Hi Nancy, Withdrawal in the absence of addiction can and does occur. What happens is that the body adjusts to the med--it changes in dendritic structure as well as metabolism. The change in dendritic structure may include "upregulation" (becoming more sensitive by adding new dendrites) or "downregulation" (becoming less sensitive by reducing dendrites). Thus, when the meds are withdrawn, there may be accompanying perceivable changes as the dendrites readjust.
Dependency vs. addiction is another matter. I tend not to use the word addiction because of the implications and associations that go with it. But, dependency may be physiological or psychological, or both. Physical dependency occurs when the body experiences withdrawal symptoms (not limited to those accompanying regulation of dendrites) and can involve metabolic changes or induction changes--in other words, changes in how the body metabolizes the drug or changes in how quickly the liver reacts to the presence of the drug. On the other hand, psychological dependency has more to do with the person's belief that he or she needs the drug--and can also produce very real reactions. Those are just my brief thoughts on it, and since I'm sitting here still rubbing the sleep from my eyes (hey, it's the last day of my spring break), someone else will give you a better explanation I'm sure. Carol -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sun 3/14/2004 9:14 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences Cc: Subject: Withdrawal from antidepressants Hello, Real quick and dirty, since I rambled in my last note, students in my Abnormal Psychology class who have taken antidepressants tell me that although they did not experience an immediate, upfront "high" when taking them, say that they definitely experienced withdrawal like symptoms while being titrated off of them. I am not doubting their word, what I want to know is: Can withdrawal occur in the absence of addiction? Or where the students dependent but not addicted? I know that the boundaries between addiction and dependence are shifting and ill-defined sometimes. Would someone with better knowledge of pharmaceutical science help me understand 1) withdrawal in the absence of addiction and 2) the difference between dependence and addiction more clearly. Thanks for reading. Nancy Melucci Long Beach City College Long Beach CA --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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