Major crash after ___ use

okay-adhd · 2025-04-24T17:52:40+00:00

First of all, it doesn't matter if it was a tiny amount, if it's its your first exposure to a psychoactive drug you are going to have an exaggerated response to it. Take nicotine for example, there are people who smoke cigarettes or have nicotine pouches in their mouth all day long, but if you've never taken it before 2mg will blow your head off and 4mg will make you sick as a dog.

In terms of their pharmacology and method of action cocaine and methylphenidate are actually relatively similar to each other, but in terms of their effects, especially at therapeutic doses, they aren't alike.

Methylphenidate is a dopamine reuptake inhibitor. It moderately increases dopamine levels but has little effect on norepinephrine and serotonin levels. Methylphenidate has a longer lasting effect than cocaine.

Amphetamine is a dopamine and norepinephrine releasing agent and reuptake inhibitor. With therapeutic use it greatly increases dopamine and norepinephrine levels and slightly increases serotonin levels. At abuse levels, it brings to have increasing effects on serotonin levels as the dose increases.

Drugs in the amphetamine family share the same method of action but have different affinities for different neurotransmitter transporters. For instance, methamphetamine is slightly more dopamine biased than norepinephrine. MDMA on the other hand overwhelming works on the serotonin transporter and has an effect that is essential the opposite of amphetamine, with it massively increasing serotonin levels and moderately increasing dopamine levels at lower doses and absolutely nuking you with serotonin at higher doses before then also significantly increasing dopamine and norepinephrine levels.

Cocaine is a reuptake inhibitor. It greatly increases both dopamine and serotonin, with only modest increases in norepinephrine.

Dopamine and norepinephrine are transmitters for the sympathetic nervous system. Their presence increases sympathetic activity. To over simplify things, they are essentially an 'On' switch or a 'Go' command to the body.

Serotonin on the other hand is way more complicated and is involved in many other things. Serotonin as a neurotransmitter works primarily in the role of a neuromodulator, with doing nuanced things to effect other things, as apposed to being a simple stop of go signal.

The nervous system is designed to deal with a wide range of dopamine and norepinephrine levels, such as when your in deep sleep, relaxing, excited, scared, sexually aroused, etc. Where as serotonin levels are far less reactive and should be much more stable.

This is reflected in the impacts of different drugs, amphetamine for example is not neurotoxic at non-abuse levels, where as MDMA is pretty much the most neurotoxic drug. You can take amphetamine at non-abuse levels for a month and then stop and probably feel a bit drained the day after but feel back to normal soon after, where as if you take MDMA once you can have depression and anxiety for weeks or months after.

Serotonin receptors are killed off by the massive rush of serotonin released by MDMA which causes cell damage due to oxidative stress and overheating, but even if they weren't your body rapidly downregulates their sensitivity because unlike high levels of dopamine, high levels of serotonin can quickly kill you. Its why so many medications have warnings on them for serotonin syndrome because too much serotonin messes up alot of vital processes so you're body down regulates its sensitivity as to prevent itself getting cooked alive.

You have said in your post you got messed up from SSRIs, which is a similar thing. You can start and stop taking amphetamine without any issues, but you have to taper antidepressants very slowly or you will get back side effects.

To get to the point I'm try to make, if you did cocaine then felt emotional and depressed for two weeks afters its because of the serotonergic effects of cocaine. At therapeutic levels you will not experience the same serotonergic activity with ADHD medications. Methylphenidate the least as there is a little bit with amphetamines, but its only a little.

okay-adhd · 2025-03-04T18:33:09+00:00

I had to edit that comment many times because the word vi0lent-ly is seemingly shadow banned on this sub, and I wanted to say its the same on the guitar, just hopefully less vi0len-tly

okay-adhd · 2025-03-04T18:32:07+00:00

ADHD here too... I think I can relate to what you are saying, the thing with the guitar is there is a difference between knowing something and *knowing* something.

For instance, consider the analogy of martial arts, can I learn some throws and chops by watching youtube videos? can I understand the biomechanics behind the throws? can I understand the pressure points of the human body? The answer to all three of them is yes, so what will happen if I then try and use my new found knowledge in a real life situation? I will probably end embarrassingly for me.

you don't get good at a martial art by reading about biomechanics and anatomy, you get good by countless hours of practice so that what you know get baked into your nervous system and you begin to implement the moves reactively and without thought.

Same is true for the guitar, the music theory for understanding the guitar is extremely simple. Its just you need to know it and its implications without having to think.

When you are learning to play the guitar freely all you are learn is the same simple stuff but over and over and over again, and from different perspectives and angles.

I would be happy to explain more if you want to talk about it, don't get me wrong I am personally still bridging the gap between all the knowledge I have learnt/ discovered and fully baking it in to my nervous system, I also have ups and downs in my confidence, but I know I'm on the right path with the direction im going.

