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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ben on May 13, 2002, at 6:38:00
I was on Celexa, Paxil and Zoloft and each of these SSRIs made me more sedated/ tired the higher the dose. Paxil was most sedating of the three and initially they made me all tired except Zoloft (agitation).
I heard from a lot of others reacting the same way. Of course there many who get agitated instead of tired. (esp. the first two weeks a lot of us are getting nervous, agitated and anxious). Some can sleep on SSRIs very well and others cant.
And why do the SSRIs can cause "blahness" (carrying about nothing) or increased yawning ?Is there any theory or explanation to that phenomenas (except that we all react different) ? I think the more serotonin, the more sedation/tiredness is experienced (doesnt serotonin syndrom causes exhaustion.......somnolence up to loss of awearness ?)
Posted by djmmm on May 13, 2002, at 8:02:34
In reply to more serotonine = more sedation/tiredness ?!, posted by ben on May 13, 2002, at 6:38:00
It's not serotonin syndrome...serotonin syndrome is more of an acute state of specific symptoms.
I believe what you are talking about is sort of a syndrome many long term SSRI users experience marked by a lack of appropriate anxiety, and apathy. To date there are a few theories mainly centered around overstimulation of serotonin receptors (too much serotonin) and the effects of this on other neurotransmitter systems (mainly dopamine)
The fact is, this lack of anxiety is *exactly* what these medications were designed to cause, The real problems begins when doses get too high. Many problems are caused by consistantly high serotonin levels, apathy being only one. Most Docs add drugs like Buspar, which decreases serotonin synthesis, to counteract this problem. Other drugs like wellbutrin and stimulants are also often added to boost dopamine and norepinephrine..two major neurotransmitters adversly effected by significant and consistantly high serotonin levels.
Increased yawning seems to be connected to serotonin, dopamine and oxytocinergic neurons. There is also a connection to the stretching response and a subgroup of serotonin receptors (5-HT1a).
I don't think there is really an explanation of why some people get agitated and others get tired. It is hard to determine the cause of such reactions when the exact mechanism, and resulting actions of these meds is still very much "in the air"
Posted by ben on May 13, 2002, at 12:41:51
In reply to Re: more serotonine = more sedation/tiredness ?!, posted by djmmm on May 13, 2002, at 8:02:34
> It's not serotonin syndrome...serotonin syndrome is more of an acute state of specific symptoms.
Yes, know that. Thought it could be a "pseudoserotonergic" syndrome (minor symptoms).
> I believe what you are talking about is sort of a syndrome many long term SSRI users experience marked by a lack of appropriate anxiety, and apathy. To date there are a few theories mainly centered around overstimulation of serotonin receptors (too much serotonin) and the effects of this on other neurotransmitter systems (mainly dopamine)
This could lead to dopamine depletion ?!¨
> The fact is, this lack of anxiety is *exactly* what these medications were designed to cause, The real problems begins when doses get too high. Many problems are caused by consistantly high serotonin levels, apathy being only one. Most Docs add drugs like Buspar, which decreases serotonin synthesis, to counteract this problem. Other drugs like wellbutrin and stimulants are also often added to boost dopamine and norepinephrine..two major neurotransmitters adversly effected by significant and consistantly high serotonin levels.
I never heard that buspirone increases the synthesis of serotonine directly (from 5-HT) ?
> Increased yawning seems to be connected to serotonin, dopamine and oxytocinergic neurons. There is also a connection to the stretching response and a subgroup of serotonin receptors (5-HT1a).
Thats probably related to bruxism and myofacial pain.
> I don't think there is really an explanation of why some people get agitated and others get tired. It is hard to determine the cause of such reactions when the exact mechanism, and resulting actions of these meds is still very much "in the air"
Thanks for your inputs
This is the end of the thread.
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