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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
ssri medications
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
ssri medications
by Carol55, Jan 26, 2001 12:00AM
Hello,
I have a question that deals with the effects of ssri anti depressants. I have been doing a lot of reading on the internet, and I read a detailed article about the possibility of the newer ssri's, like paxil, zoloft; if taken long term, can cause the possibility of tardive dyskenesia. Not at first, but maybe showing up years from now. It said it is because it inhibits the dopamine? The reason I'm asking is, my close friend, had taken a low dose of thorazine, 10 mgs. twice daily for about ten yrs. Doesn't this med inhibit dopamine, too? She is not taking this anymore as of 3 yrs now. But anxiety is a real problem for her. She refuses to take anything, especially if she reads something like the article I mentioned. Because of her thorazine use for many yrs. would this increase her risk of tardive dyskenesia? I don't want to start a panic over TD, but, just how well do we know long term effects of the ssri's? Have there been any case reports of TD? Any help would be appreciated. And should I encourage her to begin this med? She is not psychotic, was given chloropromazine by a family doc for anxiety,etc, with the assumption it was non addictive. For some reason this article said the safest meds to try would be serzone or remeron.
Thank you
Christine
I have a question that deals with the effects of ssri anti depressants. I have been doing a lot of reading on the internet, and I read a detailed article about the possibility of the newer ssri's, like paxil, zoloft; if taken long term, can cause the possibility of tardive dyskenesia. Not at first, but maybe showing up years from now. It said it is because it inhibits the dopamine? The reason I'm asking is, my close friend, had taken a low dose of thorazine, 10 mgs. twice daily for about ten yrs. Doesn't this med inhibit dopamine, too? She is not taking this anymore as of 3 yrs now. But anxiety is a real problem for her. She refuses to take anything, especially if she reads something like the article I mentioned. Because of her thorazine use for many yrs. would this increase her risk of tardive dyskenesia? I don't want to start a panic over TD, but, just how well do we know long term effects of the ssri's? Have there been any case reports of TD? Any help would be appreciated. And should I encourage her to begin this med? She is not psychotic, was given chloropromazine by a family doc for anxiety,etc, with the assumption it was non addictive. For some reason this article said the safest meds to try would be serzone or remeron.
Thank you
Christine
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Jan 31, 2001 12:00AM
, Jan 31, 2001 12:00AM
With regard to the question about tardive dyskinesa and ssri's,the
likelihood is extremely low. I am not aware of any case reports of such an
association, but the pdr does have "dyskenisia' as a possible side effect.
ssris have been out worldwide for over twenty years, if there was any
significant incidence of td, we would know it by now. the causal mechanism
of td is thought to be the relative lack of dopamine at certain nerve
endings;ssris generally have minimal,if any effect , on dopaminergic nerves
and tend to produce the opposite effect, ie., a relative excess of dopamine.
The friend who took the thorazine probably has no significant risk for
td since it was such a low dose
likelihood is extremely low. I am not aware of any case reports of such an
association, but the pdr does have "dyskenisia' as a possible side effect.
ssris have been out worldwide for over twenty years, if there was any
significant incidence of td, we would know it by now. the causal mechanism
of td is thought to be the relative lack of dopamine at certain nerve
endings;ssris generally have minimal,if any effect , on dopaminergic nerves
and tend to produce the opposite effect, ie., a relative excess of dopamine.
The friend who took the thorazine probably has no significant risk for
td since it was such a low dose
