at 19:13:09
In reply to wondering in my case..., posted by iforgotmypassword on October 31, 2006, at 18:11:14
illicit vs. non-illicit is a somewhat arbitrary distinction IMO.
excessive 5HT could lead to bruxism, apathy, etc.
You are correct that 5HT2A agonism leads to DA release. other 5HT2 receptors probably inhibit dopamine, so it is a complex matter.
What is your response to nicotine?
-z
Posted by iforgotmypassword on October 31, 2006, at 20:22:51
In reply to Re: wondering in my case... » iforgotmypassword, posted by zeugma on October 31, 2006, at 19:13:09
how does nicotine affect serotonin receptors?
_____i never got addicted to nicotine, but i also have asthma, and really had bad feelings about my mother who used to smoke all the time.
i got addicted to pot (literally), and kind of wondered if it had to do with the tobacco i would put in to make joints easier to take.
it was odd because i kept using pot long after it was even slightly enjoyable. i would just get paranoid and draw into myself even further, and behave pretty dingbatty and annoying around people. i would get scared and couldn't be around people and be wrecked for days. i could not find out why it was hard to stop.
i may try nicotine again, but i really practically felt no response to patches. i literally gave up after one day though.paradoxially though, galantamine did seem to help me, at least with communicating with people and sort of reintegrating into purposeful activity.
short lived however, and not very affordable given it was just a supplement version i was kind of ambivalent about depending on given how unreliable dosing is with supplements. i think this also lead to early discouragement, and it kind of made me feel rough and agitated.
thank you for your input.
Posted by johnnyj on October 31, 2006, at 20:35:54
In reply to Re: effect of melatonin on seratonin? » johnnyj, posted by zeugma on October 31, 2006, at 18:00:28
Thank you I will ask my doc about the melatonin issue. Even if luvox makes blood levels higher would light in the morning tone this down? Before meds I slept great and used to take a while to get going in the morning.
Do you think that luvox is, how should I say, harmful overall? What about long term effects of increased melatonin on the circadian rythm? I know things are out of whack right now to a degree.
I have ocd, anxiety issues and this results in a depressive state to some degree. I thought luvox might be a good choice as I really don't get tired and sleepy like I normally used to and that is what I need to feel better...sleep.
I am only on lunesta right now and it has side effects too. I may try to quit it since I have stopped lithium and started meds for allergies. I felt that lithium was not good for me and things actually slowed down after I quit lithium. Lunesta seems to make me more depressed and dizzy. I am finding quite a few people that have anxiety/nausea/dizziness on lunesta after a few months. It is happening to me now. So, I may try to wean off even thought I am not sure how to do this cold turkey as I might feel better quicker but not sleep better. Of course my pdoc will approve any of this.
Benzo's seem to make me depressed but the pdoc wants to try luvox and klonopin. Do you think a different ssri may be better?
Posted by Phillipa on October 31, 2006, at 22:14:21
In reply to Re: effect of melatonin on seratonin? » zeugma, posted by johnnyj on October 31, 2006, at 20:35:54
I'm confused too as luvox is the only SSRI that has no side effects for me and lets me sleep. So in a nutshell is it good or bad for sleep. It has a short halflife and I'm down to 25mg with valium and the pdoc gave me the new paxil pexeva? Never heard of it before . I may or may not try it. She also said I've taken benzos for so many year over 30 that they didn't work anymore so take the valium and add seroquel amount up to me too. Love Phillipa
Posted by zeugma on November 1, 2006, at 5:03:14
In reply to Re: effect of melatonin on seratonin? » johnnyj, posted by Phillipa on October 31, 2006, at 22:14:21
> I'm confused too as luvox is the only SSRI that has no side effects for me and lets me sleep. >>
That's great!
So in a nutshell is it good or bad for sleep.>>
For you, it sounds like it is better for sleep than the other SSRI's.
Responses to these meds are so variable, that genralizations can't be made without understanding that there are many hidden variables at work (if genomic testing and so on were routine, this might be different, but for now, all we can do is trial and error, and if it works, then stay with it if the s/e/ are not unbearable).
The sleep doc responded to my question about Lexapro (dx: CNS hypersomnolence, narcolepsy) by saying that it helped sleep in some, and worsened it for others. So you never know until you try it.
-z
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