Question about pot and Dopamine levels + SSRI's?

[Octarine]

Hello BLerrs I have a question, which may be stupid but I'd like to know what anyone thinks.
If someone takes SSRI'S for say depression, this would increase serotonin but decrease dopamine levels.

Now I know cannabis increases dopamine levels, but do you think after prolonged SSRI use and lowered levels of dopamine, indulging in THC would make the person feel "normal"?

Even though temporarily, or however long it takes for the flood of dopamine to decrease back to lowered states.

I have limited knowledge on this shitkaya but please let me know why I am wrong/somewhat right

Thanks for the time

 

[neversickanymore]

This night get better answers in a different forum .. ADD or BDD may work better for this.. hope you find your answer. But remember for every up of dopamine there is a resulting low, so if MJ does make someone feel normal then there will be a resulting period where they will feel even more "un normal".

I would suggest exercise, thirty minutes of aerobic a day..

 

[sekio]

If someone takes SSRI'S for say depression, this would increase serotonin but decrease dopamine levels.

Where'd you read this?

This study suggests dopamine levels actually *rise* a small amount after SSRI administration.

Twelve healthy control subjects underwent two PET scans performed on the same day following i.v. administration of saline (Scan 1) and citalopram (Scan 2, 40 mg, i.v.). The [11C]-raclopride data were analyzed with a graphical analysis method using the cerebellum as the input function. Plasma levels of citalopram, cortisol, and prolactin were measured. The citalopram concentrations peaked at the end of infusion (EOI) and remained relatively consistent from 30 min to 3 h postinfusion. An increase in cortisol and prolactin concentrations was observed from the EOI until 60 min after the EOI. A significant decrease in striatal D2 receptor availability was observed after citalopram infusion (-5%), presumably due to an increase in endogenous dopamine concentrations. In summary, i.v. administration of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, citalopram, produced modest reductions in striatal D2 receptor availability, consistent with other human [11C]-raclopride studies using less pharmacologically selective serotonergic agents.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18925655


Either way, "dopamine levels" are not directly measurable in humans, and very in different parts of the brain. Dopamine release in some neurons may simply regulate movement of muscles, whereas in others it will effect mood or reward circuits. So when you say something "raises dopamine levels", it doesn't necessarily mean it makes you feel good.

If, hypothetically, dopamine levels were decreased, using a drug like cannabis or cocaine would not be an appropriate remedy, because they only produce a temporary elevation in dopamine concentration. Even then... there's no guarantee they'd make you feel any better. You would have more luck with eating a diet higher in protein and vitamins, & getting lots of exercise.


A more prudent question to ask would be, does cannabis use reduce the side effects from SSRI usage? I think that would be personally dependent. If you don't have problems with anxiety, it's probably worth a try.