Glucocorticoids receptors

[John]

In Central Nervous System structures, the glucocorticoid receptor is gaining interest as a novel representative of neuroendocrine integration, functioning as a major component of endocrine influence - specifically the stress response - upon the brain. The receptor is now implicated in both short and long-term adaptations seen in response to stressors and may be critical to the understanding of psychological disorders, including some or all subtypes of depression.^[12]Indeed, long-standing observations such as the mood dysregulations typical of Cushing's disease demonstrate the role of corticosteroids in regulating psychologic state; recent advances have demonstrated interactions with norepinephrine andserotonin at the neural level.^[13]

 

Interestingly, emerging research suggests that certain psychoactive drugs, like those used to treat anxiety and depression, may stabilize mood not only by acting upon neurotransmitter levels, but by modulating the action of glucocorticoids receptors within the brain (Anacker 2011). These new findings strongly support the idea that in order to alleviate mood disorders, controlling stress response is an important aspect of treatment. Indeed, several genetic and epidemiological studies have linked excessive stress, and the inability to efficiently adapt to stress, to increased rates of anxiety and depression (Strohle 2003; Binder 2010).

 

 

So theoretically if some people are going through withdrawal or even the AD might of been atrophying the glucocorticoid receptors which is like the theory of it atrophying the serotonin receptors, then possibly this is why some people have very high cortisol because it prevented the receptors from reuptaking the cortisol?

[John]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110412065800.htm

 

This is a writeup on the discovery that depressive patients have a slowdown of hypocampus neurogenesis of glucocortisoid receptors, and how this discovery can lead to new treatments.  This also explains how current antidepressants work in some people, since they also work on glucocortisoid receptors in about 50% of people.  Also while there check at the right hand column where theres other concerning topics like "taking ADs can cause more harm than good.", and "ADs might increase your relapse rate."

[Rhiannon]

This is interesting in the context of HPA dysregulation and autonomic dysfunction and problems with cortisol during withdrawal. Less so, to me, in the context of how ADs "work," since the stats show that they actually mostly don't work better than placebo, except in cases of severe depression. (In all my years working on withdrawal forums I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of people I've encountered who were initiated on ADs due to severe depression. Maybe half the fingers come to think of it.)

[Rhiannon]

John, do you have an intro thread in Introductions and Updates? If not, it would be great if you'd start one--people are more likely to find you there and that's where we generally keep up with each other and give advice and follow each others' progress.

 

I only looked down the first page so if you have one it's probably just on another page.

[Altostrata]

John, please post links to all quotations.

 

You will often find announcements of researchers discovering this or that neurotransmitter or receptor and theorizing this might be the key to some enormous breakthrough in psychiatry. Currently, researchers are looking for the next brain drug blockbuster treating Alzheimer's or dementia.

 

This has been going on for decades. 30 years ago, the breathless announcements were about serotonin. You know where that led.

 

Take all such information with a grain of salt. There are dozens if not hundreds of neurohormones that act on the brain and nervous system. None of them are single-purpose. They all work in concert for our health. Jiggering any one of them often causes unanticipated consequences, usually to the detriment of the autonomic nervous system.

 

While you might find such information interesting, there is no one in the world who can say what it might mean in your particular case, and certainly no one on this site who can do so.

[John]

There are links there.  What i'm wondering is if someone who is not depressed takes these pills, and it grows additional cortisol receptors, and cortisol is increased and the brain is absorbing more cortisol, if it would make one more anxious than ever.