Antidepressants May Also Affect Human Immune System

[Celebration]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/01/060119230939.htm

"The wider health implication is that commonly used SSRI antidepressants, which target the uptake of serotonin into neurons, may also impact the uptake in immune cells," said Gerard Ahern, Ph.D., assistant professor of Pharmacology at Georgetown and lead researcher on the study.

He said that while it may be possible that SSRI drugs may restore a healthy immune function in people who are depressed and prone to infections, it is possible that they might also bolster immunity to the point that they trigger autoimmune disease. "At this point we just don't know how these drugs might affect immunity, so we really need to clarify the normal role of serotonin in immune cell functioning," Ahern said.

...............snip

What the Georgetown researchers found, however, is that dendritic cells -- the most powerful of the antigen-presenting cells and the ones that can find invaders that have never infected the body and "educate" the immune system to fight them -- also use serotonin to quickly excite a T-cell response. They discovered that these dendritic cells can rapidly secrete serotonin, which activates serotonin receptors on certain types of T-cells.

"In addition to the physical contact, it surprised us to find that these immune cells also have machinery to take up serotonin and to secrete it in an excitatory manner," Ahern said. "The point behind this transmission is not entirely clear, but it appears to be an additional way of stimulating a T cell response."

[Roon]

1. Interesting

I am hiv positive and on zoloft.

[Mend]

2. what dosage are you taking?

[TallahasseeGrannie]

3. 20 mgs for me

Prozac, HIV neg.

[Roon]

6. 200 mgs every day eom

[TallahasseeGrannie]

4. Which came first, the Zoloft or the HIV?

[Roon]

5. I got HIV first 16 years ago

I have only been on zoloft for four years or so.

[William769]

7. I sent this article to my Infectious disease Doctor & this is his response

"Bill,

The use of antidepressants has been directly correlated within the past
few months with improved adherence to antiretroviral medications.

This article is addressing the fact that science at present time does
not know what effect increasing Seratonin has on T Cells. In our
setting, if the effect was damaging, I feel certain we would have seen
that correlated in clinical trials with decreases in T cells as so many
of our patients are on antidepressant therapy.

The basic point is that it is too early to know and the good news is
that research is being done now to define the role of Seratonin effect
on T Cells. I am sure there will be more to come.
Jeff"

[Celebration]

8. but does it rev up the immune system

To the point where it could be a trigger for autoimmune disease? There is just a whole lot that is not known. All something to think about since apparently a lot of people are on these things, including pregnant women.

[havocmom]

10. Wonderful news NOT, as I am now barely able to walk many days

due to my immune system eating my major joints.

Prozac for two and a half years some time ago. Some older type antidepressants for some time prior to that. Shortly after Prozac, rather nasty sudden flare up of all sorts of arthritis problems. Never the same since.

Also have what looks like the 'butterfly rash' of lupus, but on my throat instead of face. Doctor wouldn't even test for lupus, as rash in wrong location. Didn't seem to matter that a whole big list of other symptoms fit the lupus profile to a tee! :eyes:

These days, SAM-e, some vitamins and no MDs. Gave up on that after enough bad experiences to do me for a long time.

[kineneb]

9. my immune system could use the help

But the meds don't seem to make much difference, I still am getting the nasty colds and sinus infections. I always seem to get something in winter. Paxil, then Effexor, now something called Cymbalta, which I get from the doc as samples, as I can't afford the insurance co-pay for non-generics.