SSRI's and down-regulation of 5ht receptor sites..

[rickolasnice]

I read on here (or somewhere) someone saying that SSRIs cause down regulation of 5ht receptor sites.. is this true? Would this not ultimately cause the opposite of the desired affect?

 

[chicpoena]

Yes, downregulation of 5HT receptor sites is the PURPOSE of SSRIs. It's often called 'receptor dieback.' You are right that this ultimately causes the opposite of the desired effect stated by the advertising campaigns (low serotonin=depression; SSRIs end depression by increasing serotonin).

The brain adjusts to the excess of serotonin caused by the reuptake inhibitor by shrinking/killing off the serotonin producing pumps and receptors. Its a vicious cycle that makes its users become physically dependent on the SSRI to maintain serotonin levels. Many researchers think the effectiveness of SSRIs is due to this receptor dieback! SSRIs, which are only 34% effective to begin with, lose their effectiveness with time as the body habituates to their effects. They are really terrible drugs for your body even though they can help people.

You can read more on this in The Anti-Depressant Fact Book and Prozac Backlash, both of which were written by highly respected and experienced psychiatrists.

 

[Chaos Butterfly]

I'm going to shift this over to Advanced Drug Discussion. It could go well in a few forums, but for the hard science of it, lets shift to ADD

 

[rickolasnice]

Yes, downregulation of 5HT receptor sites is the PURPOSE of SSRIs. It's often called 'receptor dieback.' You are right that this ultimately causes the opposite of the desired effect stated by the advertising campaigns (low serotonin=depression; SSRIs end depression by increasing serotonin).

The brain adjusts to the excess of serotonin caused by the reuptake inhibitor by shrinking/killing off the serotonin producing pumps and receptors. Its a vicious cycle that makes its users become physically dependent on the SSRI to maintain serotonin levels. Many researchers think the effectiveness of SSRIs is due to this receptor dieback! SSRIs, which are only 34% effective to begin with, lose their effectiveness with time as the body habituates to their effects. They are really terrible drugs for your body even though they can help people.

You can read more on this in The Anti-Depressant Fact Book and Prozac Backlash, both of which were written by highly respected and experienced psychiatrists.

Wouldn't this mean that when medication is stopped the patient will be worse?

 

[Black]

Wouldn't this mean that when medication is stopped the patient will be worse?

there will be withdrawal symptoms if the medication is stopped aprubtly

 

[七×風]

The brain adjusts to the excess of serotonin caused by the reuptake inhibitor by shrinking/killing off the serotonin producing pumps and receptors.

Do the "pumps and receptors" grow back after you quit the Drug? If so, how long would it take?

 

[rickolasnice]

Mods plz merge this thread into How SSRIs REALLY work.. or not.. Just thought it would be alot tidier and easier to get the information that people want from that 1 thread as it pretty much answers these questions.

 

[MurphyClox]

Do the "pumps and receptors" grow back after you quit the Drug? If so, how long would it take?

Yep, they normally "grow back". I think we are talking about a range of weeks to months here...