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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 river1924 on January 5, 2007, at 1:04:04
There was article title "Tolcapone Improves Cognition and Cortical Information Processing in Normal Human Subjects."
With my depression, memory is a big problem. Anyone tried to use Tolcapone. (It is prescribed for Parkinson's.)
River.
Posted by ed_uk on January 7, 2007, at 8:18:11
In reply to Tolcapone Improves Cognition Episodic Memory, posted by river1924 on January 5, 2007, at 1:04:04
Hi River
I'm not aware of anyone on babble taking tolcapone. I suppose the risk of liver damage has put people off.
Ed
Posted by river1924 on January 8, 2007, at 0:30:39
In reply to Re: Tolcapone Improves Cognition Episodic Memory » river1924, posted by ed_uk on January 7, 2007, at 8:18:11
I did a bit more research after I posted this and realized the rules for a prescription are pretty strong and the rules for blood tests etc are difficult.
My pdoc is willing to prescribe a similiar drug called entacapone (Comtan) but there is no research on that and cognition because so little of that drug enter the CNS. (Tolcapone enter the CNS easily.)
I don't really understand what COMT (catchol-O-methyltransferase) inhibitors really do. For Parkinson's, the drug works in nerves outside the brain barrier. It prevents the body from breaking down dopamine. But it seems more complex than that and I don't get it.
Thanks Ed.
River.
Posted by ed_uk on January 8, 2007, at 14:19:10
In reply to entacapone (Comtan) » ed_uk, posted by river1924 on January 8, 2007, at 0:30:39
Hi River
When used to treat Parkinson's disease, entacapone relieves symptoms because it 'boosts' the effects of levodopa. I don't think entacapone would be useful as a treatment for your psych problems.
Regards
Ed
Posted by psychobot5000 on January 10, 2007, at 15:24:56
In reply to entacapone (Comtan) » ed_uk, posted by river1924 on January 8, 2007, at 0:30:39
> I don't really understand what COMT (catchol-O-methyltransferase) inhibitors really do. For Parkinson's, the drug works in nerves outside the brain barrier. It prevents the body from breaking down dopamine. But it seems more complex than that and I don't get it.
>
I don't really get them either, but my impression is that COMT is a molecule that floats around in extracellular areas, and metabolises certain excess-chemicals, notably dopamine AND noradrenaline. Not as important for their metabolism as MAO (which is intracellular), but still significant, apparently. So when you inhibit COMT, the levels of those two chemicals should increase somewhat, at least in some areas. Which would make it an augmentor to L-dopa, which is also aimed at increasing dopamine.Tea and certain other foods have COMT inhibitors in them, thought I don't know how powerful they are in comparison to pharmaceutical ones.
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