8 replies to this topic

[Maddy]

Hi, my name is Madeleine and I'm trying get advice in developing a nootropic stack that can help me with my recovery from previous drug/solvent abuse, and can also assist me in coping with my ADHD, Aspergers and Auditoral Processing Disorder (APD). I know my post may be more suited for the Nootropic Stacks section of this category, however seeming that my issues are mental health related I thought that I might benefit more by posting my issues here. I'm sure there are many people that are active in this forum who are using nootropic to help themselves manage their own symptoms, wether they suffering with what I have, or from more common mental illness's such as depression, anxiety and or both. But if not then I will just repost :D

To tell you a little bit more about myself. I'm a 19 year old female currently living in Australia. I have just managed to finish collage (high school for USA) which was a huge challenge for me but thankfully I was able to pass with straight A's at an accredited level (Lowest level classes). My current diet is very good. I am not overweight and I'm starting a gluten free/grain free + lactose free diet and eat up to 2 fruit a day, atleast 10 serves of veggies, plenty of meat(including fish), eggs, beans and legumes, aswell as lots of nuts and seeds including Almonds, walnuts and sun flower seeds. I am planning to start an exercise program consisting of resistance training, Running, Swimming and coordination/balance improvement exercises. I have already kinda started a stack and I will post details about it at the end. I am currently seeing a psychologist who is helping me with coping strategy's but that only goes so far I'm afraid.

My current problems/symptoms that I have been experiencing over the majority of my life include Intense social Anxiety, particularly when speeking in groups of over 3 people, bad short term and long term memory, trouble with conprehension when reading and listening, and major issue with speaking clearly, particularly when it comes to finding the right words to say and forming sentences.

Unfortunately within the last 12 months I was experimenting with elicit drugs+solvents and in doing so was detrimental to my already bad situation. I was hanging out with the wrong group of people who did drugs and I thought that maybe if they didn't turn out that bad after trying drugs then maybe I would be fine aswell. And guess what, I was so wrong.. STUPID ME!! Not only did the drugs exaggerate my already hard to cope with symptoms but they added more. My vision has gone to shit. When my eyes are open or closed I am constently seeing this fuzzy, TV like static throughout my vision, it's considerably worse at night time. The best way I can describe it is as if you were looking through a fly screen or foggy window. You can still see through but the disturbance is still there, very transparent. I'm thinking this might be visual snow or a form of HPPD, however I'm very skeptical. The drugs I took include: marijuana (on and off), acid (4 trips), DXM from cough syrup (Once), nitrous oxide aka nangs (a few times), Ketamine(Once), Speed (Once), MDMA (a few times), HBWR seads and shamefully so, I even sniffed petrol too (once). I have not taken any subsetences of this nature for 3 months.

I know this is all very bad and you probably don't want to help me but I have done so much to get to this point in life and I just cannot let my disorders and possible drug related damage stop me from succeeding. I am hoping to commence a bridging course later on this year to allow me access to university where I am hoping to study nursing or medical science, but at my current mental state I just don't think I can possibly do that.

Again, I am hoping to get advice on making the best lifestyle changes, plus advice on my nootropic stack which I'm hoping will assist my body to heal any potential brain damage from drugs, aswell as aid me in dealing with my mental disorders.

Infact over last month I have actually started a stack and have seen some improvements, such as Better memory in general, less anxious in social situation, as well as having more energy. I'm about 30% better. See current stack below:

- Metagenics 'Brahmi tone' Includes: Camellia Sinensis, dry leaf (Green tea) 10.0g, Bacopa monieri, whole plant dry (Brahmi - BacoMind)1.5g, Ginko biloba leaf dry 1.5g, Withania Somnifera root dry 750mg and Tyrosine 500mg. I take 2 tablets 2 times a day as suggested on the bottle. I haven't noticed much of a difference with this, maybe there are benefits in long term use?

