Posted by Elizabeth on May 7, 2002, at 1:31:22
In reply to Have you seen effects on neurotranmitters?, posted by tinker on May 6, 2002, at 7:52:27
I'd need to see the article in order to figure out what some of those things are -- the information in your post doesn't provide enough context. I can tell you a few things:
5-HT is short for 5-hydroxytryptamine, AKA serotonin. DA is short for dopamine. D(2) probably refers to type 2 dopamine receptors (which are blocked by antipsychotic drugs and by certain tricyclic antidepressants).
The 5-HT reuptake values that you gave for Zoloft and doxepin are probably measures of their potency as serotonin reuptake inhibitors. These numbers (experimentally calculated, hence they give ranges rather than exact constants) are dissociation constants and are inversely related to the affinity for the receptor. So Zoloft is the more potent serotonin reuptake inhibitor of the two: if you take 100 mg of Zoloft, and your friend takes 100 mg of doxepin, the blockade of serotonin reuptake in your brain will be much more than in your friend's brain.
-elizabeth
poster:Elizabeth
thread:105252
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020503/msgs/105393.html