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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pretty_paints on January 17, 2005, at 15:36:37
Hi Ed,
Thanks for your messages. How are you settling into things in Manchester? Are you actually back at Uni now?
You may have answered this already but I was wondering, what is your situation? I mean, mine is that I was at Uni but I left coz of depression, blah blah. If you don't mind answering, what are you doing at the mo? And what are you being treated for? And what are your meds?
Anyway, if you have any time to answer I have a little quick question. This week I'm starting on Aripiprazole. I know AP's work by decreasing dopamine levels in areas of the brain where there is too much. But the doc also said that this drug increases it in areas where there is not enough, so basically it constantly modulates the dopamine levels. ANYWAY the question is, is this specific to Aripiprazole do you know? Or do others of the atypicals do the same?
Anyway speak soon! Take care, Kate xxxx
Posted by banga on January 17, 2005, at 17:34:39
In reply to To Ed - The action of AP's, posted by pretty_paints on January 17, 2005, at 15:36:37
Sorry I'm not Ed--but I understand that it is indeed unique to Abilfy.
Posted by ed_uk on January 19, 2005, at 7:12:15
In reply to To Ed - The action of AP's, posted by pretty_paints on January 17, 2005, at 15:36:37
Hi Kate! Hope you are well :-)
>Are you actually back at Uni now?
I'm staying in a Hall of Residence at the moment- same one that I was at last year. My uni friends are currently taking their exams but I'm not!! I'll be doing them in August with the resit people if I can manage to motivate my self to do any work this term! Lectures start in two weeks time.
>I was wondering, what is your situation?
I didn't do any work last term so I couldn't sit the January exams. I was sleeping most the time and I just couldn't seem to motivate myself to do anything.
>And what are you being treated for? And what are your meds?
I'm not taking any medication at the moment. Up until recently I was taking lofepramine and citalopram for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression.
>Anyway, if you have any time to answer I have a little quick question. This week I'm starting on Aripiprazole. I know AP's work by decreasing dopamine levels in areas of the brain where there is too much. But the doc also said that this drug increases it in areas where there is not enough, so basically it constantly modulates the dopamine levels. ANYWAY the question is, is this specific to Aripiprazole do you know? Or do others of the atypicals do the same?
Aripiprazole acts as a dopamine partial agonist whereas the other atypical antipsychotics act as dopamine antagonists.
At the dopamine receptors in the brain, most antipsychotics act as antagonists- this means that they bind to the receptors but fail to 'activate' them. Because of this the effects of dopamine are blocked.
At the dopamine receptors in the brain, aripiprazole acts as a partial agonist- this means that it binds to the dopamine receptors and 'activates' them a little bit.... but not as much as dopamine. As a result, aripiprazole reduces the action of dopamine if a high concentration of dopamine is present, but mimics the action of dopamine in cases where very little dopamine is present. At the moment, there aren't any other antipsychotics on the market that have this effect.
Ed xxx
Posted by banga on January 19, 2005, at 13:18:22
In reply to Re: Aripiprazole, posted by ed_uk on January 19, 2005, at 7:12:15
Back to a question I asked before about Geodon vs Abilify---I know Geodon works powerfully on 5HT2a. What about Abilify? Does it have action on this site as well, or is it to a much lesser degree?
Posted by pretty_paints on January 19, 2005, at 14:22:38
In reply to Re: Aripiprazole » ed_uk, posted by banga on January 19, 2005, at 13:18:22
Hi Ed,
Thanks for your reply! What would the effect be of having too little dopamine? Is it the case that I could have too little dopamine in parts of my brain?
I'm worried that as it's only a partial antagonist (was that the word you used?), it won't stop delusions etc as well as the other APs. What do you think?
Posted by ed_uk on January 23, 2005, at 9:26:47
In reply to Re: Aripiprazole » ed_uk, posted by banga on January 19, 2005, at 13:18:22
Hello,
>I know Geodon works powerfully on 5HT2a. What about Abilify? Does it have action on this site as well, or is it to a much lesser degree?
Aripiprazole is also a potent 5-HT2a antagonist.
Regards,
Ed.
Posted by ed_uk on January 23, 2005, at 9:30:02
In reply to Re: Aripiprazole, posted by pretty_paints on January 19, 2005, at 14:22:38
Hi Katie,
>I'm worried that as it's only a partial antagonist (was that the word you used?), it won't stop delusions etc as well as the other APs. What do you think?
Partial agonist.In general, it is probably similarly effective, but it is impossible for me to predict which drug would be most effective for you- everyone responds differently!
Have you changed your medication yet?
Best,
Ed.
Posted by pretty_paints on January 23, 2005, at 12:04:06
In reply to Re: Aripiprazole » pretty_paints, posted by ed_uk on January 23, 2005, at 9:30:02
Hi Ed,
No I haven't. For some weird reason my pdoc wants my GP to prescribe it. She wants him to be "more involved". So I went to see him and said about the Aripiprazole but he's never heard of it or used it before, so we are waiting for a letter to get from the pdoc to him. Then I guess he'll know how to prescribe it. Maybe it's all to do with money.
I'm on just 450mg of Quetiapine in the evening now, so at least I am not sleeping all day long. I was practically in a coma before. Feeling a bit low though, might be related.
Anyway I'll let you know how things go.
Kate xxx
ps: Have you settled into things at Uni now?
Posted by ed_uk on January 23, 2005, at 12:20:34
In reply to Re: Aripiprazole, posted by pretty_paints on January 23, 2005, at 12:04:06
Hi!
>For some weird reason my pdoc wants my GP to prescribe it.
Sounds like a strange idea! I think it is all to do with money. You'll be able to start Abilify at a low dose because the 5mg pills have just been introduced in the UK.
>Have you settled into things at Uni now?
Lectures don't start for a week. I'm at home for the weekend. It's been really boring because none of my friends live in Manchester.
Ed xxx
Posted by banga on January 23, 2005, at 15:21:24
In reply to Re: Aripiprazole » banga, posted by ed_uk on January 23, 2005, at 9:26:47
Thanks Ed. I keep wondering if it is worth a try for anxiety, but people often comment that it actually can intensify anxiety.
This is the end of the thread.
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