-9g of fish oil, equaling up to 1080mg of DHA

-Vitamin A 5000IU (once per day)

-Vitamin C 500mg (once per day)

-Vitamin E 500IU (once per day)

-CoQ10 200mg (once per day)

-Magnesiun Malate 140mg (Once per day at night)

-Calcium suppliment, Includes: Calcium 1.5g and vitamin D3 500IU (once per day in the morning)

-Metagenics 'Meta B Complex' A high potency B complex with antioxidants, minerals and amino acids

- Bulk nutrients Phosphatidyl Serine 100mg (3 per day)

-Natural Astaxanthin 6mg (once per day)

- Powder City's Uridine Monophosphate bulk powder 150mg (Taken sublingually two times per day)

-Bulk nutrients R Alphs Lipioc acid 200mg (3 times per day)

-Swansons Lions mane 500mg (6 per day)

Thats all I am taking for now but I am considering to also add ALCAH, N acetyl cysteine, SAMe, Alpha GPC and Creatine Monohydrate. I'm not sure on doses yet as I'm am still in the research phase.

Any suggestions about my current stack? Possible interactions or risks?
Is my current plan going in the right direction? I just really need some imput on this as no one I know really seems to care or be bothered to assist me.

Thankyou so much!

[chemicalambrosia]

 

I know this is all very bad and you probably don't want to help me but I have done so much to get to this point in life and I just cannot let my disorders and possible drug related damage stop me from succeeding. I am hoping to commence a bridging course later on this year to allow me access to university where I am hoping to study nursing or medical science, but at my current mental state I just don't think I can possibly do that.

 

There are plenty of people in this forum in the same boat as you. There is nothing to be ashamed of, really.

 

 

I'd recommend giving Silexan/Calm Aid a try. It has some solid evidence behind it for anxiety, and I personally think it helps take anxiety down a notch or two.

 

 

- Metagenics 'Brahmi tone' Includes: Camellia Sinensis, dry leaf (Green tea) 10.0g, Bacopa monieri, whole plant dry (Brahmi - BacoMind)1.5g, Ginko biloba leaf dry 1.5g, Withania Somnifera root dry 750mg and Tyrosine 500mg. I take 2 tablets 2 times a day as suggested on the bottle. I haven't noticed much of a difference with this, maybe there are benefits in long term use?

 

I'd think about dropping that and trying standardized stand alone extracts of Bacopa, Ginkgo, Ashwaghanda, tyrosine, and theanine instead of an all in one formula. It will be easier to find what works. I'd think about trying them one at a time to test for side effects. Bacopa is supposed to take a couple months for the memory effects to kick in btw.

 

There are plenty of other things to try, but its best not to add a ton of things at once. You have no clue what is working and what is not working.

[medievil]

Most mental disorders are related to the gut, look into enteric cauted probiotics and a formula that gets released before it enters the part of the gut enteric coated ones go in, basicly the gut will destroy some probiotics with the ph, before you have been trough it entirely.

 

Good luck, im skeptical you can go into remission without more powerfull medicines, but this is one thing that can help

Look into the food additives like dyes intervention for ADHD too

[Ruth]

links and studies

https://www.research...y_Acids_in_Rats
https://www.scienced...197018616300936
"The effects of L-theanine (Suntheanine®) on objective sleep quality in boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial."
https://www.scienced...022510X17331209
https://www.thieme-c.../s-0037-1605582
http://www.ingentaco...920996417303080

[Mind_Paralysis]

Hmm, well, I suggest going on a ADHD-medication if you indeed have been diagnosed with classic, hyperactive ADHD.

 

Or do you identify more with what's currently called SCT? I have this, and it's a different type of attention-disorder, with different symptoms - we are far more withdrawn and have issues with inactivity, rather than hyperactivity. (we stare blankly into the distance and zone out for periods of time)

 

Read more about it here:

https://en.wikipedia...cognitive_tempo

 

If you have that, then it's unlikely that regular ADHD-drugs will help.

