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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Simus on July 21, 2004, at 22:20:12
Larry,
Sorry to be a pest, but I have had a question in the back of my mind for a while with no one to ask...until I just now thought of you.
When I was on SSRIs (for about 8 years), I was VERY sensitive to food additives (excitotoxins). I had to watch labels very carefully. Accidentally getting Chinese food with MSG once almost sent me to the emergency room. Now I am on Wellbutrin, no SSRIs, and I notice little sensitivity to food additives at all. Any ideas why?
(Don't spend a lot of time on research if you don't know the answer. I am just curious.)
Thanks.
Simus
Posted by Larry Hoover on July 22, 2004, at 6:45:34
In reply to Larry - Food Sensitivity Question, posted by Simus on July 21, 2004, at 22:20:12
> Larry,
>
> Sorry to be a pest,Banish the thought.
> but I have had a question in the back of my mind for a while with no one to ask...until I just now thought of you.
I like being thought of, and I like being thought of for that.
> When I was on SSRIs (for about 8 years), I was VERY sensitive to food additives (excitotoxins). I had to watch labels very carefully. Accidentally getting Chinese food with MSG once almost sent me to the emergency room. Now I am on Wellbutrin, no SSRIs, and I notice little sensitivity to food additives at all. Any ideas why?
>
> (Don't spend a lot of time on research if you don't know the answer. I am just curious.)
>
> Thanks.
>
> SimusPure speculation....
SSRIs tend to inhibit glutamate and aspartate release in the brain. When a neurotransmitter is released at a reduced rate, post-synaptic receptors can be up-regulated (they become more sensitive, in some cases, or their number increases, in others). That gives some potency back to the weaker signal caused by reduced overall release. If you up-regulated e.g. glutamate receptors while on the SSRI, external sources of glutamate (e.g. MSG in food) would have had magnified effects. The same goes with other excitotoxins, and their respective receptor-mediated effects.
Lar
Posted by Simus on July 23, 2004, at 1:25:05
In reply to Re: Larry - Food Sensitivity Question » Simus, posted by Larry Hoover on July 22, 2004, at 6:45:34
Thanks, Larry.
Just out of curiosity, what do you think about MSG and "excitotoxins" in general? Are they a great evil, or just a minor no-no?
Simus
Posted by Larry Hoover on August 14, 2004, at 16:17:23
In reply to Re: Larry - Food Sensitivity Question » Larry Hoover, posted by Simus on July 23, 2004, at 1:25:05
> Thanks, Larry.
>
> Just out of curiosity, what do you think about MSG and "excitotoxins" in general? Are they a great evil, or just a minor no-no?
>
> SimusI am very sensitive to MSG, but that said, a little bit seems to be almost addictive. I notice that when I eat foods with flavour enhancers (there are numerous ways of adding MSG without calling it MSG), I get a bit of a lift. Too much, though, and I get quite sick feeling, and a huge headache.
I know I'm sensitive to some colouring agents, too. The issue is not only the substance, but also the dose. And, as I mentioned somewhere else today, I discovered that taurine was an excellent antidote for MSG overdose from Chinese food take-out.
Lar
This is the end of the thread.
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