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I'm an autoimmune autistic epileptic and I don't know what to do for my brain. Drs treat me like a lab rat. Please help!

neurogenesis neurogenic ngf stack autism dyscalculia

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#1 DuchenneNapier

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Posted 20 January 2018 - 02:56 AM


Hey, I need a lot of help. My brain's in bad shape. I have epilepsy and so over the years have experienced cellular death caused by seizures and falls I've had during seizures. I've also been in two different car accidents which had a heavy impact on my head (wasn't me driving).

I'm also a high functioning autistic so some parts of my brain aren't developed enough or communicating enough - e.g, the corpus callosum connecting the two hemispheres of the brain.

MRI of my brain showed cerebellar atrophy.

At the moment, meds I'm on are;
- Zonisamide and Lacosamide (seizure meds/AEDs)
- Skyla IUD
- Escitalopram
- Levothyroxine, specifically Tirosint. I'm autoimmune and my body can't take the fillers found in cheaper thyroid drugs.

Aside from being anxiety, depression, autoimmune, having autism and epilepsy, I also have fibromyalgia, ADD, dyslexia and dyscalculia. I have occasional random episodes of, PTSD I guess, from trauma I went through when I was younger. I was in therapy for years... Didn't help. I also have a lot of hormonal issues. This is common in epileptic women... Female hormones make my seizures worse and more likely to have them (catamenial epilepsy). I've been on tons of different birth control drugs to try and control it but the problem is the drugs themselves are estradiol or progesterone.

I have a family history of dementia, Alzheimer's and other neurological disorders and it scares the hell out of me. My grandmother is in the intermediate stages right now.

Lets see.. I'm a 20 year old female. I was born about a month early. I was the first child (only, actually). Currently diet is a kosher pescetarian ketogenic diet (without dairy or eggs - both medical and ethical reasons). I don't smoke, and rarely drink.

Obtaining the drugs aren't an issue. My mom is a doctor; so is my aunt and my cousin. I know a lot of doctors. If I can get my brain to function at a higher capacity, I'll probably go into med school too at some point.

Money isn't an issue. I'd do almost anything and probably take anything to get my brain where it should be. Since I'm autoimmune my body has rejected a ton of the drugs I've been on before. I had terrible side effects and one could have killed me. I'm not scared of hard core deep stuff. Although obviously I'd prefer for it to work. I'm open to psychedelics, hallucinogens, things that aren't necessarily legal. As long as it might fix me.

However, now for the most part my autoimmunity seems stable. My docs think it was more active in the past due to hormones. It seems safe for me to take stuff now; otherwise I'd have taken nootropics a long time ago (for example, I just got an IUD and it isn't really causing me problems. I used to have the worst ever side effects).

All that said...

- I have a couple IMMEDIATE concerns since I'm starting a new course. They are;

* Motivation
Sometimes I fall into this state of anhedonia. I'm so lazy and apathetic when I'm like this.

* Energy
Even when I want to do stuff, I tire out really easily

* Focus/Concentration (whatever you would call it...)
I find it pretty hard to focus and STAY focused and get something done. Like a lot of autistics my executive functions aren't up to scratch and I'm distracted very easily. I also get bored extremely easily.

* Memory
To be frank, my memory isn't terrible. I actually have a good memory. But what I do have that is good, I want to be really, really good. Especially for the courseload I'll be taking.

* COMPREHENSION
This has happened so many times before. Even if I manage to focus on something or if I remember a lot of what I studied, that doesn't mean I understand or can comprehend it.
It's like the capacity for learning and comprehension is stagnant within my brain.
It's not even that I don't have a desire to learn, because I've always inhaled any knowledge I can get my hands on.
There will be no point to better memory or focus or anything if my learning capacity doesn't change.

* Neurogenesis and recovery from cellular death. Also want to boost my fluid intelligence level.

I want to regenerate my brain, and make it better than it ever was.
I'm particularly interested in the neurogenesis of GREY MATTER since I have big issues with dyscalculia, executive functions, etc and I'm going into a STEMs field. I'd be really happy if this neurogenesis could help the PARIETAL lobes, which I've been told is responsible in great part for intelligence in fields of math and science.

I know that most neurogenesis in adults happens in the hippocampus; however I wonder if there is a way to increase the cellular migration from the hippocampus?

