Comment · Tue, November 5, 2013 · Ceretropic
Can one discontinue amphetamine use without self destructing?
Original post in this thread
bigdamhero · 35 points
I have a question for those among you who have knowledge and experience dealing specifically with nootropic use and its effect on persons with ADHD.
I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was in high school, and at the time I was not made aware of the various types, however as my psychologist described it my brain was hyperactive and inattentive and therefor I would imagine that I am ADHD-c or ADHD-PI.
The diagnosis however is not as important or my question as the treatment prescribed. I have taken stimulants on and off for my ADHD, and currently while attending graduate school have been taking vyvanse for the past year. Over the past month I have begun experimenting with nootropics; noopept, aniracetam, sulbutiamine, choline, etc. I have decided that due to the potential long term effects of being on a regular stimulant regimen, I would like to eventually discontinue use of amphetamines in favor of lifestyle, coping tools, and nootropics.
The problem is that I know from experience that if I discontinue use of vyvanse I will for some undetermined period of time feel what I can most succinctly describe as an amplified version of the symptoms of an alcohol hangover. Now before I wou…
What they were answering
iGotMyPhdInThis · 4 points
Short summary: Adderall/Dexedrine can be neurotoxic in the long run (by damaging dopamine neurons) while Ritalin has no neurotoxicity potential. Surprisingly, when Ritalin and Adderall are mixed together, Ritalin can actually help counteract Adderall's neurotoxicity potential.
Tolerance can happen with either, but tolerance is not neurotoxicity as it can be reversed by taking breaks.
Edit: More specifically
>There is a real difference between the two, however. Adderall is a dopamine release agent, whereas Ritalin is a dopamine reuptake inhibitor. Both of them increase dopamine signalling by increasing the amount of dopamine in the synapse (so more dopamine ends up binding to the dopamine receptors in the postsynaptic neuron). The key difference is their action on the dopamine transporter, which generally moves a lot of the dopamine in the synapse back into the presynaptic neuron - which reduces the amount of dopamine in the synapse, and dopamine signalling. Ritalin increases dopamine signalling by effectively blocking the dopamine transporter. Meanwhile, Adderall does it by reversing the action of the dopamine transporter, which effectively forces even more dopamine into the synapse (where it can increase dopamine signalling even further).
There is another difference bet…
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb · Ceretropic
That's a good explanation. However, there is new evidence that even methylphenidate leads to neurodegenration at therapeutic doses.
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0033693