Posted by anita on September 18, 2000, at 8:54:43
Hi fellow amateur psychopharms,
I am confused about the connection between glutamate and dopamine as it pertains to depression. I have read in past posts that, simplistically, decreasing glutamate decreases dopamine, and increasing glutamate increases dopamine. However, I've also read that decreasing glutamate transmission increases dopamine release in a part of the brain I can't remember but I think is part of the so-called limbic system. And that glutamate agonists are potential meds for schizophrenia.
I am curious from a practical standpoint, as Lamictal, which supposedly decreases glutamate, has improved my mood swings and severe depressive episodes, yet dopamine enhancers improve my depression dramatically, albeit only for a time.
Any info that can shed light on this issue would be great, highly technical stuff included.
Thanks,
anita
poster:anita
thread:44865
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000905/msgs/44865.html