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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Stellarcrassy on April 2, 2002, at 16:34:17
I've had the inattentive-type ADD symptoms as far as I can remember, and my family's problems-one being !DIVORCE!-which I will NOT go into depth, made overlooking my problems simple. I've always been somewhat of an outcast with a couple friends, and a low self-esteem, but always complimented by teachers as very creative and intelligent individual. I've always been interested in how things work; Always had my mind the mechanic/electronic field, since I was a tiny kid. I have never been the social type because of low self-esteem, and extreme social anxiety. The negatives that I have aforementioned have made my life, especially my childhood very depressing.
High school was HORRIBLE. I thought of committing suicide constantly, and often drew myself away from the people. Grades suffered because I could never keep my mind on one thing, especially something I disliked, for more than 20 minutes. My sophomore year in high school my biological mother had called my school to tell them that I needed to see the counselor because extreme signs of depression were prevalent to her. I only was allowed once visit before my step mom (my father had custody of me at the time) had restricted the school to continue my counseling. Depression…
My college experiences had introduced me to "RAVING", which itself isn't entirely a bad idea, except for the massive amounts of illegal drugs consumed, such as Ecstasy. I've "rolled" twice now, and can remember the extreme euphoria-as your serotonin rushes through your brain you experience, what ravers call PLUR, an acronym for "Peace, Love, Unity, Respect" It took me a couple times until I realized that this awesome ability to socialize with anyone I wanted, and feel like "YOU ARE THE *@#*" wasn't worth the hangover the next day, often called "sketching out" MDMA can also cause neuro-toxicity, which will scramble your serotonin, dopamine, among other important brain chemicals.Finally (Thanks for reading this far), I was not diagnosed with ADD until I dropped out of college my freshman year, and seeked professional therapy. About a week ago, the 26th, I was prescribed 5mg pills of Adderall by my physician. I was in for a surprise.
Unknowing that Adderall is similar, and sometimes used as an alternative dance-drug, I popped my first 'hit', only the prescribed amount of 5mg, as soon as I got home. I WAS AMAZZZED! I felt almost as good, if not as GOOD, as I did when I took Ecstasy-except for the fact that I had an incredible ability to focus! I maintained this euphoric feeling for the first two days after I started medicating, but then once again I realized "Whatever comes up must come down." The coming down was horrible, but only lasted for a day and really didn't feel quite as bad as Ecstasy’s "day-after effect" I continued taking the medication, and the day after I felt a only the focus potential of the drug, but was quite irritable and moody, at one point almost suicidal.
The roller coaster is starting to get a little tiring, and I would like to know if there is a way I can maintain the euphoric-feeling permanently. I HAVE been taking my prescribed dosage, and wish for an explanation. Any and all comments, advice is welcome.
Everybody, including me, loves the Adderall euphoria I had experienced. HOW CAN I KEEP IT?
Posted by Stellarcrassy on April 2, 2002, at 16:37:48
In reply to Adderall Euphoria - Anyway to keep it?, posted by Stellarcrassy on April 2, 2002, at 16:34:17
I read that Adderall was also for people who had problems staying awake. It seems that Adderall once kept me awake, but now makes me feel down and want to sleep all day. Why is this?
ALSO... Will St. Johns wort help my depression with Adderall, or will it disrupt what Adderall is supposed to be doing for my ADHD?
THANKS!
Posted by JohnX2 on April 2, 2002, at 17:06:18
In reply to Adderall Euphoria - Anyway to keep it?, posted by Stellarcrassy on April 2, 2002, at 16:34:17
Just a few thoughts..
I think if you get poop-out from the euphoria, then you get poop-out. Some people believe that people with ADD will not even feel a euphoria from ADD meds (a symptom of ADD). You may try Wellbutrin, a non habit forming antidepressant that treats ADD and sometimes gives an amphetamine dopamine like buzz. You could also experiment with another ADD med like Ritalin. Or switch to an MAOI antidepressant like Parnate, which has a dopaminergic kick.John
Posted by fachad on April 2, 2002, at 17:13:52
In reply to Adderall Euphoria - Anyway to keep it?, posted by Stellarcrassy on April 2, 2002, at 16:34:17
This ended up coming out sounding like a Zen aphorism or something, but regarding that “Adderall euphoria” you are seeking to keep:
If you try to keep it you will surely lose it, but if you accept that it will go away, you may be able to keep deriving benefit from Adderall even after it is gone.
Euphoria is not a sustainable state. Because your nervous system will adapt to the Adderall, especially at the higher doses used to produce euphoria, you will lose the euphoria through the mechanism know as tolerance.
If you are actively seeking euphoria, you will respond by raising the dose to achieve the same effect. That may provide *temporary* euphoria, but you will end up back where you started. It's a dead end.
