Posted by JohnX2 on October 27, 2001, at 10:58:08
In reply to what counters amphetamine effects?, posted by alex01 on October 27, 2001, at 0:29:03
Alex,
Over time stimulatants like dextroamphetamine
may induce something called "reverse tolerance".
It is believed that the dopamine receptors that
are the given extra dopamine start to
change themselves in terms of their receptor
sensitivity. Curiously , one of the dopamine
receptors responsible for the therapeutic affect
also is used to tell the brain in a feed-back
mecanism to stop releasing dopamine. This can
cause a paradoxical up-regulation of those receptors
making them more sensitive (a potentiating the
side effects for you).I've seen a few promising routes for treating
this, most aren't available treatment. Probably the
best bet is to take a medication holiday (to help
the brain naturally readjust) every now and then.These things are believed to help for sure:
- meds that are NMDA antagonists.
Memantine is a research med available in europe
in clinical testing in the us (but not specifically
for this).
Amantadine is similar to memantine and may help
to prevent stimulant poop-out, but amantadine has
some irritating side effects for some.
- Benzodiazepines like Klonopin. Again, this is
a hard sell to the doctor because both meds are
addictive, but klonopin can actually make the
stimulant less addictive and more smooth
acting (although the klonopin
can poop-out).Some fringe ideas without anything but anecdotal
evidence to support:Anti-convulsants:
- Some people have noticed improvements on Lamictal
or Neurontin. Neurontin is particularly good for
anxiety.
Anti-depressants:
- Serzone. I think it has some anxioltyitic and
depressant qualities that may offset the stimulant.
Anti-psychotics:
- Zyprexa. This will probably help reduce the irritability
induced by the stim and may help with the funny
reverse tolerance. Zyprexa is very anti-anxiety,
anti-paranoia, and may complement the stim. Again
mostly anecdoctal data.others I'm sure have more ideas.
regards,
john
> Hi
> wondering if anyone has any idea if there are any meds which act as opposites to stimulants. I took some dexamphetamine (on prescription) for depression/anxiety and got a big overdose/anxiety reaction, but now, three months later, the reaction is still here. I think that the dex may have changed the way my brain works and Im wondering if there's anything which acts to reduce the release of whatever dex stimulates, and hopefully push my head back to the way it was.
> any advice appreciated
poster:JohnX2
thread:82421
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011025/msgs/82430.html