Dear List,
I'm typing this through my daughter.
There's a new book on the market called _Prozac
Backlash_ [ISBN 0-684-86001-5] by Joseph Glenmullen, M.D., a Harvard clinical
instructor in psychiatry. In the book he cites many sources indicating
that the popular anti-depressants (the Prozac family, including Zoloft, Paxil,
Luvox, Remeron, et cetera -- serotonin reuptake inhibitors) lower dopamine
levels in the brain, in a seesaw effect: the higher the serotonin is
boosted (inhibited from reabsorption), the lower the dopamine levels are
reported to be.
The four primary side effects of the Prozac family
are tics, agitation, muscle spasms, and parkinsonism. From the book:
"Many authors have described cases where serotonin boosters dramatically
worsened parkinsonian symptoms in patients with pre-existing Parkinson's
disease." (page 42). He also references the fact that early
Parkinson's (internal tremor) is often misdiagnosed as anxiety or depression,
resulting in prescriptions for Prozac-family anti-depressants or Valium-family
anti-anxiety tranquilizers.
Today I spoke with my primary PD doctor, who
discounts the theory that serotonin reuptake inhibitors could possibly lower
brain dopamine. The only anti-depressant listed in the book which is
reported to BOOST dopamine is Wellbutrin. My doctor said there's no way to
monitor what Wellbutrin is doing in regards to dopamine levels.
Are any listmates taking Wellbutrin? Has
anyone's primary PD doctor discussed the possibility that serotonin reuptake
inhibitors might possibly lower brain dopamine?