- Concerns that are still pressing to me

* Faster processing speed/Sluggish cognitive tempo
The rate at which I process things is pathetic and I can only focus on one thing at a time.

* Visualization
When I try to meditate, my visualization ability is really crappy. I can't even seen to do it.

* Perceptual abilities/spatial awareness
Related really strongly to my dyscalculia. I have weak perception and basically no sense of direction. Even though visual memory is the strongest type of memory in humans, mine is really awful.

* Motor skills, hypotonia, clumsiness and reflexes
I hate this one especially because other people can tell it about me. I want to be athletic and play sports. Like a lot of autistic people my motor skills are pretty awful. I have hypotonia. Occupational therapy only goes so far.

* Sensory processing and language learning
I'm trying to learn another language and it's not going so well. A lot of my trouble seems related to my sensory processing issues; I just can't "hear" it "right" or with my visual memory being really awful when trying to learn an ideographic alphabet.

Well that about sums it up for now. Basically, I want to get my brain to a normal level, and then I want to make it better than normal.

I'm also really curious about if I should try physical solutions, such as tDCS. I don't know a lot about this though.

I'm also curious about other things such as brain entrainment. I know it's contraindicated with epileptics, but I know another epileptic friend who says brain entrainment actually stopped her seizures?? I know almost nothing about brain entrainment though.

Also really curious about biofeedback and neurofeedback.
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#2 jack black

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Posted 20 January 2018 - 04:29 PM

your family is all doctors. how do you think strangers can help you more?

 

joking aside, since you mentioned neuron regeneration. there are 2 things i'm aware that can do it.

1. Lithium. lots of people (myself included) take low dose lithium with great benefits and you don't have to be bipolar or depressed to benefit. it's available OTC and there are lots of threads about it.

2. BDNF, there are various strategies to boost BDNF in brain, many natural, do a search here or elsewhere.

 

you might also look into lamictal for your seizures instead. does not impair memory/mind like some other anti-convulsants and it works in some ways similar to lithium and boosts BDNF too. 

 

as for that high functioning autism, I probably have it too and while you can't cure it, there are ways to mitigate some of it. med school for people with autism is very hard to get in and very stressful to finish (it's stressful enough for neurotypicals too, ask your family) especially in USA, where leadership and communication are the 2 most important things they look for in applicants.

 

good luck and keep us posted!


Edited by jack black, 20 January 2018 - 04:42 PM.


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#3 DuchenneNapier

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Posted 20 January 2018 - 08:53 PM

You asked why my family dogs can't help me... they have basically given up on doing so. They trust me enough that they will write me a prescription if I ask for something but they think I am hopeless and that nothing will really help. I'm the family screw up.

Even my mom, when she thinks in terms of my future etc, thinks of me as a liability. She loves me but thinks she'll always have to take care of me. I hate that.

There's also the fact that they are only general doctors, while my condition has been regulated by specialists. They have the power to prescribe the drugs, and I research stuff a ton that they trust me and they will prescribe stuff if I ask, but they don't have the specializations to be my main doctors.

There's also the fact that I don't really want my family as my main doctors. They would have more control over me than they already do. I don't want to tell them things like my sexual history, etc for obvious reasons. They've always micromanaged me.

My regular doctors aren't much better. Even when I was a little girl. They didn't care what side effects I had and loaded me up on drugs and had me committed to an institution for a behavioral reaction to a drug that I couldn't control. Since I'm such an 'interesting' patient I was forced to participate in various studies be their subject. They did indeed treat me like a lab rat. They still do.

I don't really trust doctors anymore. Self treatment wouldn't have been my first choice, but at least I care about what happens to me. I know for a FACT that a doctor prescribed me one of the drugs I've been on because he was getting kickbacks for it, not because I needed it.



Ironically enough, the social and leadership aspect of Autism is one of my LEAST pressing concerns. I'd say that I'm pretty well adjusted in this way. Most people don't think I have autism until I tell them, if I decide to.

I think this is probably because I'm a girl. Female autism has some of the same deeper issues but presents very differently. A lot of us are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with something else. I wasn't diagnosed until I was 13, and before that I was erroneously diagnosed with a personality disorder. We can basically be like social chameleons. I guess you could say that I've learned to fake it quite well. My almost certainly autistic dad, and some of the other autistic guys I know don't seem as successful at this.

