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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linkadge on April 22, 2005, at 17:19:31
I read that alcohol was an MAO-B inhibitor. Is this true ??
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on April 22, 2005, at 17:46:57
In reply to I didn't know alcohol was an MAO-B inhibitor ??, posted by linkadge on April 22, 2005, at 17:19:31
Meaning it keeps the drug from working? If that's so, I was also told that alchol kept the other AD's from working. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Larry Hoover on April 22, 2005, at 19:40:59
In reply to I didn't know alcohol was an MAO-B inhibitor ??, posted by linkadge on April 22, 2005, at 17:19:31
> I read that alcohol was an MAO-B inhibitor. Is this true ??
>
> LinkadgeLike any generalization about the brain, it is both true and untrue.
Some studies of alcoholics have shown reduced MAO-B activity in platelets. What isn't clear is whether or not the predisposition to low MAO-B might itself be a risk factor for alcohol dependency, or whether it arises because of alcohol dependency.
Post-mortem studies of brain MAO-B activity showed alcoholics had higher (but not significantly so) MAO-B than did the control brains.
What is clearly true, from animal studies, is that there are regional effects on both MAO-A and MAO-B in the brain. Some dramatic increases. Some dramatic decreases. Alcoholic animals (yes, they can design experiments to show preference for 15% alcohol in water over plain water) have a different pattern of MAO density after chronic consumption......again, cause or effect?
So, the answer is maybe. I hope that clears it up for you. ;-)
Lar
Posted by rvanson on April 23, 2005, at 2:28:36
In reply to I didn't know alcohol was an MAO-B inhibitor ??, posted by linkadge on April 22, 2005, at 17:19:31
Alcohol is not a good idea if you mix it with medications to help your mental illness, no matter what it may do to your MAO levels.
In a similar vein, cigarettes are known to have a positive affect on Dopamine levels in depressives as well as normals, but I would not recommend tobacco as an anti-depressant.
My .02
Posted by Phillipa on April 23, 2005, at 17:21:08
In reply to Re: I didn't know alcohol was an MAO-B inhibitor ??, posted by rvanson on April 23, 2005, at 2:28:36
I heard once when I was a psych nurse that cigarettes were helpful to schizophrenics. I don't know if it's true or not. Fondly,Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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