Psycho-Babble Medication | about biological treatments | Framed
This thread | Show all | Post follow-up | Start new thread | List of forums | Search | FAQ

Re: psychostimulant treatment for former abusers » 3 Beer Effect

Posted by Elizabeth on May 17, 2002, at 17:07:50

In reply to ADD stimulants similarities to Cocaine Meth. » katekite, posted by 3 Beer Effect on May 17, 2002, at 13:43:50

I think it's important to recognize that the reason some people like drugs such as cocaine and meth is that these drugs are actually treating symptoms of a mental disorder such as ADD or depression. The problem is that stimulants can cause euphoria (and people usually become tolerant to this effect after a short time), so if there isn't a doctor monitoring you, then you risk becoming dependent on them. Still, I don't think that people who have ADD should be denied effective treatment simply because they abused stimulants at some point in the past. This is the kind of decision that has to be made on an individual basis, IMO. (Same with opioids or benzos.)

Of course, there are some people who will just be toooooo tempted if you hand them a script for a bottle of Adderall. It's hard to predict, but I'm sure there are cases where it would be better to try milder stimulants (Cylert, Provigil, phentermine, etc.) and see if they work. But remember that different people have different experiences; not all who use stimulants recreationally become addicts, and there are lots of people who once abused stimulants who nonetheless can use them responsibly as medications.

> A big problem is that all of the Schedule II ADD stimulants are very easy to abuse & they are very powerful drugs.

I have to disagree with that in regard to Ritalin. Some high school and college kids seem to get a kick out of it, but I think that most people who'd previously been taking amphetamine or cocaine would not be impressed by Ritalin.

> All one has to do is save up a few days worth of medication (40+ mg Adderall, or 60+ mg Ritalin), crush them up with a credit card or better yet the available everywhere otc "pill pulverizer" and snort them in a manner similar to powder Cocaine hcl with a dollar bill (dirty) or as a cleaner method they use a shortened unused Slurpee straw, empty pen tube, or even a rolled up post-it note.

You know you're cheap when...!

> I think the street name for Ritalin is "West Coast", while College Kids call it "Vitamin R" or "Rit".

"Ritalin" was what I always heard. And the people who used it when I was in college were mainly looking for a way to pull an all-nighter -- it wasn't considered a party drug. (And yes, some folks did snort it.)

> Oddly enough, on the 'street', intranasal Ritalin with either oral Zoloft (Zoomers) or pentazocine (T's & Rits/Poor Man's Heroin) are sometimes (though rarely) used combinations.

Pentazocine (Talwin) is *nothing* like heroin. It's a kappa agonist/mu antagonist. If a heroin addict takes it, it will trigger withdrawal symptoms. And as for Zoloft...well, we all know how absurd that one is.

Kids these days have pretty low standards when it comes to getting high. I mean, some people will take *anything*. Ahh, the power of the placebo effect!

> But I would guess the risk of adverse (hypertensive) effects of this combination is great- much greater than Adderall or Ritalin alone.

The most serious risk of stimulant overdose is probably paranoid psychosis, actually.

> I think the best choice for a former stimulant drug addict would be Wellbutrin SR since street drug use is self-medication often for both depression & adult add, & Wellbutrin SR often clears up both, but its risk of abuse is low.

Unfortunately, a lot of people find that Wellbutrin isn't very effective for ADD.

> So remember that even though Ritalin/Adderall/Dexedrine etc are not "physically" addictive ...

I think I disagree with this. Stimulant withdrawal is real and definitely sucks, although it doesn't make you downright sick (like opioid withdrawal) or cause seizures (like benzo or barb withdrawal). And of course, people who abuse stimulants almost always develop tolerance (the other definitive characteristic of addiction). There's more to stimulant dependence than just nonspecific psychological "cravings."

> ... they are still powerful DEA Schedule II Drugs ...

The FDA is the regulatory agency that does the scheduling (the DEA is a law enforcement agency). But anyway, the FDA has often made poor decisions. The Schedule in which the FDA places a drug should not be considered proof of the drug's abuse potential. (Remember, these are the guys who made Meridia a controlled substance while the almost-identical Effexor is not. I could list dozens of other silly things the FDA has done, but you get the point.)

> So remember to periodically take weekend breaks (Ask yourself if really need that Ritalin on a Friday afternoon/night) & when tolerance builds take a week off "a stimulant holiday".

I don't think that people using stimulants for ADD or narcolepsy typically become tolerant. As for skipping a couple days, I'd expect that to result in withdrawal symptoms (once again, there *is* a specific and well-defined stimulant withdrawal syndrome). It might be something good to try, but I don't think it's necessary for everyone.

-elizabeth


Share
Tweet  

Thread

 

Post a new follow-up

Your message only Include above post


Notify the administrators

They will then review this post with the posting guidelines in mind.

To contact them about something other than this post, please use this form instead.

 

Start a new thread

 
Google
dr-bob.org www
Search options and examples
[amazon] for
in

This thread | Show all | Post follow-up | Start new thread | FAQ
Psycho-Babble Medication | Framed

poster:Elizabeth thread:83085
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020517/msgs/106810.html