Posted by g_g_g_unit on August 1, 2012, at 19:21:13
In reply to Re: Parnate decision » g_g_g_unit, posted by phidippus on August 1, 2012, at 14:56:20
> >adding Memantine to a pre-existing amphetamine >regime wouldn't alter that?
>
> Not at all.
>
> >I wonder if it could make OCD a lot worse
>
> Requip? It never made my OCD worse. There is an increases risk for compulsive behavior, such as gambling and risk-taking sex.
>>
Sorry, I don't think made myself very clear. What I meant was that, as we all know, there's an initial 'honeymoon' period on stimulants for a lot of people where sociability, liveliness etc. is increased. After 3 or so days, that (including the anxiolysis) is replaced by a more mechanical sense of motivation, increased anxiety, irritability etc. (at least in my case -- as well as that of several others I've spoken to).
So taking a break from stimulants, *then* adding Memantine, *then* resuming the stimulant is supposed to preserve that enhanced sense of reward, pleasure, etc., which I think stems from preventing downregulation of the D2/D3 receptors in the nucleus accumbens.
Here is a quote from another forum:
"However, for our theoretical model in this use (that glutamate hyperexcitation in the nucleus accumbens core occurs secondary to amphetamine use, and that this glutamate hyperexcitation is responsible for downregulating nucleus accumbens core dopamine sensitivity, which is the additional mechanism responsible for the faster tolerance to mood/motivational effects from amphetamine than to concentrative effects, which are mostly mediated prefrontally, where there is both desensitization occurring for instance at tyrosine hydroxylase and the dopamine receptor end, and sensitization probably via neuroplastic mechanisms), there is a wide, complex, shadowy body of work to point to."
If you had already been taking stimulants for some time, and then added Memantine without first taking a break, the re-sensitization of those receptors wouldn't occur (again, from anecdotal reports I've come across).
So my point is, if my interest lies in the first application, i.e. *preserving* reward in the nucleus accumbens by introducing Memantine first, *then* the stimulant, wouldn't that exacerbate OCD (as you mentioned in your Abilify post - OCD is linked to higher levels of dopamine in the reward center).
> Do you have compulsions?
Yes, I suppose so. My OCD primarily consists of mental rituals and avoidance. I have some compulsions, but I think they hold a stronger link to personality traits and childhood trauma (i.e. some narcissistic compulsions; compulsively pleasing others to stave off abandonment).
poster:g_g_g_unit
thread:1021887
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120718/msgs/1022582.html