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A bit on Lamictal, also a note on 5-HT6 thrown in

Posted by Shawn. T. on July 15, 2002, at 8:17:43

In reply to Re: Anyone able to stabilize Lamictal benefits?, posted by jaby on July 13, 2002, at 0:03:19

As for side effects, start low on this drug (Lamotrigine, Lamictal).
http://www4.infotrieve.com/search/databases/detailsNew.asp?artID=4232143

You'll want to escalate dosages slowly to avoid rash. You'll probably want to decrease dosages slowly as well.
http://www4.infotrieve.com/search/databases/detailsNew.asp?artID=7629345

Now on feeling good, the drug doesn't affect dopamine or serotonin receptors. It does have weak effects on sigma opioid receptors. That could make you feel good, but the body quickly develops tolerance to drugs working on opioid receptors. It probably prevents seizures by "[inhibiting] voltage-sensitive sodium channels, thereby stabilizing neuronal membranes and consequently modulating rlease of excitatory amino acids (e.g., glutamate and aspertate)."
http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_lamictal.pdf

Note that they found that out in-vitro, actual results of the drug in the human brain are likely similar in this case, however. Another possible explanation of feeling good on this drug is that it affects hormone levels (slightly). In that case, the body's system of regulating hormone levels would adjust after a while, and you'd lose the effects. Your statement that you were highly emotional at high doses leads me to believe that it does have some effects on hormones, because it doesn't bind to serotonin receptors.


As a side note, I suggest that 5-HT6 is related to glutamate or aspertate release. A 5-HT6 antagonist has been shown to improve memory on our good friend, the rat.
http://nootropics.com/5-ht6/index.html

See 5-HT6 Receptors: Clinical Significance at
http://www.acnp.org/G4/GN401000039/Ch039.html

That leads me to believe that there may be excessive serotonin action at 5-HT2 and 5-HT6 receptors in certain forms of psychosis. Too much activity at 5-HT2c receptors would result in hallucinations, and excessive activation of 5-HT6 receptors would result in lower levels of glutamate (aspertate as well perhaps). That would result in decreased rates of neurotransmission (note that that's not the same thing as neuromodulation) in the brain. So that could perhaps lead someone to be more likely to believe that the hallucinations are real. Interesting idea.

Shawn


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poster:Shawn. T. thread:112158
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020709/msgs/112398.html