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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tampagirl70 on June 24, 2004, at 8:36:16
i must say that i'm quite impressed with your knowledge of the chemistry of these disorders. are you a doctor?
my real question is this: i've read about OCD, my main problem, and i know that serotonin is involved, but when it comes to the 5HT things and other neurons and transmitters and all of those scientific things, i get lost. what's happening with OCD (i know there's a gap in the information getting from point A to point B and the more serotonin that's available, the better), what transmitters are involved and what should i look for in a medicine to help with it? i'm taking celexa 40mg right now and it does the job for me, but after reading your post about how everything poops out eventually, i want to know where i can go when/if i need to.
thanks, TG
Posted by linkadge on June 24, 2004, at 8:57:11
In reply to linkadge: have a question for you, posted by tampagirl70 on June 24, 2004, at 8:36:16
Generally OCD is an attention problem. People with OCD tend to become overfocused on certain issues. They seem very obstanant, unable to back up and let go.
Dopamine is a chemical highly involved in concentration, and motivation. Stimulants like ritalin and caffiene increase dopamine, and hence concentration. When taken in *excess* they tend to make people very obsessive, repeating the same things over and over. It is thought that in certain areas of the OCD brain, dopamine levels are in excess. Here is where serotonin comes in.
Serotonin and dopamine work in kind of a ying/yang system. Raising dopamine lowers serotonin and vice versa. Serotonin is referred to as an inhibitory neurotransmitter. Boosting serotonin facilitates inhibition, by lowering dopamine, and decreasing repetitive, overfocused behaviors. A properly working serotonin system allows one to pull back out of a situation, and see the whole picture.
It is most likely a little more complex than this, but this is the general idea.
This is also why antipsychotics have some utility in OCD, because the block dopamine receptors, and reduce that overactive dopamine drive.
As far as poop out goes, you may be luckier. Surprisingly (from what I've heard) OCD medications poop out less for OCD symptoms then they do for depression. The reason for this is also unclear.
Hope this helps a little.
Linkadge (not a doctor)
Posted by zeugma on June 24, 2004, at 16:45:08
In reply to Re: linkadge: have a question for you, posted by linkadge on June 24, 2004, at 8:57:11
As far as poop out goes, you may be luckier. Surprisingly (from what I've heard) OCD medications poop out less for OCD symptoms then they do for depression. The reason for this is also unclear.
Hope this helps a little.>
The serotonin/dopamine system may be more involved in the etiology of OCD than it is of depression, hence the lower liability of poopout. see my post above.
Posted by linkadge on June 24, 2004, at 16:52:54
In reply to Re: linkadge: have a question for you, posted by zeugma on June 24, 2004, at 16:45:08
I think you are right. Low dopamine might cause apathy and depression, but should not make OCD symptoms worse.
Linkadge
This is the end of the thread.
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