Female autism isn't as common or well researched. I've been an anonymous subject in a couple of studies.

I've taken on a lot of leadership roles through the years as well. Most were ones I didn't expect to find myself in. I'm not so much uncomfortable as a leader (anymore, I guess) but I prefer to work alone. Still, my leadership skills are more than I could have expected.

I know I'm setting myself a tall order with med school. I do have a backup, programming. Actually, I'd like to do both if possible. Programming still would require me to make a lot of improvements in executive functions, etc.

My problem is that those are really the only things I'm interested in pursuing. It is certainly the expectation in my family (or would be, if I didn't have all the disorders). My dad is a programmer. My uncle is an engineer. It's not just a matter of pleasing my family though, although that would be great for once. I have other interests besides medicine and programming, but not really anything I'd want to make a career of. And anything else I can think of is also in a STEMs field.

Maybe it's autism or just a stubborn personality, but I haven't been able to make myself be able to commit to something I'm not interested in. I can't seem to do the opposite either, make myself be interested in something I'm committed to if I find it boring. It's not a good excuse, this has affected what I'm able to do in life. Unfortunately I happen to be interested in fields that play on my weaknesses.

Nevertheless right now the path before me is a STEMs field which requires strong executive function. University won't lower their standards for me, so I have to improve myself to their standards. This is something I want to do anyways.

Another thing I will say about my social skills; I'd say I'm not very 'emotionally intelligent'; although once I read about an emotional/social/psychological concept, it's usually easy for me to understand. It's just that on the surface I seem more adept than I really am. I think I achieved this mainly through observing and mimicking the socially successful people around me.

This goes back to the 'comprehension' issue I have that I mentioned in my first post. I would do what I see works, but not necessarily be able to understand the concept behind it.

Something I've noticed about myself and a couple other autistics I've talked to; it's not like we have no idea have other people feel? That doesn't seem to make any sense. I'm actually very empathetic. I don't mean in the sympathy/empathy sense, but more like an actual empath. I can put myself in the other person's shoes and feel what they feel, and I can rationalize their actions (however flawed) from their perspective... When I was diagnosed with autism I was told autistics are typically naive, too trusting, etc. But I've been told I'm a good listener and a good judge of character.

The problem... It doesn't make sense. The problem doesn't seem to be so much with not being able to understand other people. It's like the problem is with me.


And yet, even though I can 'feel' what others are feeling and I can observe others and copy them to help myself succeed socially, I don't understand well or comprehend these feelings or concepts on a logical level. It's more of a primal sort of empathy.


I'm very interested in improving my emotional intelligence, but it's not my most pressing concern since I have other cognitive and executive function concerns, and I'm superficially socially successful.
If there is a drug or supplement that would help me somehow with this, I'd happily try it.

As for trying Lamictal. I was already on it, years ago. I'm not necessarily against trying again. Here's a list of drugs I've been on previously off the top of my head:





Levetiracetam (Keppra)
Gabapentin (Neurontin)
Topiramate (Topamax)
Ethosuximide (Zarontin)
Valproic acid (Depakote)
Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
Pregabalin (Lyrica)


I have a generalized seizure pattern, but it seems to emanate from my left temporal lobe. It was probably caused by head trauma when I was 6.

Being autoimmune made me hypersensitive to drugs. I had reactions to many of them at the time, ranging from amnesia to Steven Johnson's syndrome; the latter reaction I had to Lamictal. This gave my doctors very few options to treat me.

It makes me want to be very cautious, but I'm not 'actually allergic' to these drugs. I'm just 'autoimmune/hypersensitive'. A doc I've been treated by more recently thinks my reactions were more severe, because my autoimmunity was more active at that time, probably because of puberty. Basically, I could potentially take some of the same drugs that I once had reactions to.

As proof of this, a doctor put me back levothyroxine, which in the past hadn't worked for me. He started me on microdosing and slowly increased me. I haven't had any problems.

I'm also taking Vimpat, which I was told is in the same drug class as Lamictal, and I've had no problems with that either.


I'm also reconsidering my position on immunosuppressants. My immune system has caused me too much trouble in the past. I wouldn't know which drug is best or which to take though.

I understand that a lot of AEDs are taken as nootropics. This makes me pretty curious to try some of the AEDs with the most cognitive benefits.

