Seratonin and Endorphins?

Question

I was put on prozac last week and I noticed that I had a crazy manic episode one time. It happened when I took it in the morning and then at night I binged/purged three times in three hours (I am on it for bulimia). After I threw up I became quite manic. I couldn't stop talking at rapid speed and I couldn't stay still. Is this from the extra seratonin and then the release of endorphins?

any ideas?

Answer 1

Firstly, serotonin concentrations increase in the brain does not potentiate a psychotic or manic episode. dopamine is the neurotransmitter which can in certain patients cause a manic episode. this based on the dopamine hypothesis which displays evidence that an increase in dopamine concentrations in the mesocortical area of the brain can cause a manic episode. selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as prozac increases serotonin and has a minimal effect on the dopamine concentrations.

based on this it is highly unlikely that this manic episode was due exclusively to the drug. this phenomenon described is a classical example of the circumstances which arise when administring an anitidepressant to a bipolar pateint. it translates the depressive episode and suffices a manic episode.

this does not conclude that you are infact a patient with bipolar disorder, though this should be discussed with your doctor.

endorphins are endogenous opiods in the body and do not cause manic episodes.

the nausea will clear up fairly soon. it is not anything to worry about.

hope this helped:)

Answer 2

it could be, but the manic episode is likely a result of chaotic brain chemistry in general. The bingeing/purging does a lot more than just release endorphins, include altering dopamine and noradrenaline transmission. Since your nervous system has probably not yet gotten used to the medication, it probably added to the unfamiliar chemical state and produced unexpected behaviour.

Talk to your psychiatrist, and see if you can try a behavioural therapy to curb the bingeing and purging so it doesn't interact with your medication and produce such dramatic changes in mood.

Once you have been on the meds for a while, you'll be less likely to have another episode.