Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 270690

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Need NMDA Antagonist info

Posted by jodeye on October 18, 2003, at 21:14:55

I have several questions regarding memantine and acamprosate. It has been said that they can eliminate or delay stimulant tolerance.

1. Does this mean that they prevent downregulation of NE receptors?

2. Does this mean that they prevent downregulation of DA receptors?

3. Does this mean something else?

4. Is it possible or likely that memantine or acamprosate could prevent downregulation of DA receptors due to taking L-Dopa?

Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

Re: Need NMDA Antagonist info

Posted by SLS on October 18, 2003, at 22:22:12

In reply to Need NMDA Antagonist info, posted by jodeye on October 18, 2003, at 21:14:55

Those are all great questions. I hope someone has the answers to them.

Another anti-glutamatergic drug is riluzole (Rilutek). It is a glutamate release inhibitor that is currently being marketed for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).


- Scott

 

Re: Need NMDA Antagonist info

Posted by ratgrrl on October 18, 2003, at 22:55:50

In reply to Need NMDA Antagonist info, posted by jodeye on October 18, 2003, at 21:14:55

I'm actually starting to study a bit about NMDA in another context, and probably can't answer your question, but I am curious. Could you clarify a bit? Which receptors are NE and DA receptors? Are they receptors on the actual NMDA ion channel?

 

Re: Need NMDA Antagonist info - here » jodeye

Posted by btnd on October 19, 2003, at 1:57:32

In reply to Need NMDA Antagonist info, posted by jodeye on October 18, 2003, at 21:14:55

Once again I'll bring some of andrewB's information plus my comments.

Amphetamine tolerance is caused by excess Ca++ influx through the NMDA receptor gated calcium channels on the outer membranes of the dopamine cells bodies in the ventral tegental area, one of two areas in the brain with concentrations of dopamine producing neurons.
As alluded to above, taking an appropriate NMDA (partial) antagonist will prevent the development of a tolerance for the effects of an amphetamine or amphetamine-like stimulant. Also, by preventing excess Ca++ influx into the neuron, an NMDA antagonist will prevent associated brain alterations and damage (excitotoxicity).

Studies have indicated that amphetamine tolerance is prevented by exogenous or endogenous agents that are able to inhibit excess Ca++ influx into the neuron through the gated calcium channels on the neuronal membrane that have NMDA subtype glutamate receptors.Glutamate , the body?s major excitatory neurotransmitter, opens the gated calcium ion channels upon attaching to the NMDA receptor. A number of other receptors are also expressed on these calcium channels, which, when stimulated, either facilitate or inhibit glutamate?s action.

It is also important that agents that inhibit calcium channel activity not also cause deficient Ca++ influx. For example, ketamine is a full NMDA receptor antagonist, that prevents excess Ca++ influx and amphetamine tolerance. But being a full NMDA antagonist, ketamine in excessive doses results in deficient Ca++ influx. This could be one of the reasons it leaves K-user in a state of disassociation.

So basically we have following NDMA antagonists:
1. Memantine (Akatinol/Axura)
2. Acamprosate (Campral)
3. Amantadine (Symmetrel/Amantix)
4. Magnesium (supplement)
5. Dextrometorphan/DXM
6. Ketamine
7. PCP
(funny that 5,6,7 are recreational drugs)

Two of them have minimal (or none) side effects and have been identified (and verified by one anecdotal person, which has been taking amphetamine-type stimulants and NDMA antagonist with same beneficial effects for a period of 2 years) as preventing amphetamine tolerance: 1) Memantine and 2) Acamprosate.

1) Memantine is a partial NMDA antagonist that effectively puts an upper limit on Ca++ influx without compromising healthy levels of Ca++ influx. Memantine is not available in the US at this time. It is in stage 3 trials for Alzheimer?s disease. US approval may come within the next 2 years. Memantine is now approved in the European Union for the treatment of Alzheimer?s. It has been marketed in Germany since 1978 for the treatment of dementia and other cognitive disorders. It comes in 10mg tablets. One or two tablets/day are sufficient to prevent amphetamine tolerance, overactivity of the NMDA receptor and consequent free radical stress inside the neuron. The most expensive option though.

