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[Magus]

Hi , Good Morning all..


Current Stack

• Vitamin B-100 Complex (1x a day)
• Ginkgo Biloba 120 mg (1x a day)
• L Theanine (1x a day)
• Vinpocetine 5 mg (1x a day)
• Choline 20 mg (1x a day)

Also being treated for ADHD and PTSD/GAD with the following:

• Adderall = 30mg x 3 a day
• Celexa = 40 mg once a day
• Propranolol = 40 mg once a day (as needed)
• Guanfacine = 2 mg

Was on the listed stack above for over 2 years with noticeable benefits, and took a vacation for 3 months yet continued the RX regime. Back on my stack, with the addition of Vinpocetine, and I have a rather strange feeling which I haven't been able to shake.

• Aggressive Pressure within the skull
• Feeling overstimulated yet lethargic
• Confusion
• Speech Impediment which leads to..
  
• Frustration and
• horrible Brain Fog

Exhaustive Research has left me without any solid information, and here I am. I would really appreciate any advice in regards to these new 'side effects' and as always looking forward to any comments or suggestions provided by fellow longecity forum members.

Thanks in Advance!

#Magus

[Lojiko]

Hi, Magus.

Firstly, what are the overall goals of your regimen? My assumption is cognitive enhancement + Tx for ADHD + Tx for PTSD/GAD.

1. Do you take a multivitamin? That might round out your nutrition and make the B-100 complex unnecessary.

2. I assume the l-theanine is for anxiety relief. What's your doseage?

3. I don't know if vinpocetine is a good addition to your regimen. Vinpocetine increases levels of DOPAC, a metabolic breakdown product of dopamine. Given your Adderall 'script is probably sufficient to cause DA release (and thusly DOPAC). This is similar to the pharmacology of reserpine, a structural relative of vinpocetine, which depletes catecholamine levels and causes depression as a side effect of the cardiovascular and anti-psychotic effects. However, this effect tends to be reversible upon cessation of Vinpocetine administration, with full remission typically occurring within 3–4 weeks.
http://en.wikipedia....anism_of_action

In other words, ditch the vinpocetine if you're going to continue with the Adderall.

4. Your choline supplement is very light, to the point of being unnecessary. There's five times that much choline in an egg. If you decide to graduate to a nootropic that's more acetylcholine-dependent, consider supplementing with something like alpha-GPC.

Everything else seems fine. Ditch the vinpocetine, consider a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement, choline supplementation is optional, and be sure to take breaks on the theanine ... depending on your doseage it's possible to develop a tolerance. Your SSRI should work for anxiety overall. If not, consider switching to one of the newer SSRIs like Viibryd (vilazadone).

PS - Consider reviewing forums related to increasing your Adderall's effectiveness. Less DA-release = less metabolic breakdown products that might cause oxidative stress. Also, consider neuroprotective anti-oxidants. I typically take alpha-lipoic acid and n-acetyl-cysteine, among others.