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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by AMD on September 18, 2005, at 18:38:25
Is pseudoephedrine dangerous in over-the-counter doses? Are its chemical makeup and effects more like amphetamine or methamphetamine? I ask because I have been fighting a cold this weekend, in addition to feeling depressed and sad coming down from taking some cocaine Thursday night, and having taken 240 m.g. of Sudafed today, feel a bit more activated, a bit less depressed. I'm definitely not at 100% by any means, but I don't feel, suddenly, like life is over. Is this temporary? Am I going to now crash from the Sudafed? Or is it actually useful as a way to more quickly recover from post-cocaine use depression?
amd
Posted by alexandra_k on September 18, 2005, at 19:31:57
In reply to Sudafed?, posted by AMD on September 18, 2005, at 18:38:25
> Is pseudoephedrine dangerous in over-the-counter doses?
well... i guess its fda approved...
which means they haven't found harmful findings (in theory)>Are its chemical makeup and effects more like amphetamine or methamphetamine?
Maybe I'm confused... But I thought methamphetamine and amphetamine were remarkably similar in the sense that methamphetamine (p) is basically a less cut version of amphetamine (speed). I know... That you can make methamphetamine from cold and flu tabs containing pseudoephadrine (the ones without the paracetamol apparantly). And I know that you can make speed from methamphetamine by adding glucose (for example), so my guess would be that it is pretty much the same stuff...
That being said I've never felt high off my cold and flu tabs! Maybe... Its a little like morphene in the sense that if you are in a lot of pain the morphene counters the pain and doesn't produce a high while if you are not in pain it produces a high. I wondered if I didn't get a high because I was sick... But I don't really know....
I don't really know...
I mean... The crash you get coming down from drugs can be for (at least) two reasons... Your brains supply of the transmitter can be used up (so it takes a couple days for your body to produce another supply) or the transmitter might need to be persuaded to release a little more (because the receptors have habituated or whatever). If you have run out of transmitter... I'm not sure whether you can coax more into your system via suppliments or more tablets or whatever (given the blood brain barrier...) But if the tablets release stored transmitter then I would guess that it could help you with the comedown.
I don't know what transmitter cocaine works on...
And I can't remember what amphetamine works on...
Posted by Declan on September 18, 2005, at 20:16:51
In reply to Sudafed?, posted by AMD on September 18, 2005, at 18:38:25
Don't worry about the sudafed, AMD. It's definately not good enough to crash from. Although people will take anything, if you took enough of it, more than you have, perhaps. Mainly it will work as a peripheral vasoconstrictor, and thus might, if you took enough, cut down blood supply to your brain. Pure speculation of course.
Declan
Posted by AMD on September 19, 2005, at 10:46:03
In reply to Re: Sudafed?, posted by Declan on September 18, 2005, at 20:16:51
So I have not compounded my problem by popping about 120 mg of these today (the equivalent of one 12-hour Sudafed)? I'm feeling a little better mentally, and trying not to focus on any depression -- although I am definitely not full-speed -- and I would hate for this merely to be the result of the pseudoephedrine rather than a natural recovery.
Fingers crossed this lasts...
amd
Posted by Declan on September 19, 2005, at 18:34:53
In reply to Re: Sudafed?, posted by AMD on September 19, 2005, at 10:46:03
Posted by TexasChic on September 19, 2005, at 19:28:29
In reply to Re: Sudafed?, posted by AMD on September 19, 2005, at 10:46:03
12 hour Sudafed is time released, so you don't get the whole 120 mg dose at once. I've always heard that high doses of Sudafed was dangerous. But I don't know what it does. I've taken double the dose and had heart palpatations. I would think that with cocaine it could be potentially dangerous. I'm not trying to scare you, I just think you should be careful. Maybe the crash from the cocaine will counter act the sudafed. You may want to google it to find out more.
Posted by AMD on September 19, 2005, at 19:53:43
In reply to Re: Sudafed?, posted by TexasChic on September 19, 2005, at 19:28:29
I'm not going to take additional doses. It's a feeble attempt to self-medicate, and I'm sure it's doing more harm than good right now.
It's been about 72 hours, and I'm still very depressed, but I did make it to the gym. I hope this fog lifts soon. I have that complete apathetic and 'life sucks' attitude right now, where even the most minor task seems an insurmountable hurdle.
amd
Posted by TexasChic on September 19, 2005, at 19:59:06
In reply to Re: Sudafed?, posted by AMD on September 19, 2005, at 19:53:43
Yeah, I've had the cocaine crash before. Its the reason I don't do it anymore. It just wasn't worth it. The last thing I need is something else to make me depressed. Try to work through this, it will get better.
Posted by AMD on September 20, 2005, at 9:17:35
In reply to Re: Sudafed?, posted by TexasChic on September 19, 2005, at 19:59:06
I hope it does. I've never felt so lonely and sad. It's like I just can focus on anything, have no motiviation to go to the gym, and feel like I'm going to be alone. I hope my mood starts to lift soon, as this is really making me feel dead.
amd
Posted by TexasChic on September 20, 2005, at 15:52:04
In reply to Re: Sudafed? » TexasChic, posted by AMD on September 20, 2005, at 9:17:35
Try to keep in mind that what you're feeling isn't 'real', its drug induced. I hope you feel better soon.
Posted by Declan on September 21, 2005, at 1:07:03
In reply to Sudafed?, posted by AMD on September 18, 2005, at 18:38:25
Hey AMD, out of interest, are you using cocaine a little more moderately when you do use it these days?
That must be something you're aware of when you think about having some more again, thinking about the whole profit and loss of the situation.
I think we can exercise some self control now and again.
Declan
Posted by AMD on October 14, 2005, at 8:10:20
In reply to Re: Sudafed? » AMD, posted by Declan on September 21, 2005, at 1:07:03
My use definitely ramped up, but I've been in out-patient rehab at the Parallex Center here in the city, and it's helping.
I was actually going to post a question re: whether the brain ever fully recovers from cocaine abuse, so I'll just note it here. Does anyone have information or insight on this?
amd
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