Re: dopamine

[Barb_MSN <Barb_MSN@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Audrey....

As I understand it (and this is the simplified version, 'cause,
while I've read the in-depth version several times, over the
years, it's never stuck), with PD, the patient's body may still
produce (or may NOT still produce..... depending, because
Parkinson's must be viewed on a case-by-case basis) some dopamine,
however it's apparently not enough to do the job on a 24 hour
basis.

To complicate matters further, medical research has discovered
that seratonin ALSO plays a major roll - on a different  level
than dopamine.

Both these substances play a key roll in keeping the average body
functioning.  And goodness only knows how many trace-substances
are needed to keep the human body running smoothly...

Uhhh....Upon rereading, I seemed to have REPLIED to your post,
rather than answered  your question.  <UH DUHm Barbie, get it
together>

Barb Mallut
barb_msn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

-----Original Message-----
From: Audrey <askrzyniarz@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: PARKINSN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <PARKINSN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sunday, February 13, 2000 6:22 AM
Subject: dopamine


Hi list ..

A thought struck me after rereading janet marie's comments. Is it
a lack of dopamine in PD or is it the inability to manufacture and
distribute dopamine in the brain? This is a dumb question
probably,  and another reason to keep my mouth shut most likely.
If it is the lack of dopamine, does it help to use antidepressants
(as prozac) to help counteract dopamine loss?  I ask because this
is the medication I take each day for clinical depression.  As I
read further about pd, I keep seeing references to restless leg
syndrome. This is caused by the lack of dopamine also I believe,
and I have had this syndrome as long as I can remember..Why then
isn't the family of antidepressants that prozac belongs to more
effective in helping PD?  If it is, I havent read this anywhere..
Could anyone clarify this for me ?

* seattle* audrey friend of PWP