Posted by Jenna S. on December 10, 2001, at 15:29:26
In reply to Re: What AD next? Please help if you can » Jenna S., posted by manowar on December 8, 2001, at 17:43:36
> Thanks Jenna,
>
> Yes I have tried one anti-psychotic. I started Seroquel about three weeks ago. I kinda felt a bit of cognitive impairment and I felt even more depressed as usual. After stopping the Seroquel, I still felt more depressed than usual and I determined that the Adderal that I started one week prior to the Seroquel was the culprit.
>
> I stopped the Adderal a few days ago, and I feel a little better.
>
> I also started taking Neurontin a few days ago. So far, it seems that I get the same side effects that I did with the Seroquel (e.g. cognitive impairment, a little dizzy when standing).
>
> If I don't do well on the Neurontin, I'll keep the Seroquel or another anti-psychotic in mind.
>
> I know this is stupid but what is the 5HT2A receptor?
>
>
> Thanks for your support,
> TimNo need to feel stupid for asking a question :)
The 5HT2A receptor is one of the serotonin receptors. Serotonin's chemical name is 5-hydroxy-tryptamine, which is a bit of a mouthful, so it gets shortened to 5HT.
I've had a look in my very incomplete file on what each receptor does and I've got antagonism of 5HT2A as increasing dopamine and reducing anxiety. Mirtazapine, nefazodone and atypical antipsychotics block 5HT2A receptors, amongst their other effects. You need to take a low dose of an atypical antipsychotic to benefit depression - low doses generally increase dopamine because the 5HT2A effect outweighs the dopamine blocking, but at higher doses this effect is reversed (I believe).
I've taken Neurontin myself, overall its effects on me were all mild, including any beneficial effect, so I stopped it after a few months. I did feel slightly dizzy, sedated and had a headache initially, these things passed after a few days though. I also got edema in my legs which also went away. My immediate memory was a bit impaired on it, for example looking at a roadsign and then immediately forgetting what it said, which wasn't very useful! I don't think that effect went away but it was all academic anyway since I wasn't going to continue it.
I haven't tried Seroquel and it is one I will be trying soon if other things don't work first. I'm still feeling depressed, and tired, on 450mg of bupropion, which I thought would at least have given me some energy!
Jenna
poster:Jenna S.
thread:86080
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011202/msgs/86486.html