You will either hit the limit where your doctor will not prescribe any higher doses, and/or you will develop a drug problem and this history and label will follow you for the rest of your life and be a reason why doctors will be reluctant to ever prescribe you stimulants, benzodiazapines or narcotic pain killers ever again, even if you have a legitimate medical need for them.
On the other hand, if you find that there is a real benefit to you from Adderall, in terms of improved concentration or relief of depression or whatever, a benefit that is apart from the "flash in the pan" euphoria, and you accept that the euphoria will inevitably evaporate with time, you may be able to sustain that benefit, at the same Adderall dose, for a long time, maybe for the rest of your life.
Here’s another post I put up about why some develop tolerance to stimulants and some don’t:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020215/msgs/94906.html
And here’s a bit about the benefits continuing after tolerance develops:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020307/msgs/97130.html
Best wishes,
fachad
Posted by Zo on April 3, 2002, at 1:37:33
In reply to Adderall Euphoria - Anyway to keep it?, posted by Stellarcrassy on April 2, 2002, at 16:34:17
It doesn't really matter, I think, whether one is bipolar or not---tho you could be---ANYone who experiences the high of euphoria, any kind of rush, is going to have the subsequent let down. The "rush" is lots of yummy chemicals. . .and then they're depleted, and must replenish.Don't even *think* about saying Sustained Euphoria to a bipolar person. . .
;) Zo
Posted by 3 Beer Effect on April 3, 2002, at 2:46:49
In reply to Adderall Euphoria - Anyway to keep it?, posted by Stellarcrassy on April 2, 2002, at 16:34:17
You can take stimulant holidays for about a week when you notice you are developing tolerance. Also anything acidic like fruit juice, colas, reduce absorption/increase rate of excretion, so I would avoid drinking anything but water for 6 hours after you take your Adderall.
I haven't tried this yet, but I think I am only going to take my Dextrostat (D-amphetamine) Mon-Friday & skip the weekend doses in order to prevent tolerance. I think this might work well but i've never heard of anyone taking 'every weekend stimulant holidays' or it mentioned in medical literature.
I am going to start taking a small dose of l-tyrosine (either 500 or 750 mg) because amphetamines such as Dexedrine, Dextrostat, Adderall constantly release & deplete your brain's dopamine supply & l-tyrosine may help replenish that supply. I searched through all the literature on l-phenylalanine & although it provides a short lived PEA (your body's endogenous amphetamine) high, phenylalanine actually lowers dopamine & norepinephrine levels, which is a shame because it crosses the blood brain barrier while l-tyrosine does not & can only cross via a specific carrier.
The recommended dose range for l-tyrosine is 500 to 1500 mg but I don't know if the higher dose is good for you despite what the people trying to sell the stuff to you say. Any excess protein or amino acids your body doesn't use are converted into stuff like urea which is bad for your kidneys.
L-tyrosine must be taken on an empty stomach with water & Vitamin B6 & Vitamin C help increase absorption. I found Twinlab makes quality amino acid products. It should be taken 4 hours or more prior to your first dose of amphetamine.
Posted by IsoM on April 3, 2002, at 3:21:04
In reply to L-Tyrosine stimulant holidays for tolerance, posted by 3 Beer Effect on April 3, 2002, at 2:46:49
3 Beers, you wrote:
"I haven't tried this yet, but I think I am only going to take my Dextrostat (D-amphetamine) Mon-Friday & skip the weekend doses in order to prevent tolerance. I think this might work well but i've never heard of anyone taking 'every weekend stimulant holidays' or it mentioned in medical literature."My son takes Dexedrine through the work/school week but on weekends, he takes a break from it. He needs to catch up on his sleep Saturday anyway. He thinks it helps stop tolerance from developing & I agree with him.
Posted by benzapp on June 1, 2002, at 10:00:36
In reply to Re: Adderall Euphoria - Anyway to keep it? » Stellarcrassy, posted by JohnX2 on April 2, 2002, at 17:06:18
Wow, this is very true.
I have taken Adderall for nine months, and it never made me euphoric. For the first couple days I felt anxious and agitated, but then it just made me calm and focused.
But two weeks ago, my girlfriend started take wellbutrin for smoking cessation... I tried one just for kicks and WOW, I never felt quite like that before. I wouldn't quite call it euphoria, but I felt very happy.
Fascinating.
Posted by noelle on June 2, 2002, at 15:12:37
In reply to Re: Adderall Euphoria - Anyway to keep it?, posted by benzapp on June 1, 2002, at 10:00:36
I would say be very careful when you experience anykind of euphoria on medication, it really increases the chance of abuse. I'm speaking from experience. Pretty soon you build a tolerance and you want more and more. Then depression sets in. Try provigil or wellbutrin less additive alteratives
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