8 replies to this topic

[Animal]

So I am interested in hearing from people on this forum who feel they are dependent on a supplement or pharmaceutical in order to function at a level they find satisfactory. I'm not referring to a situation where enhancement of normal ability or treatment of a physical symptom is the objective; but where a substance is taken in order to achieve a quality of life you deem acceptable. I am curious as to how people in this situation feel about being dependent on an extraneous chemical to live, considering supply could be disrupted at any time for a myriad of reasons, or a prescription withdrawn. I am especially interested in hearing from people who are sourcing this 'beneficial' substance privately, without a prescription.

I ask this question because I myself am dependent on Modafinil to function acceptably on a daily basis. Now, I am in no physical danger if I do not take Modafinil regularly, and I will not suffer from withdrawal syndrome if it is discontinued entirely. But I know I would not be able to work at the lab for the obligatory amount of time without it, I would be restricted to a life of minimal activity, where I sleep far in excess and have little social contact. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or to be more precise, I suffer from persistent debilitating fatigue and the doctors have been unable to identify an etiology. Modafinil allows me to live a normal life, and in this sense I am dependent upon it. I have a prescription, but it is for a minimal amount and so I have to supplement it with privately acquired product. In many ways I despise this dependency, since it necessitates a constant awareness of supplies and an anticipation of usage. Cost isn't really an issue, but it is still annoying having to ensure there are always funds available to fuel my 'habit'. Ultimately though it helps me live how I want to, and in this respect I am utterly unphased by the prospect of having to take it for life, so be it.

Anyway, what do you other peeps in a similar situation think about it? I know there are lots of ADD sufferers on this forum who are dependent on psychostimulants to an extent.

[aLurker]

I'd stockpile it like a hamster preparing for a nuclear winter.

[Introspecta]

I feel like i'm dependent on piracetam to function properly. Now that its banned i guess i'm just going to have to deal with it when my kilos run out. I read, think, and have much more motivation to learn when on it. Its too bad the other racetams don't have as good of an effect on me. I still can't believe they banned it. Absolutely ridiculous.

[Valor5]

I think we have to do our best to resolve whatever difficulty we have and what is best for you at the moment is to take this, so be it. Maybe in the future something better will be revealed then you can change.

[outsider]

I'm in this situation too and I've started looking into local environment for my natural product need. For example I need sedation so I'm looking for natural supp around in case they ban natural product from the market in a couple of years (I believe in Europe they have already done so to a large extent).

So I'm getting general info on local flora.

But I would not worry about pharmaceuticals and synthetic stimulants since they are controlled by big company and I would say this system is here for a long time.

[Ark]

I'm in this situation too and I've started looking into local environment for my natural product need. For example I need sedation so I'm looking for natural supp around in case they ban natural product from the market in a couple of years (I believe in Europe they have already done so to a large extent).

So I'm getting general info on local flora.

But I would not worry about pharmaceuticals and synthetic stimulants since they are controlled by big company and I would say this system is here for a long time.

Self production comes to mind.

[longevitynow]

I feel like i'm dependent on piracetam to function properly. Now that its banned i guess i'm just going to have to deal with it when my kilos run out. I read, think, and have much more motivation to learn when on it. Its too bad the other racetams don't have as good of an effect on me. I still can't believe they banned it. Absolutely ridiculous.

Correct me if I am wrong but Piracetam hasn't actually been banned (at least not yet). I believe they just put some heavy pressure on the largest importer and he decided to stop carrying it. This has caused a significant price increase and certainly has made powdered Piracetam harder to come by. But I was paying about $1 a gram for the pills in Mexico for years until I found it in powder in the US about 4 years ago. Then I started paying about 97% less. So even with the price increase it is still a fraction of the price of Nootropil or the generics sold by drug companies in other countries. I, too, stocked up. I'm moving toward a lower dosage, also considering a racetam stack with some Piracetam and then adding some Ani- or possibly Oxi-. When stacking the racetams everyone seems to say you need dramatically less Piracetam in the mix as the others are far more potent in a milligram to milligram comparison. I like how I feel/function on Piracetam, but can take it or leave it. I'm doing it daily presently as part of an experiment, but will go back to my more occasional use in a few months. I take ALCAR, ALA, CoQ-10 daily and feel a little sharper and more energetic with them. I also think they are anti-aging for brain and body, so I don't have a problem using them daily. I skip them sometimes while traveling (either becasue I didn't bring them or forget to take them), and probably notice a bit less energy when I do so. I take a lot of supplements daily (multi-vit/mineral, digestive enzymes, green drink). I think my body is a bit addicted to them. I don't feel as good off of them. Vitamins and mineral are cofactors in thousands of enzymatic processes in the body; as you get older these enzymatic systems don't function as efficiently, so supplementation as you get older will help your body to function like it was when you were somewhat younger/healthier. I had CFS for years and cured myself with supplements. I imagine my genetic profile works better with some/most of what I am taking; it certainly feels better that way. For me most psychological dependency is based in my imperfect physiology being enhanced with supplements and occassional nootropic drugs. Haven't bought into full-time noot drugs as I'm concerned about possible long-term side-effects over time. But if I was a lot older and I noticed I was dramatically sharper with deprenyl, I'd definitely consider daily usage.

[medievil]

I refuse to get physically dependent on a substance, i want to get back to my baseline state whenever i want to and suffering withdrawal for several days before i feel back normal is not acceptable, hence i refuse to take SSRI's and allways take regular breaks of addictive substances.

As long i can do that i dont see a problem.

(Yes i know what your gonna reply animal, you can drop off the manifesto about my horrible addictive personality in my regime thread ).

[jadamgo]

I need MPH to function in school or on the job, though I would consider ADHD a physical condition due to the strong genetic and environmental components.

Regardless, if I were unable to get MPH then I would have to drop everything I was doing at the time and go spend at long-ass time on meditation retreat. I'm thinking at least a year. Then when I came back, I would have to form a relationship with a good psychologist or ADHD coach.

I would love to be able to function with no medication, but currently it's so much easier and less expensive to take MPH (even Concerta which is quite expensive) than to retain an ADHD specialist for neuropsychological therapy. If my supply got cut off then I'd be pissed, but I would be able to deal with it. There are enough successful people with ADHD who don't respond to medication at all, or don't know they have it, and they managed to learn all the coping mechanisms and develop crazy amounts of self-discipline. I'm talking self-discipline significantly above and beyond what the average person needs to be successful, which is already a lot. Faced with the choice between working very hard to live the kind of life I want to live, and being a could-have-been, I'd work pretty damn hard.

Does that answer your question? I'm not certain I knew what you were looking for.