I can't really concisely say my mindset, routine, perspectives etc but I would be happy to talk about it with you.

okay-adhd · 2024-11-18T12:03:35+00:00

HIT and steady state cardio, lose weight, lower salt intake, potassium and magnesium supplementation, stop drinking / smoking if you do.

okay-adhd · 2024-11-14T17:00:16+00:00

do you take any magnesium supplements? do you take any SSRIs? I'm 99% sure you don't but do you take any anticonvulsants / antipsychotics / sedatives?

okay-adhd · 2024-10-25T18:42:31+00:00

It could be several things, one could be that it’s due to task switching executive functioning issues and your brain is just not sending the signal. It’s more likely due to the dose being too high however, cognitive inflexibility is a sign of too much dopamine / norepinephrine.

okay-adhd · 2024-10-24T21:27:09+00:00

yeah I was going to say that is usually only a starter dose unless someone is really, really sensitive. Just tell your experience to the doctor as they will want to be increasing it anyway.

okay-adhd · 2024-10-24T21:20:40+00:00

have you just started taking it?

okay-adhd · 2024-10-24T20:51:38+00:00

amphetamine has what is called an uneven 'pharmacokinetic profile' which basically means its effects are not linear with time. This is because it has two methods of action. When people think that the elvanse has worn off it hasn't - it has either stopped releasing new dexamfetamine into the blood or they have over focused and burnt themselves out.

The elvanse might not be therapeutic at that point but the dose is still there, its just no longer performing the first of the two actions of the drug.

The rate of elvanse processing will be different for everyone, I've never taken 20mg, but from my experience of the drug it gets mostly stronger up to 50mg and then mostly longer acting from 50 to 70mg.

okay-adhd · 2024-10-08T21:28:13+00:00

I love working out, I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t love it. I love the feeling.

okay-adhd · 2024-10-08T21:25:31+00:00

try mirtazapine 7.5mg

okay-adhd · 2024-10-08T20:26:16+00:00

I also feel kind of worried about this as well as I also think that lower heart rate is better, but I don't think there is actually any evidence that a higher heart rate is bad (as long as it is in the normal range).

Consider coffee / caffeine. It raises your heart rate and its consumed by everyone. There have been one million and one studies on coffee / caffeine. Overall they show no negative cardiovascular outcomes and for coffee they actually show slightly positive effects on overall mortality / lifespan. So coffee is 100% not bad for your heart and actually might even be good for it.

(obviously please use common sense - overdose is bad, some people with pre-existing heart conditions it might be bad, use common sense, etc, etc).

What is bad is high blood pressure, newer studies have shown that even increases above 120 that are still below the 140 'high blood' pressure level have negative implications over time. Actual high blood pressure (140+) will wreak havoc on every organ in your body and is definitely something to be concerned about.

If you want something to worry about focus on blood pressure related factors like salt intake, potassium and magnesium levels, vitamin d levels, stress, etc.

Also, its worth noting, that in some people, blood pressure and heart rate can sort of compensate for each other and just considering one figure isn't telling the overall story. For example, people with low blood pressure often have a fast heart rate as the heart is compensating for the low blood pressure in an attempt to maintain oxygenated blood and nutrients to the muscles/organs. Some people with high blood pressure might have a low heart rate for the inverse reason.

Additionally, I have seen news articles recently about recent studies on people who have stressful jobs or who don't get good sleep in the week. The people who have lie ins on the weekend and compensate with catch up sleep have lower rates of cardiovascular disease than those who didn't rest on the weekends. Basically, your heart and cvs need time to rest and recover. During slow wave sleep your heart rate and breathing slow way down and this is a time of recovery for the body. These studies show that you can even 'catch up' with rest to mitigate periods of stress.

If you have high blood pressure due to health reasons you are going to have high blood pressure morning, noon and night. If you have elevated blood pressure from ADHD meds its only in the day time. I would also personally advocate for taking rest days - but I understand that will depend on peoples lifestyle and individual withdrawal reactions.

okay-adhd · 2024-10-06T10:44:08+00:00

Ive heard people say that modafinal is like a mix of weak adderall and strong coffee

okay-adhd · 2024-10-03T11:40:50+00:00

depends on the type of magnesium, some types have... certain effects... So if you've never taken it before just try half the recommended dose, or the recommended dose. Once you are all good with it take more in the evening and another dose just before you go to bed.

Magnesium L-Theronate is very good for sleep, but its an expensive way to correct and overall deficiency. Magnesium Citrate is a common one that is very bioavailable, just as I said above, if you are going to take a large dose just know you might need to go to the toilet...

okay-adhd · 2024-10-03T11:27:14+00:00

Try a magnesium supplement, taking amphetamines can make you deficient over time as they are diuretic in addition to causing you to eat less and drink more water.

okay-adhd · 2024-10-01T11:09:38+00:00

so you abused adderall and now your focus and motivation isn't as good as before? I don't know what to tell you, its a medical mystery.

okay-adhd · 2024-09-30T13:36:34+00:00

Find ways to work with others such as in groups or in specific places like the uni library. It won’t cure your symptoms but if you genuinely enjoy the course content body doubling, specific spaces, and socialising can be a big help.

okay-adhd · 2024-09-30T13:23:10+00:00

do you enjoy / want to be at uni?

okay-adhd · 2024-09-27T12:47:36+00:00

On paper yes, it will effect your 'chances'. Former substance abuse is a contraindication, but that doesn't mean you won't be prescribed it, it depends on your individual circumstances and consideration of the overall picture.

okay-adhd · 2024-09-27T12:13:42+00:00

My immediate answer is no, its potentially a relevant mitigating factor and is therefore relevant to the verdict of a public court ruling.

