Posted by undopaminergic on March 23, 2008, at 7:07:53
In reply to Re: Bipolar III caused by antidepressants?, posted by dbc on March 20, 2008, at 1:26:12
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> BUT theres been studies that show bipolar 1/2 do cause actual neurological changes over time which starts manifesting symptoms and becoming more extreme over time. Theres theories about this being due to glutamate toxicity. (note all mood stabilizers greatly impact glutamate).I'm actually pursuing an anti-glutamte route at this point, but for somewhat different reasons, based on research, clinical trials, as well as my my own experience with memantine and amantadine - the latter of which produced an intense but temporary antidepressant and stimulant response that may be the all-time high of my life so far.
NMDA glutamate receptor antagonists are known to produce euphoria in some people who use them (mostly ketamine and phencyclidine/PCP) recreationally, and at certain doses, both ketamine and MK-801 (a very selective and potent NMDA-antagonist) have been shown to elicit an amphetamine-like locomotor stimulant respone in laboratory animals. Furthermore, several clinical studies indicate that intravenous ketamine results in rapid improvement of depression - an effect that lasts at least a week after the injection.
For example: "The behavior of mice given amphetamine was qualitatively indistinguishable from that of mice given 0.3 mg/kg MK-801." - see http://www.nature.com/npp/journal/v22/n4/abs/1395451a.html
It may be that in some people suffering from an apparent dopamine deficit, the impairment of dopaminergic neurotransmission is actually a consequence of excessive glutamatergic activity that may be corrected with glutamate antagonists.
The NMDA-receptor antagonists, including amantadine and memantine (or possibly low doses of PCP or MK-801 for the adventurous) perhaps in combination with anticonvulsants such as lamotrigine and carbamazepine may thus be interesting choices on their own or as augmentation to a dopaminergic regimen.
poster:undopaminergic
thread:818928
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080316/msgs/819509.html