Posted by Mitch on September 23, 2001, at 10:51:44
In reply to In PLAIN English, can someone please explain..., posted by Janelle on September 21, 2001, at 15:47:07
> ... the basic differences between re-uptake (blockage?) of SEROTONIN vs. NOREPHINEPHRINE vs. DOPAMINE? What I'm trying to ask (even this question is not easy to phrase!) is what beneficial effects is each of these re-uptakes supposed to have?
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> Also, for what "conditions" (e.g., depression, anxiety, pyschosis) is each re-uptake *supposed* to be aimed at. Well, I guess I *know* that Serotonin is for depression, but I don't understand the other two as well.
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> Thanks to whoever can help explain this in layperson's terms!
> -JanelleHi,
Really, there are two questions to ask: 1) *What* does a med do once it is in your body-where does it go, how is it broken down, how does it effect other systems, hormones, etc. in your body. 2) *Why* is it working to solve the problem it is being used for. Number #1 can take a while to find out-and you may never find everything out about it, but this information is the most objective. Number #2 is speculation by humans about what is happening based on the information that has been collected answering number#1. The "monoamine" theory is just that-a theory, a best guess, something you work with until some other idea offers a better working explanation. We know that antidepressants affect neurotransmitter levels and receptor densities (as a response to the increased levels) in your brain, and you take an antidepressant and it appears to be effective, *therefore* people are depressed because (i.e.)they have a shortage of these chemicals, and to support that theory you have some "evidence"-they have looked at brains of suicides and found a very high density of serotonin receptors-antidepressants tend to decrease the density of serotonin receptors. So, until a *better* explanation has been found we will stick with this one with all its flaws for the time being. Hope this is of some help, I am not a pharmacologist.
Mitch
poster:Mitch
thread:79238
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010917/msgs/79372.html