Posted by Bob P (129.65.46.87) on May 01, 2000 at 13:42:58:
In Reply to: Seratonin Levels posted by cheryl allman on May 01, 2000 at 13:08:54:
People pop themselves while on Prozac because they are taking it for deep depression. It's the depression not the Prozac that makes them off themselves. The warnings on the package say to monitor the depressed patient becasue suicide is a possibility in depressive cases. It is an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor).
Also, most of the drugs we use, triptans, etc, are serotonin agonists not antagonists. Antagonists block the action of serotonin. Agonists act like serotonin, attaching to the same receptor sites as serotonin. Serotonin is also what causes the smooth muscle tissue around the blood vessels to constrict. So the triptans act like serotonin, attach to the serotonin receptor sites and trigger the contraction of the smooth muscle causing the vessels to constrict.
OR
The triptans (agonist) attach to the serotonin sites. The level of serotonin (5-HT) builds up in the neural synapse because it has nowhere to go. The body thinks it has enough 5-HT and stops producing it.
Somebody point me to an article that confirms which way it works please.
lyg
Bob P