Wow, I'm surprised to see not a single person mention L-Tyrosine supplementation as it is a precursor that metabolizes into norepinephrine(noradrenaline) and dopamine. I'm prescribed adderall which helps... for a while (which is understandable). You see... it's a norepinephrine+dopamine agonist (it forces the release of those stored neurotransmitters) which leaves me feeling quite depleted and thus, lethargic, tired, sleepy, unmotivated, and even depressed. When freshly on it, after a break, it's like a heightened sense of focus, clarity, and finally, some organizational skills (for me at least), which is what we're all looking for, to some extent (and then some with my experience with a few nootropics like piracetam, which felt quite natural comparatively). The problem with this is that it isn't a consistent, long term solution in that it leads to a huge release and rapid depletion of dopamine and norepinephrine (to a lesser extent as I will still get undesirable peripheral nervous system side effects after its benefits have worn off with consistent use). This alone confuses the hell out of my body/mind as to where normalcy is with these neurotransmitters as my brain is infiltrated with heightened levels, so it sets off the appropriate signals to downregulate, and/or I'm left with NE+D levels below even what my body considers to be the norm.
I'd speculate that chronic stress from work would exacerbate similar symptoms but over a much longer, and smoother, period of time that many people commonly endeavor and just go to their doctor expecting accurate and adequate help without detriment to their health, but just leave their office with a script in hand for a drug that will affect said neurotransmitters and possibly worsen the symptoms (not entirely sure how a norepinephrine+dopamine reuptake inhibitor would affect levels long term as it seems like a more subtle mode of action but still likely to confuse the shit out of your body).
Anyway, L-tyrosine gets converted to l-dopa and then to norepinephrine and dopamine. I've done plenty of reading of others' experiences with effects of l-dopa to not even try, much less advise you to take it, but I feel the body is more capable of self regulating the amount of l-tyrosine necessary. Since l-tyrosine is an amino acid found in meat, then simply eating more protein could provide some possible relief ("let thy food be the medicine and the medicine be the food."). Even if I have taken my dose of l-tryosine early in the day, and on an empty stomach, I still find a protein rich meal eaten an hour or so beforehand to be the most effective measure for making a dose of adderall really count.
Hope this info helps and keep us updated if you find some relief. Best of luck to you.
Edited by michael117, 24 September 2010 - 07:33 AM.
LongeCity