2) Acamprosate (n-acetyl-homo-taurine) analogue of the amino acid taurine. Alternatively, it may be termed as a carrier molecule for taurine, that allows taurine to readily cross the blood brain barrier, unlike taurine itself. Taurine is a NMDA receptor antagonist. Acamprosate is an investigational drug in the US, undergoing stage 2 (?) trials for the treatment of alcoholics. It is available in most European countries as a treatment for alcoholism, with great efficiacy. Cheaper than memantine, however efficiacy should be the same.

3) Amantadine, originally used in the treatment and prophylaxis of influenza infection and drug-induced Parkinsonism, also blocks NMDA receptors. Besides it is beneficial in traumatic head injury, dementia, multiple sclerosis,cocaine withdrawal and depression. Amantadine appears to act through several pharmacological mechanisms, none of which have been identified as the one chief mode of action. It is a dopaminergic, noradrenergic and serotonergic substance, blocks monoaminoxidase A and NMDA receptors, and seems to raise beta-endorphin/beta-lipotropin levels. I couldn't find what amount of the drug should be used to block NDMA. Cheaper than Acamprosate. No one has tested it yet, but I think it would be a good choice.

4) Magnesium is also an NMDA antagonist. Most people are deficient in magnesium, and stress reduces magnesium levels. Whether or not one takes amphetamines, magnesium supplementation is very important for mood, general well-being and keeping stress levels under control. It is also important to take magnesium in efficient form, with adequate bioavailability. The best type is magnesium glycinate (chelated) with bioavailability at around 80%. Second best is magnesium carbonate with (I don't remember exactly) bioavailability at little above 30%. Supplemented magnesium should be at 500 mg/day level. Also there is a study which shows that children who use amphetamine-type stimulants have bad magnesium/calcium balance. Calcium levels stay the same with amphetamine usage, but magnesium levels drop.

5) DXM - definitely the cheapest option of all NDMA antagonists, but I'd rather use Memantine or Acamprosate. Although, I've heard anecdotes that doses as low as 70 mg/day are enough to block NDMA - I couldn't find those amounts in abstracts/studies.

6) and 7) I wouldn't use as an amphetamine tolerance prevention. Ketamine for its known effects (you wouldn't want to be in a K-hole during the tweak just for the sake of prevention tolerance)
PCP - this one doesn't need explanation. It has nasty side-effects and I've mentioned it just because it is a NDMA antagonist. I wouldn't touch it even if it was dirt cheap.


So basically combination of partial NDMA antagonist and amphetamines should prevent tolerance. But I'm curious whether NDMA antagonists are able to *reduce* amphetamine tolerance.

 

Re: Need NMDA Antagonist info » ratgrrl

Posted by jodeye on October 19, 2003, at 9:38:37

In reply to Re: Need NMDA Antagonist info, posted by ratgrrl on October 18, 2003, at 22:55:50

> I'm actually starting to study a bit about NMDA in another context, and probably can't answer your question, but I am curious. Could you clarify a bit? Which receptors are NE and DA receptors? Are they receptors on the actual NMDA ion channel?


NE receptor = norepinephrine receptor located on the cell membrane of a neuronal dendrite.

DA receptor = dopamine receptor located on the cell membrane of a neuronal dendrite.

My question is: Is stimulant tolerance the result of NE receptor downregulation, or DA receptor downregulation, or both, or neither, or something entirely different.

Do NMDA antagonists prevent stimulant tolerance by reducing NE and/or DA downregulation?

Can NMDA antagonists prevent downregulation of NE and/or DA receptors that is caused by molecules other than stimulants?

Thanks.

 

Re: Need NMDA Antagonist info - here » btnd

Posted by jodeye on October 19, 2003, at 10:15:13

In reply to Re: Need NMDA Antagonist info - here » jodeye, posted by btnd on October 19, 2003, at 1:57:32

> Once again I'll bring some of andrewB's information plus my comments.
>
> Amphetamine tolerance is caused by excess Ca++ influx through the NMDA receptor gated calcium channels on the outer membranes of the dopamine cells bodies in the ventral tegental area, one of two areas in the brain with concentrations of dopamine producing neurons.

Does this mean that amphetamine tolerance really means DA tolerance, not NE tolerance?

Does *dopamine cell* mean a neuron that produces DA, or a neuron that has DA receptors alongside the NMDA receptors?

If *dopamine cell* means a neuron that produces DA, does this mean that excess calcium influx is causing excess dopamine production/release at the other end and therefore causing tolerance?


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