Schizophrenia

[haribo1]

Some years ago, a friend of mine developed schizophrenia, was hospitalised, home, back a few times then totally disappeared. It's all very sad for his friends. Recently I've been doing some research (well, search engine... so basic research).
He was given Flupentixol (Depixol) which worked, but had such nasty side-effects (dysphoria being one) that he decided not to take it and yep, back into Ward 28 (male secure ward of local hospital, ward 29 for women).
Having read up on the drug, I was amazed that they failed to try the newer neuroleptics. I am guessing, but I bet cost was an issue.
Now I'm reading that whereas all the current drugs work on the dopamine pathway (and some the serotonin pathway as well) BUT, there is something new.

LY2140023

It is described as a prodrug and works on the glutamate pathway. Schizophrenia is such a nasty, nasty thing to live with. A medicine that both treats the symptoms while allowing the persons emotions & intellect to work fully would be amazing.

In fairness, it has to be said that some sufferers actually accept and even enjoy the 'voices' so that's a good, non invasive way to go.

I wonder, has anyone got information on the latest data on treatment?

 

[haribo1]

Oh, I should make it clear that the concept of 'dual diagnosis' is becoming more widely accepted. My friend smoked a lot of hashish all the time, but since cannabidol is known to posess neuroleptic properties, it's unclear if the drug caused the illness or was, in fact, keeping it at bay.

 

[IlostaMadge]

I thought NMDA targetting drugs had pretty much taken over D2 antagonists in the treatment of Schizophrenia.

I think that the correlation between mental illness and drug use is as a result of self medication, rather than a causal relationship.

Sorry far too much in the future, NMDA promoting drugs are being investigated at this moment in time.

In a study mice with far fewer NMDA receptors tended to avoid social contact with each other.

 

[negrogesic]

I thought NMDA targetting drugs had pretty much taken over D2 antagonists in the treatment of Schizophrenia.

^^^Such as?

I was wondering when such a drug would be marketed, LY2140023 sounds promising. Is it still in phase II?

 

[STACYS2HIGH]

The last I knew about also is NMDA. HAIRBO-By the way-(greenlighter status still, so I couldn't Prv. Mess. you back) would very much like to talk to you. Email me [email protected]-thankx

 

[IlostaMadge]

Oh man, I do love a good spamming, my hands are all tingly in anticipation.

I'll pm him for you dude, edit out the email addy.

 

[TRPPNASS_DSCOMONKE]

why, nobody likey haribo1? or is stacy a cop :0

 

[STACYS2HIGH]

Thankx

 

[freqsoft]

There's recent evidence to support the claim that schizophrenia and many other mental illnesses are infectious-like in behavior and can be treated as such:

Children hospitalized for mumps or cytomegalovirus infection were more likely to have psychotic illnesses, including schizophrenia, as adults. Prior studies have shown that in utero exposure to such viruses, particularly those that attack the central nervous system, also can have this effect.

Researchers at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring, Md., and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore found that infection with Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite transmitted by cats and farm animals, preceded the emergence of schizophrenic symptoms. Numerous previous studies have linked the two, and the authors say although it is still not conclusive, these data are one step closer to confirming that infection as a possible cause.

D2 and 5-HT2A receptor antagonists are much safer than NMDA antagonists. Would you rather take Paliperidone or Ketamine during a bad trip (best example for a schizophrenic episode I can think of, and I've had both)? The problem is D2's only work just barely better than placebo. I find relief with benzodiazepines but unfortunately they cause sleep paralysis with me! Anyone else with similar symptoms from Alprazolam or other benzo's?

About cannabinoids: I do experience paranoia and psychosis on marijuana, however the benefits of an appetite and suppression of obsessive/compulsive behavior is worth it. All cannabis smokers have at one point been "too high" and experienced this themselves. "I can hear my heart beating! Oh no!" is a common exclamation. I will admit that it may increase these effects on someone schizophrenic. Whether or not is CAUSES this I would doubt, but I do not know. I believe the condition is pre-existing in those suspected of being turned schizo from weed.

