Posted by Ame Sans Vie on September 27, 2003, at 14:06:54
In reply to Re: Q. for Ame Sans Vie,, posted by temoigneur on September 27, 2003, at 2:43:20
Hi Ben,
Thanks so much for your caring, it really means a lot right now. The pain seems [actually *seemed* -- explanation in a moment :-) ] to be emanating from my lower-back -- up to my cheekbones and down to my toes. Anyone who's ever had pain in that area can attest to how incapacitating and, dare I say, depressing it can be and almost invariably is.
I somehow managed to get out of bed and head to Basic Foods today where I was hoping to find some things to help while waiting for my next appointment with the pain doc, and during treatment as well, of course. Among many other things, I've been taking dl-phenylalanine (DLPA) for quite a while now -- it undisputedly has a profound impact on the efficacy of the dextroamphetamine I take. Normally 60mg qid would be the very least I'd require to feel benefit (and even if I were crazy enough to take that much, who would prescribe it?), but with the DLPA, I can reduce it to 30mg qid; with the addition of sodium bicarbonate (GI alkalinization increases effect of dex; urinary alkalinizatino increases duration of effect) I cut my dose down to 15mg tid. QUITE a substantial effect, I'd say!
I'm getting off track, but I just wanted to explain that aspect of the DLPA before I go into my foray at Basic Foods today. The other benefit is that the d-isomer (d-phenylalanine) is an enkephalinase inhibitor -- i.e. it can be considered sort of the "monoamine oxidase" of enkephalin, the endorphin most often implicated in pain relief and feelings of well-being/euphoria. So, just as MAO inhibitors exert their effect by repressing the degredation of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, etc, DPA increases the concentration of enkephalin with the body. Not to mention that both LPA and DPA act upon the dopaminergic system as well, mainly through metabolism to phenylethylamine -- a very close chemical cousin to amphetamine (beta-phenylethylamine) and a neurochemical believed to be involved with feelings of contentment and the state of falling in love. This dopaminergic activity probably also increases endorphin activity in some way or another, though this is purely speculation on my part.
Though I've known for quite some time that DLPA could work beautifully for my pain, depression, lethargy, etc. ad nauseam, I'm unable to take doses exceeding 1,500mg daily because of overstimulation. I assumed this was due to the l-isomer, since (if I recall correctly), it is said to be the more stimulating of the two. Well, I assumed correctly. I had no clue that DPA was available on its own until I made sure to scan all FOUR huge aisles of supplements/remedies (four aisles...... my gods, I love that store, lol). I had looked in the past, assuming it would be alongside the LPA capsules, LPA powder, DLPA capsules, and the rest of the amino acids. Well, I ended up finding it in the considerably large "Mood/Neuro-Enhancement" section (they even carry picamilon now -- $7.48 per 90 capsules, 100mg each!!!! I normally pay $30 + S&H for 60 capsules!). The DPA was in a product they had labeled as a new item, under the name "EndorphiGen", 500mg capsules, 50 count for $15. After all the research I've perused [and, admittedly being enticed by the name "EndorphiGen" -- great marketing tactic ;-) ], I readily bought four bottles.
That's not the end of it, though, by far. I've been looking for legal, well-studied GHB alternatives (i.e. human growth hormone [hGH] secretalogues with pain-killing and sleep enhancement properties). I've recently found some things that work very well (e.g. Invigorate II, Liquid Relaxation, Renew G, Renew G PM), but I'm legitimately concerned about their safety due to the mysterious ingredients (espeicially in Invigorate II -- active ingredient is kryokova, but no one can figure out what the hell it is!). There hasn't been enough (or any) research on most of these ingredients, which makes me a bit uneasy. How lucky was I to just be casually browsing the store and notice a product called "HMB", manufactured by Optimum Nutrition. It was in the body-building supplement section, so immediately my mind made the connection -- HMB:GHB. I picked up the bottle to review the ingredient(s) and was ecstatic to see the words "calcium beta-Hydroxy beta-methylbutyric acid", which seems awfully close to GHB's full name, "gamma-hydroxybutyric acid" (also sold originally as a fitness supplement). In my mind, I used that IUPAC name of HMB to compare the molecular structures of HMB and GHB and grew pretty excited. GHB's structure and formula are:
HO-CO-(CH2)3-OH
C4H8O3And HMB:
CH3-C2H4O-CH2-COOH
C5H10O3Naturally I snatched this one up right away, despite it being rather pricey ($30 per 90 capsules, 500mg each -- a two week supply).
I also picked up a couple bottles of Valerian-Poppy tincture, manufactured by GAIA herbs and a bottle of l-tryptophan, 60 capsules 500mg.
Upon returning home, I took 750mg DLPA, one gram DPA, 500mg l-tryptophan, one gram HMB, and 1ml Valerian-Poppy tincture. Get this.........
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.........NO~~~~~~~~~~~~MORE~~~~~~~~~~~~PAIN!
:-DDDDDDDDDDD
Unfortunately, I can't afford this all the time, so I'll still have to see the pain doc (buprenorphine, OxyContin, Oramorph-SR, Dilaudid... I could care less), but I'm pretty darn sure I'm sticking with the DPA and HMB.
poster:Ame Sans Vie
thread:262687
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030923/msgs/263757.html