05-17-2018, 11:00 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-17-2018, 11:08 PM by invisiblejungle.)
(05-15-2018, 11:58 AM)G.Elias Wrote: thanks for that invisiblejungle, i can get that now, and i always thought histamines made you drowsy,maybe i thought of anti histamines ?.Now what is 5HT2C-antagonist?We could be here a long time if more terms like that are posted lol, but hey, you just taught me something new which aint no bad thing,thanks again.
lol no problem. I don't have any formal training in science. I had to learn all this stuff on my own due to dealing with health issues.
Oops, I meant to say 5HT2A-antagonists, not 5HT2C. 5HT2A antagonists are anything that block the 5HT2A receptor. It's a type of serotonin receptor (another name for serotonin is 5HT, short for 5-hydroxytryptamine). I don't know much about what 5HT2A receptors do, but blocking them is one way of inducing sleep. The only reason I know this is because the Wikipedia article for sleep medicines lists the various biochemical mechanisms that can induce sleep:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnotic
Scroll down to the very bottom to the box that says "Hypnotics/sedatives"and click [show]
(05-15-2018, 01:30 PM)anxietyguy Wrote:(05-13-2018, 05:43 PM)invisiblejungle Wrote:(05-11-2018, 12:13 PM)G.Elias Wrote: I dont understand terms like H1-antagonist , it would be better if things were explained in a bit more simple lay mans terms, no offence as your trying to help, just no idea what things like that mean.
Antagonist = blocker.
H1 is a receptor for histamine.
Histamine is the main neurotransmitter that causes us to stay awake. So a histamine receptor blocker (H1-antagonist) blocks the effects of histamine, making us sleepy.
Thank you ! . Really well explain it. So all the antihistamines are the same ? or doxepin is something else ?
Thanks
Well, all antihistamines "are the same" in the sense that they all block the H1-receptor. (There are several types of histamine receptors, but the word "antihistamine" usually refers to H1-receptor blockers. H2-receptor blockers are used to reduce stomach acid.)
Benadryl is probably the most well-known antihistamine, at least in the USA. Histamines cause allergic reactions, which is why anithistamines are used for allergies.
As for doxepin, it's technically classified as a tricyclic antidepresssant. But most chemical compounds have multiple effects. Check out the Wikipedia article for doxepin:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doxepin#Pharmacology
The box on the right shows you all of the different types of receptors that doxepin is known to affect. It's a lot!
But... in small doses, doxepin is pretty selective for the H1-receptor. Which means that even though doxepin affects so many different types receptors, if you only take a small amount, it mostly functions as a H1-receptor blocker.