Posted by xbunny on June 24, 2005, at 9:38:35
In reply to Side effects and therapeutic effects, posted by FredPotter on June 23, 2005, at 23:10:30
> I'm often told, and I often read here, "Oh that side effect will wear off in a little while". How does the brain know the difference between a side effect and an intended, therapeutic effect?
I often wonder this too. I came up with this idea from my experience, it has nothing to do with brain chemistry, though I think the chemical ideas are just as valid and very interesting. Side effects dont wear off you get used to them and they cease to be a bother or something you think about. Two examples; meds and hunger (like say mitrazapine). When you first start it the hunger hits you like an express train, your hungry all the time. After time you get used to that feeling of hungryness and it become your new 'zero level' of hungryness, you no longer feel hungry all the time because you have allowed yourself to be conditioned to that effect and ignore it, its become the norm and gradually you return to a normal eating pattern if it had gotten out of whack. Another example meds and sedation, you first take them and feel really tired, after time the level of tiredness becomes the norm. Eventually you no longer notice the level of tiredness anymore because it whats your used to even though compared to pre the drug you would have found that level of tiredness pretty bothersome. Gradually you return to feeling not so tired because you have shifted your internal level of tiredness scale.
I kinda think of it like a tongue peircing, it would irritate me to high heaven having the bar knocking around in my mouth all the time, but Im sure eventually I wouldnt even notice it.
I would guess this only works if the side effect is not so severe as to be unaccomodatable.
I think one reason I like this theory is that it plays well with the intended effect. The drug hopefully has its therapeutic effect and gradually it becomes your norm, so you still stay happier or whatever.
Buns
poster:xbunny
thread:517833
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050622/msgs/517995.html