The Effect of Seroquel on Norepinephrine Levels

Psychotropic drugs, controversial medications used to treat mood disorders as well as mental illnesses, are a huge part of the medical world and show no signs of dissipating. Anti-depressants, the most prescribed of all the psychotropics are as of late being combined with more powerful drugs called "anti-psychotics," to help in treatment resistant depression. Prior to this, these drugs, which include Seroquel, were used exclusively to treat psychosis in schizophrenics.

Classification

• How Seroquel, chemical name quetiapine, is classified as an SNRI or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor; a drug that inhibits receptors from taking in serotonin and norepinephrine, allowing more of it to remain in the body. Although its action is mostly unknown, there is knowledge of some of its actions. Medicinenet.com states that the drug is effective in alleviating psychosis by inhibiting communication between nerves. The chemicals responsible for this communication, dopamine and serotonin, are thought to be inhibited in the brain, in that they are blocked, resulting in change of mood.

Norephinephrine

• Norephinephrine, one of the brain's neurotransmitters, is being utilized more and more in the treatment of different conditions. According to 3dchem.com, drugs that block the reuptake of norepinephriine (thus allowing more to be present in the brain) include both anti-depressants and ADD medications. Norepinephrine is directly linked to attention, response, focus and ability to stay focused.

Norepinephrine's Role in Psychiatry

• Although the effects of norepinephrine are well known in depression, its role in psychosis is not nearly as understood or defined. Medscape CME states on their website that serotonin is linked to depression, as dopamine is linked to schizophrenia. Norepinephrine, however, is widely believed to play a role in both conditions, offering great hope for the development of more effective drugs. There are already several both anti-depressant drugs and anti-psychotic drugs that utilize norepinephrine in treatment. Seroquel is one of these.

Seroquel's Effect on Norepinephrine

• The active metabolite in Seroquel is norquetiapine, a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor that is responsible for causing higher levels of norepinephrine in patients. In fact, Medical News Today states: "Seroquel's major active metabolite norquetiapine was shown to target NET—the transporter for norepinephrine (noradrenaline). Inhibition of NET elevates norepinephrine (noradrenaline) levels in specific areas of the brain." This elevation of norepinephrine results in effects similar to that found in anti-depressants. Healthy norepinephrine levels create a stable mood and healthy energy level.

Significance

• The significance of Seroquel's effect on norepinephrine cannot be understated. It has been approved by the FDA for treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder when used with a mood stabilizing drug such as lithium. Seroquel's unique action and effects on the body's neurotransmitters have awarded the drug with more clinical trials and more potential to treat other conditions not yet determined.

Tips

• Be sure to tell your physician every medication you are taking. Some anti-depressants affect norepinephrine, as does Seroquel. If you are on one of these drugs, notify all your physicians at once. Too much norepinephrine can lead to teeth grinding, irregular heart beat, anxiety and more.