I'd say that the drugs that best controlled my seizures were Valproic acid and Lamotrigine. I don't know why those two. I don't know how those drugs work. Maybe it says something about what, exactly, is wrong in my brain that causes the seizures?

Lamotrigine was perfect, no side effects, right up until the time I had the Steven Johnson's syndrome reaction.

I had weight gain and some incontinence with Valproic acid, but the reactions were mild compared the others I've had.


I've read that Valproic acid is good for language learning and auditory processing, and that Keppra and Ethosuximide are good for memory?

Is this true? Should I try these again?


I've already been taking lithium. I've noticed that I'm somewhat more creative here and there. Nothing stellar but better than nothing.

I also drink a lot of green tea.

As far as BDNF. I want to increase it but don't know what to do.


Just to clarify; I'm really sure about what areas of my brain need help. What I'm not sure is how to do it. Basically, I'm humbly asking the help of the Longecity community to build a stack appropriate to my complications... I know it's probably more complicated than the average student trying to stay up/focus, lol. Was hoping some long time veterans could help put me on the right path.
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#4 DuchenneNapier

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Posted 20 January 2018 - 08:56 PM

Also you mentioned mitigating the autism. How have you been able to do this? What do you do/take?

#5 jack black

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Posted 21 January 2018 - 01:32 AM

DuchenneNapier​,

I like you. you are bright and have good insights into you issues. you are absolutely right about girls with autism. there is a young woman in my family who was (mis)diagnosed with ADHD, depression, and borderline personality before I decided that it had to be Asperger's. she didn't believe me as she is fairly social with her friends (while having social anxiety with strangers). she actually just started med school herself, but overseas, she didn't do well in her interviews here.

 

looks like lamictal is no go with your history of SJS. i'm not familiar with vimpat and I had to look it up. 

 

as for my stack, its not strictly for autism, it's also for depression and ADHD-like symptoms.

it includes:

AM: NAC, ALCAR, DMAE, Vit B complex (including inositol), Vit D3, Vit E, Vit C, fish oil, carnosine, ashwaghanda.

PM: lithium, taurine, magnesium, potassium.

then I also experiment with various things added to the basic stack. I spent thousands of $ on supplements and meds (nothing illegal) so far in the last 2-3 years, it became my main hobby.

 

I have to tell you, I lot of these things work well when started and later effects fade away some. it's best to rotate things (I hold some of my supplements on weekends).

 

BTW, if you can combine programming with medicine, this is the most promising future in medicine, especially as genetics require lots of programming now.

 

 


Edited by jack black, 21 January 2018 - 01:35 AM.


#6 DuchenneNapier

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Posted 21 January 2018 - 02:31 AM

Thanks!

It is my intention to combine programming and medicine. I'd like to get become a specialist of some sort in medicine. I was thinking geneticist perhaps? If I can manage it. Sometimes I think I'm being overly ambitious. If it doesn't work out, well, at least I can say I tried. It's a long way down the line but I'd also like to try my hand at a PhD in... something. Haven't really figured it out yet. It's something I want though, if I can pull it off.

It's an odd situation, but I grew up in a university environment, and some of the nicest, smartest people I ever met were professors.

I haven't figured out what I should focus on in programming or what degree to get. Truthfully I'm equally if not more interested in hardware engineering. A program is only as good as the machine is running on, and as far as I can tell there is much left to be desired. I have a lot of ideas for machine improvement; some of my research for hardware improvement has had me looking into geology and metallurgy. It's not a topic I see commonly discussed in the IT community.

I'm leaning towards Computer Science degree since Computer Science lectures I've seen on YouTube seem to explain the 'big picture' of IT and programming more than other related IT degrees, but they also seem to break things down a lot. I'm the kind of person who has to understand a lot about something and it's purpose before I can REALLY learn about it... Which kind of defeats the purpose? I'm open to other programming degrees but I wouldn't really know which one to get. My dad has a Business Administration degree. He became a programmer when computers were getting really big in the 80s, so he couldn't really tell me which IT degree to get.

As far as what I want to program; I'm interested in gaming (especially augmented and virtual reality), animation, security, and artificial intelligence. Sometimes I write stories and think about if I could make my own game how I'd make it. If I had the skills to do so, I definitely would.