 

[Psychedelics_r_best]

Prenatal exposure to certain viruses has been correllated to development of schizophrenia.

Now, it appears that schizophrenia is indeed linked to the dopamine system. It is possible that exposure to these viruses effects the development of the dopamine system. Now, things on any scale of multiple atomic particles, as we no doubt are, change gradually. So the way we interpet out environment effects the dopamine system. Now, when people develop schizophrenia the dopamine system must be being influenced in some manner. We know that amphetamine abuse can modify the dopamine system in such a way so as to induce schizophrenic symptoms. It is likely amphetamine induced psychosis is more temporary because amphetamine abuse is a quicker period of interaction with the brain than the sustained interactions over a persons life that induce schizophrenia.

Consistant with amphetamine psychosis, the dopamine receptors should be upregulated in schizophrenia. Now it is likely that if in schizophrenic individuals dopamine receptors are upregulated, there is a buildup of dopamine in the synapse as the brain attempts to compensate. This is consistant with schizophrenic individuals.

The dopamine system is responsible for pleasure derived from social interaction, food consumption, and other such activities. Now, in schizophrenic individuals it should be likely that as a child they felt socially isolated. Many children feel this way and instead develop depressive tendencies.

Now, my sister felt "socially deprived" as a child and developed depressive tendencies. I.E. wrist cutting, social withdrawal from our family by behaving off-standish, and on a few occassions acting based on imaginary things. However, she did not exhibit out right schizophrenia, and may have even been faking her hallucinations for attention.

My hypothesis would be that the viruses that are correlated with schizophrenia cause an impact on the dopamine system such that instead of developing depressive tendencies, people develop these hallucinations to cope with their social withdrawal. Perhaps in severe cases one is "forced" into the interpretation that they are socially isolated and thus develop the symptoms.

I would suspect that very coherent social support, possibly with aid of light psychedelic or serotonin acting compound, would be more effective in combating depression and possibly schizophrenia than any pharmaceutical.

 

[haribo1]

All of the first generation of neuroleptics seemed to mediate their effect vis the D2 receptors. Newer ones go for 5HT & D2 receptors. I don't think I know of any (on the market) neuroleptic working on NMDA pathway.

 

[bingey]

^
how come schizophrenia usually manifests after puberty (like in the early 20's) if it was caused by a virus before birth?

 

[nuke]

D2 and 5-HT2A receptor antagonists are much safer than NMDA antagonists

D2 antagonists are in the longtime very dangerous, as they pretty much all have about a 99.9% chance of causing parkinson's-like motor disorders within 1-3 decades of use. Many patients are forced to discontinue them because of the severity of this side effect; this is precisely why there's been so much research into glutamate recently (not to mention even the newer both 5TH2 and D2 antagonists only have about an 18% efficacy in treating schizophrenia, which is not much different from the first generation neuroleptics).

Schizophrenia trials 'promising'

There are many different drug treatments for schizophrenia

The first human trial of a new schizophrenia drug has yielded promising results, report scientists.

What sets apart the experimental drug from all other antipsychotics is its target in the brain - glutamate receptors rather than dopamine.

Patients treated with "LY2140023" showed improvements in symptoms and few side effects.

Experts said the Nature Medicine study, by drug firm Eli Lilly, was promising and should prompt further trials.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6971037.stm

 

[TRPPNASS_DSCOMONKE]

they should have stuck with treppaning.

 

[haribo1]

The neuroleptics are appalingly bad and treatment is usually finding a balance between symptoms & side-effects. There have been literally hundreds of papers showing a connection between all number of outside agents and the illness, non of them have thus far proved to be true.

 

[Psychedelics_r_best]

^
how come schizophrenia usually manifests after puberty (like in the early 20's) if it was caused by a virus before birth?

It might simply be the time at which the developing brain is prone to, after the period of development it takes to get to this point, express the physical traits that cause the symptoms.

I am not assuming this, I read an article on a correlational study in Scientific American, which seemed to be quite thorough. Sorry I can't cite the article. You'll just have to trust me or search google.