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ampakine
Stranger

Registered: 04/23/11
Posts: 162
Last seen: 11 years, 7 months
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Amphetamines and serotonin
#14388411 - 05/02/11 12:44 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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I noticed that when I'm on dextroamphetamine I often get depressed and feel like shit and this counteracts a lot of the beneficial effects the drug has on me. I get this worst when the drug just kicks in and funnily enough when the drug wears off (the point that most people "come down") I'm bursting with energy and euphoria. With MDMA I get the beneficial effects of amphetamines but on top of that I'm bursting with euphoria and optimism which makes everything far more interesting. Could serotonin have something to do with this dysphoria I get on amphetamines? I was thinking about trying tryptophan supplements to boost my serotonin levels so I did a bit of googling and found plenty of lab studies: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2714371 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T1J-4772TTW-1HK&_user=10&_coverDate=06%2F15%2F1978&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=gateway&_origin=gateway&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1738021390&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=9625487e8e5c94f415a99f9082b8b08a&searchtype=a https://www.erowid.org/references/refs_view.php?ID=992 that indicate that amphetamines inhibit tryptophan hydroxylase in the brains of mice and rats. What is the likelihood that this could apply to humans too? Some theory for anyone that doesn't know: tryptophan hydroxylase is an enzyme the body needs to convert tryptophan into 5-HTP (which is further metabolised into serotonin). Dextroamphetamine and MDMA both fit into dopamine and serotonin receptors but the methylene dioxy ring on MDMA gives it a higher affinity for serotonin receptors and less affinity for dopamine receptors. Dopamine
 Serotonin

Amphetamine
 MDMA
 If my theory is correct and the dysphoria I get on amphetamines is due to lowered levels of serotonin caused by amphetamine induced inhibition of tryptophan hydroxylase then taking 5-HTP supplements should solve the problem. I got a bottle of 5-HTP yesterday so I'm going to start experimenting.
Additional observations that I'm basing my theories on: I've noticed that on amphetamines I can force myself into a more euphoric state by mentally rewarding myself for what I'm accomplishing (i.e. if I just learned a new concept or did some work that needed to be done for college) which is something that induces euphoria in me when I'm sober. I had always assumed endorphins were behind this mentally induced euphoria so I experimented with taking opioids while on dexedrine to see if they work synergistically but I've found that they do not at all. It seems the dexedrine counteracts all positive effects of opioids.
Something that can't be explained by this theory is why most people feel euphoria (rather than dysphoria) and are stimulated (rather than tranquilised) by amphetamines. I wasn't fully convinced that ADHD was a real condition when I was diagnosed with it, it was only after I saw how strong "stimulants" like amphetamines and ritalin tranquilise me heavily and experienced the reverse of this when the drugs wear off that I realised it. I'm fascinated by the pharmacology behind all this, I wish I could know more about it.
Edited by ampakine (05/02/11 12:54 PM)
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foliocb
always running



Registered: 07/14/08
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Last seen: 7 years, 2 months
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Re: Amphetamines and serotonin [Re: ampakine]
#14388493 - 05/02/11 01:02 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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I take 20mg adderal on mondays and wednesdays. I notice sometimes that on tuesdays/thursdays I get mild depression... or just basic lack of motivation to care/do much. I have 5-htp supplements but havent taken them for awhile... maybe ill take them before bed on monday/wed nights. I definitely have lots of energy 10 hours after I take the adderal, infact i usually run 5 miles on mon/wed when im coming down from the stuff... lol. It def. helps me sleep easier on those nights.
-------------------- ^v^
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ampakine
Stranger

Registered: 04/23/11
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Last seen: 11 years, 7 months
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Re: Amphetamines and serotonin [Re: foliocb]
#14389168 - 05/02/11 03:16 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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For sleeping I just drink some promethazine syrup. Does the trick. Exercising is a healthier approach though.
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ampakine
Stranger

Registered: 04/23/11
Posts: 162
Last seen: 11 years, 7 months
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Re: Amphetamines and serotonin [Re: foliocb]
#14390593 - 05/02/11 07:09 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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I took 60mg of dexedrine today and its been at least 4 hours since I redosed and I feel really good. Its normal for me to start feeling better and better as time passes though so I haven't much reason to suspect the 5-HTP has anything to do with it. I'll only know for sure if I become free of dysphoria throughout the onset of the dexedrine. I ran out of dexedrine so I'll have to wait a couple of days before I continue this experiment. It would be pretty cool if my theory is valid and this works because this dysphoria has been a big problem for me for months now.
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danlennon3
LivingIsEasyWithEyesClosed.....



Registered: 10/29/02
Posts: 19,246
Loc: usa
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Re: Amphetamines and serotonin [Re: ampakine]
#14390619 - 05/02/11 07:14 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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I also feel like shit from adderall a lot of the time... Only took it for a 2 months so Im gonna stop using them asap
-------------------- "Psychedelics should be used not to escape reality, but to embrace it"
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