What's the reasoning behind your stack choices? Not that I doubt your reasoning; I just don't understand. What do those things do for the brain? How do they help?
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#7 DuchenneNapier

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Posted 21 January 2018 - 02:36 AM

Also; sorry (?) about your autistic female relative. There is a silver lining in being undiagnosed though. A diagnosis can really hurt you. If I'd had the choice to be aware that I was probably autistic/epileptic but keep it quiet, I definitely would have.

Epilepsy has affected my life in driving. I've been discriminated against and not allowed to play sports (even the safe ones) because my coach didn't want the risk. Autism can affect your job. A lot of people won't hire autistics. They see you as a major risk.
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#8 jack black

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Posted 21 January 2018 - 05:34 AM


What's the reasoning behind your stack choices? Not that I doubt your reasoning; I just don't understand. What do those things do for the brain? How do they help?

 

when you read about supplements here or some other online places, you hear about common ones. it's always hard to separate hype from reality, so websites like examine.com are very useful with the summary of literature review. if you study a supplement of interest and you are reasonably assured it's safe and potentially beneficial, then you buy it try yourself. 

 

I keep detailed notes on effects from various drugs and supplements because my memory is not that great. i'm resistant to placebo effects, so that's not an issue. the issue is separating effects from variation of diet and daily activities. especially as supplements are not as powerful as prescription drugs.

 

to give you some ideas, this is what I copied from my notes in my response on this forum re: anxiety.

 

 

 

these are the things that help/helped with my wired/anxious feeling (almost totally gone now):

NAC (only after taking it for a few months)

Ashwaghanda (hard to feel immediate results from it, but beneficial long term)

vit B complex (including inositol)

clonidine (this has so strong effects for me, i rarely take it now)

propranolol (it has subtle but sure effects, i take if before any stressful events)

lamictal (has serious potential side effects, so i'm not taking it now)

low dose lithium (replaced the above, this is great to take in PM)

memantine, amantadine, tianaptine, fasoracetam (they all worked great, but not taking it right now, i believe in rotation cycles)

ginkgo (subtle effect, i take it sometimes)

carnosine (every AM) + taurine (every PM)

benadryl or other first gen antihistamine (only PM as sleep aid)

meals with lots of vegetables, especially various beans (i eat them almost daily and take beano of course)

good night sleep

 

there are the things that make wired/anxious feeling worse for me:

high protein meals (meat, eggs, etc)

SAMe

methylfolate

Pregnenolone (bad anxiety after a single dose!)

Adrafinil (when taken on a day with coffee)

DL-Phenylalanine (when taken in a big dose a couple of days in a row)

Piracetam (when taken together with some other stimulants)

too much caffeine (of course)

too much gluten in my diet

bad sleep

 

keep in mind alcohol is both stimulant and depressant, but even more importantly, it totally messes your NMDA (huge receptor upregulation) and results in excitotoxicity. stay away from it, but taper it slowly, or you will damage your brain even more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



#9 jack black

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Posted 21 January 2018 - 09:09 PM

as for the mechanisms of action of popular supplements/meds, I keep notes too, as it's hard to remember it all (my memory is way too bad to be a doctor).

 

below is copied from my notes (unfortunately, I don't keep references, but you can look it up).

formatted as:

supplement/med name

mechanisms of action

indications

side effects

notes (if applicable)

 

 

 

ALCAR.

Via mitochondria count increase and modest increase in 5HT and NE. Increase in ACh?.

Aging, fatigue? Hair loss?

Nontoxic, but may cause bad smell.

 

Piracetam/Noopept.

Via AMPA positive modulation and thus increased D and BDNF. Via NMDA receptor agonism? Lower ACh?.

Dementia (minimal effect), depression, anxiety.

May cause headache, anxiety, depression.

Note: dose dependent increase in oxidation; need anti-oxidants (NAC, ALCAR).

 

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC)

Via Glutatione, antioxidation and antinflammation, increase Glu in the nucleus accumbens (increase in D).  In low doses, stimulates inhibitory mGluR2/3, decreasing NMDA signaling. In high doses, stimulates mGluR5, increasing NMDA signaling.  Minimal inhibition of AChE.

Addictions, OCD, schizophrenia (negative), bipolar, PCOS, obesity???.

