Posted by morganpmiller on June 20, 2009, at 23:12:08
In reply to Re: Valium defeats Prozac's antidepressant effects?, posted by SLS on June 19, 2009, at 17:23:07
> > Well, there have been studies in which mice responded to fluoxetine independant of neurogenesis. Also, some mice strains actually do not show neurogenesis in response to fluoxetine.
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> I would not be surprised to hear this. I think that neurogenesis occurs latent to the antidepressant response. Also, in order for there to be measurable neurogenesis, there might have to be atrophy in the first place. I believe that hippocampal atrophy is latent to the onset of depression, rather than being its cause.
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> Just a bunch of guesses.
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>
> - ScottI agree with your hypothesis Scott..I don't think we are born with hippocampal atrophy. Then again, I don't think most of us are born with major chemical imbalances. These things happen over time with depression/emotional issues or other trauma. Yes, some of us are more predisposed to our chemicals being thrown out of balance and our hippocampus atrophying. So there are sensitivities/pedispositions that exist at birth.
I believe the damage to the hippocampus does contribute to making it much harder and harder to recover from depression.
I also do not think anyone should be on any benzo when starting an SSRI or other antidepressant unless the anxiety is so severe that it is preventing the person from functioning. And, if after 4 to 6 weeks, on the AD the anxiety has not begun to subside significantly, maybe add the benzo in cases of moderate anxiety. I just wonder if people are tolerating their anxiety as much as they could, and doing other things to help manage it.
Just like with alcohol, benzo(CNS depressant) does not mix well with AD. Sorry if I annoy or offend anyone with my opinion. I just think benzos are over prescribed and we need to give the AD a good try and suck it up for a little longer before settling for what I believe should be a last resort in many cases.
poster:morganpmiller
thread:902045
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090620/msgs/902360.html