11 replies to this topic

[Ivy]

I'm cross-posting this also from Mental Health because I really could use some advice. (I'm sorry if I'm not supposed to do that)

I took Buproprion (Wellbutrin XL 300mg) and Adderal XR (10-20mg/day) for about 6 years. Since I moved back to Europe, no doctor will prescribe me anything but Strattera or Ritalin for ADHD, and I've given up with trying to treat my PTSD because SSRIs render me non-functional (no focus, thoughts all over the place, organisation worse, can't sit still, more hyperactive). I've been told I have "complex PTSD" from chronic childhood stress from war and abuse.

I've been experimenting with an amino acid + supplement stack, my mood has greatly improved, however my concentration is still horrible.

Morning:
- L-Tyrosine 3000mg
- P-5-P 25mg
- Acetyl-L-Carnitine 1000mg
- Vitamin C 1g

With Breakfast
- 10mg Lithium Orotate
- 1mg Methylcobalamin
- 50mg Pregnenolone (adrenal support)

An hour before lunch:
- L-Carnitine 1000mg
- P-5-P 25mg
- DL-Phenylalanine 2000mg

With Lunch:
- 10mL fish oil
- 100mg Phosphatidylserine
- 1000mg Niacin
- B-complex tablet 50
- 4000 IU Vitamin D
- 45 mcg Vitamin K2
- 10mg Lithium Orotate

With Dinner:
- 10mg Lithium Orotate

Night:
- 1.25mg Melatonine
- 1000mg L-Tryptophan

This is my question now though. Because I've largely not functioned since I went off the Wellbutrin and Adderall, did the Wellbutrin and Adderall down-regulate my system to essentially stop producing much dopamine? I get depressed rather easily when I need to take any medication like antibiotics (bacterial infection) or pain killers (I had a car accident a few months ago) I'm sort of at my whit's end right now.

I also tried a few days on Dopa Mucuna, but i don't think it had any effect. Any advice on what to change or what's going on? (i should mention I've also tried Selegiline and Ritalin in the past with little success)

Edited by Ivy, 12 February 2013 - 08:51 PM.

[Guardian4981]

Doesn't lithium downregulate dopamine?

[Vors]

You could try CDP Choline (Citocholine), I believe this can increase Dopamine receptor densities. I guess you'd have to use it instead of ALCAR, but in my experience it has a much more noticable effect.

[MrHappy]

The uridine stack should help dopamine and neuroplasticity.

[Renegade]

Studies show curcumin modulates dopamine receptors.

[BioFreak]

Maybe the stuff had a negative effect on your dopamine neurons (=less would be produced now then pre medication).
If I remember right lithium does upgregulate dopamine in certain areas and suppress it in others.

My advice, why don't you try mucuna seed powder? I mean the full seed. No freaking extract.
It does increase catecholamines, not only dopamine like l-dopa or high dopa mucuna extract does. Also, it does act neuroprotective, and it works for a longer timeframe after taking it then l-dopa.

I am taking about 5-10g/day right now (remember, no extract) and I absolutely love it. Buyed it at raw-living.de

I would not recommend any dopamine reuptake inhibitors or similar stuff, for ritalin a study found out that it kills off dopaminergic neurons in the rat brain... makes sense if the body can't regulate dopamine itself anymore.

You should also take cofactors like magnesium, folic acid, b6.

I second uridine, but I have had no personal experience with it.

[Major Legend]

Craze as an amphetamine substitute.

[medievil]

DXM

[norepinephrine]

Daily aerobic exercise is crucial, via increasing BDNF.

Anything that increases BDNF, for that matter, should help. Curcumin is one way to achieve that.

Meditation.

[Gnostica]

Whoa, watch out supplementing that heavily with the Amino Acids. You're going to burn out your liver and kidneys really fast that way. Your body attempts to excrete any amino acid that isn't relatively in balance with the rest in the spectrum, within reason of course. Make sure you take them with a high-protein meal to make sure you're not flushing them down the toilet, literally, at the very least.

[Ivy]

Maybe the stuff had a negative effect on your dopamine neurons (=less would be produced now then pre medication).
If I remember right lithium does upgregulate dopamine in certain areas and suppress it in others.

My advice, why don't you try mucuna seed powder?

You should also take cofactors like magnesium, folic acid, b6. I second uridine, but I have had no personal experience with it.

Good question, honestly have no idea about Lithium anymore. Nobody really seems to know how lithium works at all, only studies that suggest things without any real consistent evidence. I've notice it helps for short bursts of time. The problem is that it has a lag of sorts, so I'm not sure if it's a placebo affect. I think I have to stick with it for a few months to determine.

I've take the mucuna seed power in capsules. the capsules fit about 500mg, but I've never taken more than 1-2 capsules at a time. It's something to keep in mind.

Craze as an amphetamine substitute.

What is Craze?

DXM

It's caused me to have colorful visual hallucinations when I was a kid. If you mean Dextromethorphan.

Daily aerobic exercise is crucial, via increasing BDNF.

Anything that increases BDNF, for that matter, should help. Curcumin is one way to achieve that.

I'm a runner, I do have the negative that I suffer from low-Ferritin, exercise seems to speed up the drop. Taking Iron seems to wreck havoc with the other supplements. Any ideas here would be useful too. I've tried copper supplements too.

Whoa, watch out supplementing that heavily with the Amino Acids. You're going to burn out your liver and kidneys really fast that way. Your body attempts to excrete any amino acid that isn't relatively in balance with the rest in the spectrum, within reason of course. Make sure you take them with a high-protein meal to make sure you're not flushing them down the toilet, literally, at the very least.

The truth is that I notice a difference when I take more or less and it works.

[Major Legend]

Craze is a supplement made by driven sports that is reported to have amphetamine like effects.

Edited by Major Legend, 21 March 2013 - 03:44 PM.