May cause tightness in the chest, hypotension, GI symptoms, hypersensitivity.

 

S-Adenosyl Methionine (SAMe).

Via Serotonine? Protects from glutamate toxicity? Increase in ACh?.

Depression, schizophrenia (improves aggression in low COMT).

May cause anxiety or mania.

 

Methylfolate. 

?Increased Monoamines. Increase in ACh?.

Depression

May cause anxiety?, “brain fog”

 

Wellbutrin.

Via increased Dopamine and NE. In rats: inhibits glutamate release in cerebral cortex, enhanced striatal overflow of glutamate. Inhibits multiple NAChRs.

Depression, addiction

May cause loss of appetite, anxiety, mania, tightness in the chest, chest pain

 

Clonidine.

Via NE Alpha2 agonist, inhibits release of glutamate. Blocks Orexin! Lower ACh.

ADHD, addiction, withdrawal, PTSD, anxiety, borderline, sleep, sleep apnea (blocks REM) [not for me?]

May cause drowsiness, dry mouth, hypotension, depression?

 

Lamictal.

Via Sodium/calcium channel blocker, decreases glutamate release. Blocks α4β2 nAChRs, 5HT3R antagonist, 5HT1AR partial agonist. Reduced COX-2.

Seizures, bipolar, borderline, PTSD, ADHD with depression, schizophrenia (postive).

May cause skin rash, DRESS, decreased folates, decreased estrogen, weight loss, loss of concentration, GI symptoms.

 

Topamax.

Via Sodium/calcium channel blocker, GABA-A, glutamatergic antagonist.

Seizures, borderline, PTSD, migraine, addiction, obesity, bulimia.

May cause acidosis, eye problems, (significant) memory loss, less sweating

 

Lithium.

Via Inhibition of GSK-3. ?Possible effects: anti-inflamatory, disrupts circadian clock, decreases norepinephrine release, and increases serotonin synthesis? Increase in ACh? Decreased neuron apoptosis (increased Bcl-2 and BDNF). Decreases NMDA signaling via mGluR5 antagonism. Reduced COX-2.

Depression, bipolar, aggression, eating disorders

May cause increased urination, shakiness of the hands, hypothyroidism, renal damage.

 

Inositol.

Via 5HT2aR inhibition (like serzone), and thus decreased glutamate release. 5HT2cR  stimulation? Also inhibition of mAChR.

OCD, panic, bulimia, polycystic, depression (short term only), systemic side effects of lithium therapy.

May cause headache, dizziness?

 

N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG)

Via Antinflammation? Binds WGA?

Anxiety? ADHD? MS?

???

 

N-Acetyl Semax Amidate ($2 per 1mg injectible online; 0.2-1mg dose)

Via upregulation of BDNF, also serotonergic.

Depression, ADHD, organic brain injury, ?borderline (one anecdote on redit)

May cause depersonalization?

 

DL-Phenylalanine.

Via upregulation of endorphins? Enkephalinase inhibitor. L-phenylalanine is a competitive antagonist at the glycine binding site of NMDA receptor and at the glutamate binding site of AMPA receptor. Increased dopamine?

Depression, ?ADHD, ?chronic pain, vitiligo

May cause anxiety, parastesia in high doses. Tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenia (why?).

 

Sarcosine (amazon $25/30g; 900mg dose)

Via increases glycine and NMDA receptor stimulation

Depression, schizophrenia (negative)

No side effects?

 

Ashwagandha.

Via hyperprolactinemic, GABAergic, serotonergic?, lower cortisol, higher testosterone. Inhibition of AChE.

Anxiety, ADHD, stress, hypothyroidism

May cause GI symptoms, sedation

 

Memantine

Via blocking NMDA receptor, blocking α7 NAChR, agonist dopamin D2 receptor, increases ACh, 5HT3R antagonist.

Alzheimer’s disease, OCD, ADHD, anxiety, opioids tolerance, binge eating???

May cause confusion, dizziness, headache, insomnia, agitation.

 

Amantadine. 

Via antiglutamatergic, dopaminergic, anticholinergic.
Parkinson's disease. ADHD.

May cause anxiety, insomnia. damages the cornea????

Note: For motivation supposedly works for a week only.

 

Ginkgo. 

