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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Girlnterrupted on August 11, 2006, at 22:18:09
Recently I met a guy who is recovering from cocaine addiction. I've never done cocaine in my life, but it's weird because the symptoms he described while on cocaine withdrawal are exactly the same symptoms I have NATURALLY without doing any drugs.
He described feeling anxious, paranoid, self-conscious, angry, irritated. He said he was walking down the street and would get really pissed if someone slightly touched him while walking, if someone made a face he'd be furious, he was angry looking at all those cars on the street thinking "why all these people have nice cars and I don't!!??", he had sudden panic attacks, he felt anxious and would freeze in social situations, etc. His personality was totally different before this, he was totally calm and outgoing and wouldn't care about any of this. It's been a year from the time he stopped the cocaine and now he got back to normal and can see the difference.
But my point here is: my friend's cocaine withdrawal symptoms are my NORMAL state without doing any drugs! I mean, of course not severe, but bad enough that it's disrupting and totally ruining my life.
So why would the symptoms of cocaine withdrawal would be similar to my symptoms of depression?
As far as I know cocaine triggers dopamine. So could it be that I suffer from dopamine deficiency?
How could I restore my dopamine to normal levels? This is like living a nightmare. I'm constantly losing jobs, staying away from people and living a miserable existence because of how angry, annoyed and anxious I feel all the time. And none of the antidepressants I've tried have helped with these problems.
Any help would be appreciated.
Posted by Phillipa on August 11, 2006, at 22:30:15
In reply to How can you restore inborn dopamine deficiencies?, posted by Girlnterrupted on August 11, 2006, at 22:18:09
Have you tried Wellbutrin? Love Phillipa
Posted by SLS on August 11, 2006, at 23:08:46
In reply to How can you restore inborn dopamine deficiencies?, posted by Girlnterrupted on August 11, 2006, at 22:18:09
Hi.
I don't think we really know what causes depression yet. Did you know that cocaine was a potent serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor in addition to its effects on dopamine? How do you know which neurotransmitter(s) to blame the withdrawal depression on?
If you are right in your assessment, perhaps using an MAO inhibitor like Parnate, Nardil, Marplan, or Emsam would be helpful. These drugs help to increase the amounts of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the neuron terminals.
- Scott
Posted by linkadge on August 12, 2006, at 0:26:40
In reply to Re: How can you restore inborn dopamine deficienci, posted by SLS on August 11, 2006, at 23:08:46
I think its really difficult to make assumptions based on what your friend has experienced.
Withdrawl from many other drugs too, can produce identical withdrawl symptoms as the one you have described.
As SLS mentioned, cocaine is actually a more potent inhibitor of serotonin uptake, than it is of dopamine uptake. In addition, in some people cocaine use can *cause* irritability, paranoia, and jealousy etc, many of the symptoms your friend is describing during withdrawl.
Linkadge
Posted by Crazy Horse on August 12, 2006, at 10:05:34
In reply to Re: How can you restore inborn dopamine deficienci, posted by SLS on August 11, 2006, at 23:08:46
> Hi.
>
> I don't think we really know what causes depression yet. Did you know that cocaine was a potent serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor in addition to its effects on dopamine? How do you know which neurotransmitter(s) to blame the withdrawal depression on?
>
> If you are right in your assessment, perhaps using an MAO inhibitor like Parnate, Nardil, Marplan, or Emsam would be helpful. These drugs help to increase the amounts of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the neuron terminals.
>
>
> - ScottInteresting about Cocaine. No wonder so many people like it. Personally, i have never tried it. Coca-Cola used to contain cocaine..thus the name "Coca." Old Coke advertisements say Coca-Cola "Relieves Fatigue", and is a "Brain Tonic." I collect Old Coca-Cola bottles, signs, etc. Anyway......:)
Posted by Maximus on August 12, 2006, at 10:55:22
In reply to Re: How can you restore inborn dopamine deficienci, posted by Crazy Horse on August 12, 2006, at 10:05:34
> Interesting about Cocaine. No wonder so many people like it. Personally, i have never tried it. Coca-Cola used to contain cocaine..thus the name "Coca." Old Coke advertisements say Coca-Cola "Relieves Fatigue", and is a "Brain Tonic." I collect Old Coca-Cola bottles, signs, etc. Anyway......:)
Urban legends ;-)
Posted by Tom Twilight on August 12, 2006, at 15:26:26
In reply to Re: How can you restore inborn dopamine deficienci » Crazy Horse, posted by Maximus on August 12, 2006, at 10:55:22
I'm certainly worried I screwed up my dopamine system
I used Dexedrine during my finals along with GBL I'm quite worried I fried my dopamine system in some way because I haven't been "Righ" since then!
Posted by Racer on August 12, 2006, at 15:33:09
In reply to Re: How can you restore inborn dopamine deficienci » Crazy Horse, posted by Maximus on August 12, 2006, at 10:55:22
> > Interesting about Cocaine. No wonder so many people like it. Personally, i have never tried it. Coca-Cola used to contain cocaine..thus the name "Coca." Old Coke advertisements say Coca-Cola "Relieves Fatigue", and is a "Brain Tonic." I collect Old Coca-Cola bottles, signs, etc. Anyway......:)
>
> Urban legends ;-)Do you mean it's an urban legend that Coca Cola used to contain cocaine? If so, that's wrong -- until about 1903, I think it was, Coca Cola did indeed contain cocaine. I think it was somewhere around 7%? A not terribly significant, but not totally insignificant percentage, at any rate.
Coke wasn't marketed as a soft drink, then, though, but as a patent medicine. It was said to do all sorts of things -- think Pepto Bismol for its time... It became a "soft drink" because it was considered an alternative to "hard drinks" -- ie: alcohol.
Just an aside...
Posted by Racer on August 12, 2006, at 18:30:16
In reply to Re: How can you restore inborn dopamine deficienci » Maximus, posted by Racer on August 12, 2006, at 15:33:09
I guess what I meant wasn't that Coke used to have cocaine in it, but coca extract...
Posted by jedi on August 13, 2006, at 1:46:53
In reply to How can you restore inborn dopamine deficiencies?, posted by Girlnterrupted on August 11, 2006, at 22:18:09
...
> How could I restore my dopamine to normal levels? This is like living a nightmare. I'm constantly losing jobs, staying away from people and living a miserable existence because of how angry, annoyed and anxious I feel all the time. And none of the antidepressants I've tried have helped with these problems.
>
>
> Any help would be appreciated.Hi,
Let's not concentrate too much on your friend and his withdrawal. What medications have you tried and did the doctors give you a diagnosis? It sounds like you may have a pretty severe case of social and generalized anxiety. The purely dopamine meds I have taken in the past have added to these problems in myself. I take the MAOI-Nardil and the benzo-clonazepam. The combination of these two drugs really help with the social anxiety. I believe this is because they both work on gaba. In my opinion, Nardil is the gold standard if your depression is atypical and treatment resistant.
Good luck,
Jedi
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