werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner) (08/13/85)
> <> > > I am interested in finding out about chemical depression. > Used to alleviate it is > the drug imapramine, an anti-depressant. > > Chris Grevstad One of the theories of depression is that it is caused by a lack of 'biogenic amines,' a group of substances that are used as Neurotransmitters, i.e. messengers from one nerve to another in the brain. These include Norepinephrine (more popularly called Nor-adrenalin) and Serotonin (which outside the brain behaves a lot like histamine.) Both of these chemicals are Stimulants (excitatory to other neurons and when appropriate, to smooth muscle, etc.) So it makes sense that a lack of them would be implicated in Depression. The antidepressants fall into two categories: 1. The tricyclic compounds. - these block the reuptake of the transmitter. (You have to understand how the system works. The presynaptic neuron releases the transmitter into the synapse. While in the synapse it excites the postsynaptic neuron. There are then two ways to get rid of it - gather it back into the neuron that released it (reuptake) or have it destroyed by the neuron receiving it - a kind of cellular "Enough already.") Since reuptake is blocked, the transmitter lingers longer in the synapse and has more effect. 2. The Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) inhibitors - MAO is the enzyme that destroys the transmitters. Disable the enzyme, and the transmitter stick around longer. Imipramine is a Tricyclic (as is Desipramine, Tripramine, Amitryptiline - also called Elavil, Doxepin, and Amoxapine) MAO inhibitors are Isocaboxazid, Phenelzine, Tranylcypromine. And presumably many others, and the above probably go by numerous trade names. Presumably, there are good reasons for preferring one to another, but since I am not a clinical psychiatrist, I cannot give that information. -- Craig Werner !philabs!aecom!werner "The world is just a straight man for you sometimes"