Via increased blood flow, antistress, antioxidant, antiglutamatergic (by inhibition of platelet activating factor receptor), increased Dopamine and NE. Inhibition of AChE. GABA antagonist, H1 agonist. 5HT2aR inhibition??? 5HT1AR partial agonist.

Alzheimer’s disease, vascular insufficiency, depression, ADHD, anxiety, schizophrenia and tardive dyskinesia.

May cause GI symptoms (on empty stomach), headache, bleeding, allergy, insomnia (rare).

 

Tianeptine. 

Via antiglutamatergic, but pro-AMPA, increased Dopamine, BDNF. Weak opioid agonist (MOR+DOR).

Depression, anxiety, PTSD, IBS, ADHD, fibromyalgia, asthma (lower 5HT in blood).

May cause headache and insomnia, rare hepatotoxicity and arrhythmias. Some people reported irritability and weight gain. Withdrawal potential (opioid).

 

Adrafinil/Modafinil. 

Via α-adrenergic activity (1+2) and increased Dopamine. Histamine and Orexin release?

Narcolepsy

May cause headaches; nausea, diarrhea, insomnia, anxiety, dizziness, severe skin rashes, adverse effect on hormonal contraceptives.

Note: no drug test for Modafinil, except for athletes

Note:  Modafinil not effective in Met/Met COMT.

 

Strattera. 

Via NE increase (NRI). NMDA antagonist.

ADHD, depression with ADHD

May cause nausea, dry mouth, appetite loss, insomnia, fatigue, headaches, cough, dizziness, irritability, hypertension.

 

Berberine.

Via AMPK activation (like metformin). NE, D, and 5HT increase. Weak MAOi. 5HT2aR inhibition??? Positive Sigma-1 receptor modulator. Inhibition of AChE. Ca channel blocker.

Diabetes, obesity/metabolic syndrome, diarrhea, depression?

May cause stomach upset, cramping, and diarrhea (thus small divided doses after meals).

Note: may need Milk Thistle and/or Coconut oil to improve absorption.

 

Metformin.

Via inhibition mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I leading to reduction in ATP synthesis and secondarily (metabolic stresses), AMPK activation in liver. Also gut effects with delayed carb absorption (GLP-1 mediated) and effect on gut microbiota. 

Diabetes, obesity/metabolic syndrome.

May cause stomach upset, cramping, and diarrhea (mediated by 5HT). Diarrhea lessened with taking with food, metamucil, loperamid, lysine.

 

Polygala tenuifolia.

Via NE and D increase (NAT, DAT antagonist, MAOA/Bi), increased BDNF, antiglutamatergic (NMDA), anti-stress, anti-inflammatory, Inhibition of AChE.

Depression.

May cause mild dyspepsia, allergic reaction.

 

Rhodiola.

Via serotonergic, but downregulated 5HT3R. Low to medium doses have stimulatory effects while larger doses had sedative effects. Possible MAOi. Anti-stress adaptogen.

Anxiety, depression, binge eating.

Non-toxic.

 

Kava.

Via potentiation of GABAA receptor activity. Weak binding to D2 and CB1 receptors. Possible MAOBi.

Anxiety, depression.

May cause (chronic use) liver toxicity, weigh loss.

 

L-Carnosine. 

Via anti-oxidation, anti-aging. Suspected of being a telomerase activator. Increased dopamine and BDNF levels. Histamine and Orexin?

Autism, cataracts.

May cause hyperactivity, irritability, or insomnia. Taurine deficiency (increase in muscle cramps). if used non-stop.

Note: Beta-alanine may have similar effects (except for histidine part), but cheaper.

 

Taurine. 

Via indirect suppressor of NMDA (weak). GABA activity. Increase in BDNF (if decreased).

Anxiety, depression.

Non-toxic?

 

Pregnenolone. 

Via decreased activity of GABA A receptors, kainate, and AMPA receptors and increased activity of NMDA receptors. Increased ACh. Also neuroprotective and enhances myelinization.

Dementia, schizophrenia.

May cause anxiety, insomnia, acne, hair loss, headaches, arrhythmia.

 

Magnolia.

Via ACh release, enhanced signaling of GABA-A receptor, increased dopamine, anti-NMDA, inhibition of serotonin release.

Anxiety, depression, sedation.

Non-toxic?

 

Curcumin (in Turmeric).

