View original post
The reason for the varied responses is that there are several sub-types of NMDA receptors. Each NMDA (and many other) receptor is an amalgam of sub-units, and the types of sub-units involved change the structure, and thus the response to different chemicals. To make it worse, many agonists (ie. chemicals that'll bind to the receptor and cause it to open) aren't perfectly selective to one combination of sub-units, a fact that made my doctoral research partocularly fun. So if a drug is designed to target one type of NMDA receptors, often, it'll have off target effects, which in some cases can be beneficial.
The reason for the varied responses is that there are several sub-types of NMDA receptors. Each NMDA (and many other) receptor is an amalgam of sub-units, and the types of sub-units involved change the structure, and thus the response to different chemicals. To make it worse, many agonists (ie. chemicals that'll bind to the receptor and cause it to open) aren't perfectly selective to one combination of sub-units, a fact that made my doctoral research partocularly fun. So if a drug is designed to target one type of NMDA receptors, often, it'll have off target effects, which in some cases can be beneficial.
To complicate things further, there's evidence that some types of sub-units are produced less in some brain regions in major depression.
Nods I know this but my understanding of the NMDA system is basic from a medical standpoint, so pretend I know nothing even though that is very much not true.
The weeds are so important with this stuff.
On a tangent, there's quite a bit of work linking autoimmune conditions and depression. I'm pretty sure you've come across this, but if you need some literature, let me know.
I love and adore literature. 
NSSP/I have tried every antidepressant known to medicine.
- 13/02/2019 03:58:41 AM
718 Views
There's currently a trial underway. Maybe you can join?
- 13/02/2019 04:51:12 AM
520 Views
They did more than that
- 13/02/2019 05:01:03 AM
515 Views
Princeton has had amazing results treating non-responsive depression with psilocybin.
- 13/02/2019 05:06:45 AM
486 Views
Thank you for that.
- 13/02/2019 05:04:06 AM
502 Views
Of course!
- 13/02/2019 05:09:13 AM
473 Views
I have always been suicidal but even more so since my wife died two years ago
- 13/02/2019 05:24:38 AM
489 Views
Not a doctor
- 13/02/2019 04:56:57 AM
490 Views
Yes I have read about the ketamine trials
- 13/02/2019 05:01:10 AM
492 Views
There are more drugs in development as well.
- 13/02/2019 05:28:41 AM
521 Views
I have taken all of these
- 13/02/2019 05:46:32 AM
473 Views