 

 

BUT, back to your official diagnosis - you obviously have issues with drug abuse, so you probably have co-morbid Substance Use Disorder.

 

Here's what I recommend:

 

Medication

----------------

For ADHD:

Dextroamphetamine (vyvanse)

Guanfacine (intuniv)

 

For SUD:

Naltrexone

Buprenorphine

Buproprion

 

 

I would start with the Buproprion and Naltrexone + Buprenorphine - the combination of Buproprion and Naltrexone is indicated for addictive disorders like over-eating and stimulant-abuse, and the combination of Buprenorphine + Naltrexone is indicated for the treatment of addiction and depression. Buproprion (wellbutrin, voxra) is of course also prescribed for depression.

 

There has of course also been some research indicating that the opioid system is involved in ASD, so potentially, the modulation of this network from the Buprenorphine+Naltrexone combo could be beneficial.

 

Once you're on those three drugs, and if thing are progressing well, I would then add low-dose Vyvanse and Guanfacine to treat the ADHD.

 

If you're hesitant to go on all of these hard medications I would prematurely simply suggest these supplements:

 

 

Melatonin

Magnesium-L-Threonate

Lithium Orotate

 

There is ample evidence that amino-acid metabolism is disrupted in ASD, one of them is the chain which creates the body's sleep-hormone from the amino-acid Tryptophan - supplementing with Melatonin may then help with sleep. Mag-LT is also the only form of magnesium with any greater amount of NMDA-antagonism and proof that it crosses the blood-brain barrier - it's being researched for cognitive impairment, and there are some reports that high doses help with anxiety. (some forms of anxiety is connected to nmda-receptor hyperactivity in the hippocampus - this would then be why Mag-LT helps)

 

Lithium Orotate is a non-prescription form of Lithium, animal testing has proven that it has the highest bioavailability of the known Lithium formulas - it was also tested for the treatment of Alcohol abuse and showed some promise - it's fairly untested though, but low doses are considered much, much safer than the prescription forms of Lithium.

 

Jack_Black, another user with ASD have reported that low-dose LiO helps him with anxiety, depression and insomnia, if taken at a specific time of day, late in the evening - the reason why Lithium could help with sleep, is at least clear, since it alters the circadian system and seems to increase Melatonin-production.

 

 

I would like to try and give you some references on the above, but SCT is blocking any further efforts - hopefully you can search my user and find the various posts I have made regarding the support for these drugs, or find them via google scholar.

 

 

References:
--------------------

Pharmacological Therapies for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review

https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC4450669/

 

(mentions melatonin at least...)

Edited by Stinkorninjor, 02 January 2018 - 10:43 AM.

[jack black]

 

Medication

----------------

For ADHD:

Dextroamphetamine (vyvanse)

Guanfacine (intuniv)

 

For SUD:

Naltrexone

Buprenorphine

Buproprion

 

 

 

what's SUD?

 

BTW, this is an old thread, probably dead for good, despite the recent resuscitation attempt.
 

[Junk Master]

Props to Stinkorninjor for another excellent answer.

[Maddy]

Medication
----------------
For ADHD:
Dextroamphetamine (vyvanse)
Guanfacine (intuniv)

For SUD:
Naltrexone
Buprenorphine
Buproprion

what's SUD?

BTW, this is an old thread, probably dead for good, despite the recent resuscitation attempt.

Hi Jack black, I think he is referring to Substance abuse disorder. Its great that I got his response despite it being so far past the original posting time. A lot has changed in my life since I reached out for advice good and bad. I haven't really overcome my ailments in a significant way or reached any form of remission.
I will update you guys on my current situation sometime tomorrow when I am more fresh headed. I could really use the advice!

Thank you.

Edited by Maddy, 03 January 2018 - 07:09 AM.

[jack black]

Maddy, I stand corrected. i'm looking forward to your update.