Via increasing DHA, reversing glutamate-induced decline in BDNF activation. Anti-stress. Anti-inflammatory. Note: MAOi.

Depression, anxiety, pain, diabetes, obesity

May cause decreased iron absorption, decreased glucose, headache, skin rash, nausea and diarrhea.

Note: may need Piperine (black pepper extract; but antiandrogenic and prodiarrhea) to improve absorption.

 

Fasoracetam.

Via stimulating mGluR2/3 (inhibitory for NMDA), up-regulating GABA-B receptors, and stimulating release of ACh.

ADHD, dementia

May cause headache and fatigue.

 

Butyric acid.

Via inhibition of class I histone deacetylases, promoter of colon regulatory T cells, anti-inflammatory in colon and other tissues, including brain.

IBD, diabetes, addictions, cognitive impairment, depression?, H. pylori infection?

Concerns about colon cancer

 

 

 



#10 Caravaggio

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Posted 13 February 2018 - 11:59 AM

Maybe you have selective mutism and not autism.



#11 Mind_Paralysis

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Posted 13 February 2018 - 04:12 PM

My brain is the equivalent of a baked potato at the moment, since I'm going through discontinuation of various drugs, so I can't really give too much advice, except...

TIANEPTINE.

 

You have epilepsy, yes? Escitalopram no doubt makes it worse - as such, ditch that, and switch to the only antidepressant except Lamotrigine (lamictal) which has ANTIconvulsive properties, instead of PROconvulsive properties.

 

Anticonvulsant activity of the antidepressant drug, tianeptine, against pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures mitigates cognitive impairment in rats.

https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/27561095

 

Effect of tianeptine on seizure threshold and anticonvulsant activity of valproate, phenobarbitone and phenytoin in mice

http://www.ijbcp.com...rticle/view/360

 

 

Interestingly enough, both drugs are glutamate-modulators... so that might be the unifying property, otherwise the two drugs are completely different. AND, unlike Lamotrigine, Tianeptine isn't known to cause even remotely as much SJS! : D

 

You have a winner here, DuchenneNapier - don't hesitate to use it.

 

 

You can find Tianeptine at multiple online drug-stores and at most well-stocked nootropics-vendors. Although Tia Sodium is the more well-studied medically used form, many also get good results from Tia Sulphate.


  • Agree x 1

#12 natasjlp

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Posted 10 July 2018 - 01:17 PM

You can look into Dihexa for neurogenesis. There are numerous threads here for this [Dihexa: "it would take 10 million times as much BDNF to get as much new synapse formation as Dihexa."]: 

https://www.longecit...tion-as-dihexa/

Another neurogenesis thread here: https://www.longecit...t-neurogenesis/

 

For autism, I would research HBOT and EWOT: https://www.mnfxmed.com/autism

 

Epilepsy, have you researched CBD oil? https://www.preventi...epsy-epidiolex/

 

There are some programs using micro current neurofeedback [MCN] for epilepsy, as well as autism: https://microcurrent...-neurofeedback/

 

There are also some affordable Rife type machines, that people say work well for various issues [on my list to purchase for general health study, but have not tried myself yet]: https://www.spooky2.com/ 

 

The answers are out there. Keep searching. Longecity is a great forum to bounce ideas around.



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#13 jack black

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Posted 10 July 2018 - 03:10 PM

You can look into Dihexa for neurogenesis. There are numerous threads here for this [Dihexa: "it would take 10 million times as much BDNF to get as much new synapse formation as Dihexa."]: 

https://www.longecit...tion-as-dihexa/

Another neurogenesis thread here: https://www.longecit...t-neurogenesis/

 

For autism, I would research HBOT and EWOT: https://www.mnfxmed.com/autism

 

Epilepsy, have you researched CBD oil? https://www.preventi...epsy-epidiolex/

 

There are some programs using micro current neurofeedback [MCN] for epilepsy, as well as autism: https://microcurrent...-neurofeedback/

 

There are also some affordable Rife type machines, that people say work well for various issues [on my list to purchase for general health study, but have not tried myself yet]: https://www.spooky2.com/ 

 

The answers are out there. Keep searching. Longecity is a great forum to bounce ideas around.

 

On the first read, I thought you recommended a rifle for mental issues?

BTW, You are wasting your time. The OP is gone. I even PMed her and no response.







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