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olson
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Re: amphetamine is the same as meth? [Re: Lucis] 1
#23808857 - 11/07/16 08:20 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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From a pharmacological point of view the two drugs are very similar but not identical. The few difference likely have a big impact in how pleasurable and addictive they are.
For one, meth is a more potent releaser of dopamine relative to noradrenaline when compared to amphetamine. This likely means you can take more without suffering too much from the effects of peripheral stimulation, like a racing heart and shakiness.
Meth is more lipid soluble so it gets into the brain faster and in greater concentrations. This could mean a better rush, making it more pleasurable.
Probably the most important diffference in terms of abuse potential is how they effect dopamine release in different parts of the brain. Meth has been shown to increase dopamine in the nucleus accumbens (involved in reward) to a far greater extent than amphetamine, while amphetamine preferentially increases dopamine in the prefrontal cortex (source).
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Kinesin, a motor protein, shuttling a vesicle full of cargo such as glucose or even neurotransmitters across a cell. This little guy struts along the microtubule using ATP as fuel.
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olson
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Re: amphetamine is the same as meth? [Re: olson]
#23808882 - 11/07/16 08:31 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Also, in the study cited in the article, they gave the drugs in doses of either 12 or 50 mg/70 kg. I'm not sure about how much meth a person might use in a binge but i'm willing to bet its a whole lot more than 50mg. The study is flawed because the differences most likely aren't noticable until you reach higher doses.
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Kinesin, a motor protein, shuttling a vesicle full of cargo such as glucose or even neurotransmitters across a cell. This little guy struts along the microtubule using ATP as fuel.
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fapjack
Title



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Re: amphetamine is the same as meth? [Re: topdog82]
#23809193 - 11/07/16 10:10 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Take some levo-amphetamine and some levo-methamphetamine and tell me they are the same drug...
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virtuous_babe
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Re: amphetamine is the same as meth? [Re: topdog82] 3
#23809258 - 11/07/16 10:30 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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As many people have said, they are similar, but not the same. This is due, in part, to their different interactions in neurons.
At a synapse (the junction between two neurons), Amphetamine reverses dopamine transporter (DAT) proteins on the pre-synaptic membrane of a neuron. This pumps cytosolic dopamine out of the presynaptic neuron and into the synapse where it binds to receptors on the post-synaptic neuron to initiate a response.
Methamphetamine does this same thing, but it also reverses vesicular dopamine transporters (VMAT). So meth pumps dopamine stored in vesicles into the cytosol and then pumps that dopamine, as well as the dopamine already present in the cytosol, out of the neuron and into the synapse.
basically, meth pumps more dopamine into the synapse than amphetamine does to initiate a larger response in dopamine systems (associated with reward, movement)
-------------------- all that may be wished for will by nature fade to nothing
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goldcaphunter
EMS Medic



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Re: amphetamine is the same as meth? [Re: virtuous_babe]
#23810753 - 11/07/16 07:14 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Beautiful
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  The picture to the far left is a reminder to our users to stay safe and healthy, that's my third open heart surgery due to over use of amps. Stay safe kiddos
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topdog82
Death Spirit



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Re: amphetamine is the same as meth? [Re: olson]
#23810758 - 11/07/16 07:15 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
olson said: Also, in the study cited in the article, they gave the drugs in doses of either 12 or 50 mg/70 kg. I'm not sure about how much meth a person might use in a binge but i'm willing to bet its a whole lot more than 50mg. The study is flawed because the differences most likely aren't noticable until you reach higher doses.
also very true
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