This is one of the few posts of my own that I saved from the old forum. It explains a lot of what is going on here, so I thought it was worth a re-post.
This Video does a good job of explaining this too...
http://psychopharmacologyinstitute.com/ ... ion-ssris/
Long time users of this forum probably know this stuff, but I figured that putting it all together may help some users put this all together. It took me 3.5 months to get this info, and I want a new user (who may not be able to create an account because of Area attacking the forum) to be able to get it in one night, and not have to dig all over for it.
Simple Backround Info:
1) Genes: are simply instructions for the creation of proteins. They are part of your DNA
2)an autoreceptor: is a receptor that regulates the levels of a certain neurotransmitter. It senses how much (serotonin in this cause) of the neurotransmitter is currently in the...
3) Synapse: (the region between two nerve cells). This is where neurotransmitters are released to send chemical messages throughout the brain. There is a...
4) Pre-synaptic side: The side that sends out the neurotransmitters (Serotonin, Dopamine...etc) and a...
5) Postsynaptic Side: The side that receives these chemical signals and sends the messages to the next neuron.
6) 5-HT is the name for serotonin receptors in the brain.
I believe that the problem begins with the HTR1A gene that codes for the pre-synaptic 5-HT1A autoreceptor. There is part of this gene that codes for the sensitivity of this protein. SSRI's work by:
1) Inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin
2) desensitizing the 5-HT1A Autoreceptor, because the 5-HT1A autoreceptor controls serotonin release, it will continue pumping out serotonin when you already have enough. If you believe in the serotonin hypothesis of depression...then you should think this is good right! Well...not always. Simplifying the human brain is very dangerous indeed.
It's kind of like when a button on a remote wears out. The normal amount of pressure won't send the signal. You have to press harder to get it to work. In the same way, we have to press harder on the autoreceptor.
The SSRI alters the gene so that new 5-HT1A autoreceptors that are produced have desensitized bonding sites, and subsequently release too much serotonin...
So...you now have all kinds of serotonin floating around your synapses. You've not only released more serotonin, but you've also blocked re-uptake (removal) of it.
Confused? This video goes over the same concept.
http://psychopharmacologyinstitute.com/ ... ion-ssris/
Remember how I said it's dangerous to oversimplify the brain? Here's the perfect example. All that extra serotonin itself may not be the end of the world, but it causes a chain reaction that is devastating.
Directly, less stimulation of the 5-HT1A auto-receptor means that Oxytocin release is inhibited. (Bagdy, 1993) Oxytocin is the Intimacy and love hormone, and less of it would describe why PSSD sufferers often have a harder time feeling love or social connection. It also plays a role in the human orgasm.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8334526
Serotonin receptors on the postsynaptic side are now bombarded with Serotonin.
Serotonin receptors inhibit dopamine. That is because they act as a method of regulation. The more serotonin that binds to the heteroreceptor, the more dopamine release is inhibited. This receptor accepts binding of different neurotransmitters in different places, which have different affects on it, including regulation of dopamine release.
Nothing is wrong with the dopamine system itself. It all works perfectly fine...But the bombarding from serotonin tricks the brain into releasing less dopamine. Now the PSSD problem is spreading. Dopamine plays a HUGE role in the sexual response, and decreased levels are disastrous. This is the likely reason that PSSD sufferers have genital and body numbing, as well as emotional bluntness and apathy. Dopamine is the pleasure hormone...without it...you're just...depressed. Some people acquire symptoms such as RLS or parkinson's-like twitches because of this decrease in Dopamine release.
It just gets worse from here, because Dopamine inhibits Prolactin release. After sex, your body releases a lot of dopamine before dopamine levels recede. This allows prolactin release to occur, and is why you have a refractory period after sex where you are not aroused.
http://press.endocrine.org/doi/full/10. ... .22.6.0451
http://www.entelechyjournal.com/pulling ... r_sex1.htm
http://www.livestrong.com/article/27153 ... prolactin/
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/top ... /prolactin
So if dopamine is being consistently down-regulated because of serotonin bombardment...You will have higher prolactin levels, and a lower sex drive. I remember before SSRI's I'd always finish watching porn and then wonder "what the fuck was I just watching? I'm perverted as fuck"- Yep that's Prolactin.
For males, this isn't the end of the line. Highly elevated prolactin levels inhibit testosterone release. That's another sex drive killer, and the nail in the coffin for your sexuality. Testosterone is vital in sperm production.
I hope that this helps some people understand the vast complexity of this all, and allows them to piece the PSSD puzzle together.
