4 replies to this topic

[jack black]

There are a couple of people I know that are diagnosed with ADHD that cannot tolerate Ritalin/concerta due to anxiety, heart palpitations, fatigue, and headaches, but do well on amphetamines. I thought both stimulants work similar, yet different results. Why?

Edited by jack black, 06 January 2018 - 10:34 PM.

[CWF1986]

It has to do with the parts of the brain affected and amphetamine doesn't just do NDRI, it's also a NE and DA releaser.  

[jack black]

I understand the difference in mechanism of action. what I don't understand is both should be stimulants and activate dopamine neurons. 

 

I managed to get sample of both and confirmed diametrically different effects. low dose amphetamine made me motivated to do things i'm normally too lazy to do, and do it efficiently, while in good mood. sex was great.

 

one week later, sustained release low dose of methylphenidate made my apathy worse, gave me low grade headache, some feeling of warmth in head, but I had to lay down, and accomplished nothing. mood was dysphoric (a bit irritable) and sex was just OK.

 

​why would that be so different, again?

Edited by jack black, 27 January 2018 - 09:07 PM.

[jack black]

one more thing, there was one effect that both drugs had in common: appetite suppression. however, as the drugs stopped working, there was rebound eating. the meds were legally purchased in a local pharmacy by prescription, so there is no doubt they are legit.

[jack black]

OK, while there are no serious takers on this yet, i'm researching it further and my experience of amphetamines working better than methylphenidate is fairly common (but some reported the opposite): https://drugs-forum....ference.270402/

 

while the methylphenidate works via increase in D/NE stimulating dopamine receptor D1 and adrenoceptor α2 in the prefrontal cortex, amphetamines have a whole spectrum of actions through increased cellular communication or neurotransmission of dopamine,^[37] serotonin,^[37] norepinephrine,^[37] epinephrine,^[149] histamine,^[149] CART peptides,^[10][162] endogenous opioids,^{[169][170][171]} adrenocorticotropic hormone,^[172][173] corticosteroids,^[172][173] and glutamate,^[153][158] which it effects through interactions with CART, 5-HT1A, EAAT3, TAAR1, VMAT1, VMAT2, and possibly other biological targets.^{[sources 14]} [copied from wiki]

 

now, I see it's not easy to sort why i'm responding different to those.

one additional variable is i'm CYP2D6 slow metabolizer, hence stronger amphetamine effect.

Edited by jack black, 28 January 2018 - 09:31 PM.