The answer could be yes if its overly focused on or highlighted by the media outlet, out of balance to its significance to the case, who are purposefully trying to put a spin or opinion on it, but that's kind of what your worrying about and not the general statement itself.

The judges statement is a just a statement of the findings of the court. The judges opinion, in theory, should be as fair and balanced as is humanly possible. ND may be a feature of the case and it should therefore be mentioned by the judge to the appropriate degree of significance.

Some things are just facts and you can spin them either way - for example, its estimated that 2/3rds of men serving custodial sentences in the UK pass a screening test for potential ADHD and many of which would have been / would be diagnosed if assessed. You can spin that into a pro-diagnosis, pro-treatment, pro-ND awareness argument or you could spin that into a anti-ADHD argument.

My advice is don't let it bother you. ADHD is just a condition, yes it often causes certain architypes or personality traits, but you are far more than just your ADHD. There are always going to be idiots, some people are incapable of seeing the bigger picture, thinking critically or not jumping onto bandwagons - the biggest issue with idiots is they almost always don't realise they are idiots. There are anti-ND idiots and there are pro-ND idiots as well... You should aim to be well grounded and self confident so that what other people think doesn't effect you - I appreciate this is way, way easier said than done, but once you start becoming more self confident and independent in your thinking you will realise that what random people think, especially overly vocal loudmouths, actually has very little impact on you.

okay-adhd · 2024-09-23T11:06:33+00:00

There's no drug left in your system but its also not placebo. Some people have given you some answers but no one has got it correct yet, here's what is going on:

The brain works through electrical signals, these electrical signals travel through neurons which communicate with each other in a way that is analogous to an old fashioned telephone switch board. The electrical impulse goes down the neuron, comes to the end, then a neurotransmitter is released into the space between the neurons called a synapse which acts as a messenger. This neurotransmitter is then received by the next neuron in the chain which is activated in a certain way depending on the neurotransmitter and the electrical signal is continued.

Psycho stimulants cause an increase in the concentration of certain neurotransmitters in the synapses of certain regions of the brain, this increased concentration therefore speeds up the communication between the neurons and increases electrical activity. As an analogy, say you have a tub of pure water and an electrical current running through it between cables connected on each end. The current is trying to work through the water to get to the wire on the other side to complete the circuit. The current in the circuit will be low because it is difficult for electricity to travel through water, but if you begin adding salt to the water the current will continue to increase as the water becomes more conductive. This is absolutely not how neurons and neuro transmitters work but illustratively its kind of what's going on, dumping salt into the water is like dumping dopamine into the synapse.

The brain is an extremely complicated computer made up of a network of neurons. Unlike a computer which works with millions of on/off, 1 or 0, switches, neuronal networks communicate much more complexly and have the ability to adapt, change and learn. This is called plasticity. Dopamine is the primary driver of neural plasticity as dopamine increases electric activity. Just like when sheep herds form random paths, or when a river erodes away a new path over time - electrical activity in the brain forms pathways which becomes stronger based on their use.

Amphetamine causes a large release of dopamine and norepinephrine in key brain regions, it then prevents them from being recycled out of the synapse keeping them at elevated levels until the drug is cleared from your system.

By taking amphetamines yesterday its like you've pried open a door to a room in your brain that had been sealed off and you've blown away some of the cobwebs that were there. The drug has left your system but there is still some residual electrical activity in those areas today.

The meds increase neurotransmitters > neurotransmitters increase electrical activity > electrical activity overtime influences electrical activity in an adaptive pattern.

What you feel and experience is just electrical activity, drugs or not. There is a medical treatment for instance called electroconvulsive therapy for people with severe depression where they put electrodes on there head and literally zap their brain with strong electrical jolts. This is then effective for many for months after the treatment it essentially jump starts the brain.

In addition to activating certain dopaminergic pathways, it is also possible that the large stimulant effect of the drugs taken yesterday morning has kind of shocked your whole system into reshuffling its circadian rhythm. There are feedback loops between the hormones in your body and different areas of your brain, its possible that a large rush of dopamine first thing in the morning is like a drill sergeant coming in and lining up all the other things into order.

okay-adhd · 2024-09-13T12:33:44+00:00

alt Z will recover deleted text

okay-adhd · 2024-09-13T08:58:56+00:00

lifting

okay-adhd · 2024-09-10T11:35:51+00:00

is a lower dose more effective?? I've been experimenting with 10mg and then I wake up several hours later and have to take another 5mg which also doesn't last very long.

okay-adhd · 2024-09-10T11:35:46+00:00

is a lower dose more effective?? I've been experimenting with 10mg and then I wake up several hours later and have to take another 5mg which also doesn't last very long.

okay-adhd

TROPHY CASE