Posted by linkadge on April 2, 2006, at 18:49:56
In reply to Re: melatonin, the FST, and 5-HT2(A) » jrbecker, posted by zeugma on April 2, 2006, at 11:06:24
You posted an article a while back about the importance, in psychiatric disorders, of the functionality of 5-h1a vs. 5-ht2a.
5-ht2a antagonists like cyproheptadine have melatonergic properties. I think that blocking 5-ht2a at the right time in the night can increase melatonin production.
I also mentioned anandamide, the endogenious "bliss molecule", acts to potentiate 5-ht1a and antagonize 5-ht2a receptor responces.
There are anandamide uptake inhibitors in the pipelines.
Prozac, significantly decreases melatonin excretion, probably via indirect stimulation of 5-ht2a.See:
http://bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/abstract/166/2/196
Also according to a few sites, melatonin reduced the antidepressant effect of fluoxetine, or desipramine. (do a google search on fluoxetine + melatonin). So taken together, melatonin and SSRI's must affect depression in different ways.
I think some studies have found that melatonin is of use in schizophrenic disorders, perhaps the combination of antioxidant and serotonergic receptor regulation may have a favorable impact on the course of illness.
Since melatonin is a powerful antioxidant, I would be concerned about taking medications that can reduce the levels of the hormone, ie SSRI's.
It is probably why we such a surge in the coadminstration of SSRI's and atypical antipsychotics. I think that if we had potent 5-ht2a antagonists, we might be able to more safely tackle such problems with SSRI's.
Linkadge
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URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060329/msgs/627971.html