Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 8160

Shown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Pindolol???

Posted by Steve on July 2, 1999, at 16:00:33

I've never heard of this drug. Is it new? What is it's primary purpose (usage)?

 

Re: Pindolol???

Posted by JohnL on July 2, 1999, at 16:58:43

In reply to Pindolol???, posted by Steve on July 2, 1999, at 16:00:33

> I've never heard of this drug. Is it new? What is it's primary purpose (usage)?

I put a couple posts on this page about Pindolol. Others have posted too. Interesting stuff, check 'em out. It is not new. It is used to treat high blood pressure. However, it is used in smaller doses that does not affect blood pressure but does display the potential to accelerate and potentiate antidepressants. It's hard to explain, but in crude fashion it blocks a receptor in the brain that senses serotonin levels. The brain is tricked into opening the valve on serotonin production. It is the only hypertensive drug that has this unique characteristic. It is reported to work best with serotonin-type drugs like SSRIs. In Dr Bob's Pharmacology Tips one doctor said it produced a wonderful response in a patient taking Wellbutrin. Like everything else though, it might work and it might not. Only a personal trial will tell. It must be catching on though, because even my smalltown family doctor has been writing prescriptions for it to augment antidepressants. It has minimal if any effect on blood pressure at the low doses used. Side effects very mild, if any. Response rapid. I can tell after just three days. An extra benefit for me, it nearly eliminates my tinnitus (ringing in the ear). Way too early to rejoice, but I have to admit I'm quite encouraged, more so than ever in the last 2 years on a zillion different drugs. It should almost be standard practice to prescribe it to anyone getting started on an SSRI because it can bring relief in days rather than weeks or months. That is so important. I couldn't imagine being a doctor and not using it to bring my patients the fastest possible relief with such minimal risks and minimal side effects (if any). It would be cruel not to try. Best of all, it's cheap. Anyway, back up and check out the posts. A site at NYU gives interesting info, as does Dr Bob's Tips, or a word search on Pindolol. Best to you. JohnL.

 

Re: Pindolol???

Posted by Elizabeth on July 3, 1999, at 1:06:38

In reply to Re: Pindolol???, posted by JohnL on July 2, 1999, at 16:58:43

Briefly, its use is to accelerate response to antidepressants. It apparently only works with the serotonergic ones (SSRIs, MAOIs, Effexor, etc.). There's been quite a bit of success with using it for this, but it doesn't seem to potentiate the ADs all that well beyond speeding up the response. Daily dose is around 7.5-15mg, in 3 divided doses.

The way it is thought to work is, when an SSRI or other serotonin-enhancing drug is introduced, you get an initial increase in serotonin, which certain receptors respond to by decreasing serotonergic activity. However, pindolol blocks these compensatory receptors so that there is no check on the amount of serotonin floating around. (Without pindolol, these receptors would become desensitized in a couple weeks by the overload of serotonin and would stop doing their little compensatory thing.)

I'd heard about this a while ago, and it's gratifying to see that it's catching on. Perhaps the next big new antidepressant is actually some drug we're already using for something else, and we just don't even know it. :-) (That's where MAOIs came from, you know!)

 

Re: Pindolol???

Posted by Steve on July 4, 1999, at 15:31:16

In reply to Re: Pindolol???, posted by Elizabeth on July 3, 1999, at 1:06:38

So if it is an antihypertension agent, does it have the side effects of sluggishness? (i used clonidine for hyperhirosis and it put me to sleep).

> Briefly, its use is to accelerate response to antidepressants. It apparently only works with the serotonergic ones (SSRIs, MAOIs, Effexor, etc.). There's been quite a bit of success with using it for this, but it doesn't seem to potentiate the ADs all that well beyond speeding up the response. Daily dose is around 7.5-15mg, in 3 divided doses.
>
> The way it is thought to work is, when an SSRI or other serotonin-enhancing drug is introduced, you get an initial increase in serotonin, which certain receptors respond to by decreasing serotonergic activity. However, pindolol blocks these compensatory receptors so that there is no check on the amount of serotonin floating around. (Without pindolol, these receptors would become desensitized in a couple weeks by the overload of serotonin and would stop doing their little compensatory thing.)
>
> I'd heard about this a while ago, and it's gratifying to see that it's catching on. Perhaps the next big new antidepressant is actually some drug we're already using for something else, and we just don't even know it. :-) (That's where MAOIs came from, you know!)


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