Posted by neuro123 on February 7, 2010, at 17:52:00
In reply to Re: Do SSRI's cause dopamine depletion to d/r » neuro123, posted by Deneb on February 7, 2010, at 16:32:07
> Hello neuro123!
>
> Welcome to Psycho-Babble! Thanks for all that information about dopamine! Do you know how atypical anti-psychotics like Risperdal affect dopamine?
>
> DenebAnti-psychotics mainly block dopamine from reaching it's destination - it's receptors,where it exerts its functions. As I mentioned above, when you are low on dopamine, you become apathetic and relaxed--but not in the good way. Also when your dopamine is completely blocked (with a neuroleptic like Pimozide or older anti-psychotics), your brain "blocks" too. This is followed by a train of side-effects, worst of which is a general cognitive disability, which remains long after a neuroleptic or anti-psychotic has been used, and also Parkinson's disease.
In general, my opinion is that you should NOT mess with dopamine, unless it's a last resort. Recovery from the cognitive dysfunction that anti-psychotics can bring to a normal person takes more than 6 months. Withdrawal from the older anti-psychotics can be worse than benzodiazepine (Xanax) withdrawal.For example - seroquel is given out like candy recently and it messes with your dopamine, serotonin,adrenal,histamine and mACh receptors all together.
I highly advocate against the general use of anti-psychotics for anything else than schizophrenia or psychosis--it's even in it's name.I don't know much about Risperdal.I'm sorry that I cannot be of more help, I just stopped following any info on anti-psychotics after finding out about their devastating effects on healthy people, when prescribed lightly.
As much as I know, is that the newer "atypical anti-psychotics" like Risperidal, work also mainly by blocking dopamine but more selectively and also with less strength, allowing a more "normal" physiological flow of dopamine to it's receptors, which I personally believe is *bull*.P.S. From what I researched quickly right now in order to be able to give you an answer, Risperidal sounds like a good choice compared to other atypical anti-psychotics, if you suffer from schizophrenia or psychosis.
poster:neuro123
thread:883495
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/neuro/20091104/msgs/936291.html