Posted by not exactly on February 7, 2003, at 21:57:48
In reply to hey bob can you give me some info !!! » not exactly, posted by LAURA777 on February 7, 2003, at 19:11:35
Laura,
> it sounds like you have a fast metabolism too
I guess I must. I can eat like a horse and still fit into size 30 jeans.
> are you also sensitive to ephedrine products in cold meds ?
Definitely. They work fine for me as long as I make sure I don't take any more than 1/4 the recommended dose.
> provigil sent me flying .. yuk , the doc gave me 200 mg
I've never dared to take 200mg at once. 50 mg b.i.d. worked well for me.
> i read somewhere that tyrosine converts to dopa then dopa converts to dopamine ,then dopamine to norepinephrine then to epinephrine
Sounds right. BTW, you left out the first step - phenylalanine (much more common in food than tyrosine) gets converted to tyrosine. Don't forget that enzymes and cofactors are needed to make each conversion happen, so if there's a deficiency anywhere, it's like closing a valve. Conversely, an overactive enzyme can deplete the precursors. This is an oversimplification, but you get the idea.
> i have also read that if you have a fast metabolisim that you have plenty norepinephrine
Perhaps. That's no doubt an oversimplification too.
> if that is the case . where is my dopamine ???
One possibility is an overzealous enzyme that's converting every bit of dopamine it can find into norepinephrine. But I'm sure there are numerous other possible explanations.
In some cases, there's enough dopamine, but a deficiency of neurons that respond to it. This happens in the later stages of Parkinson's Disease, for example.
> when you go to the dentist does epinephrine bother you in the novicaine , do you get a reaction ..
Hard to say. Epinephrine, as you may know, is just another word for adrenaline. When the dentist turns on the damn drill, I probably generate plenty of my own.
> what is responsible for motivation and interest , i get conflicting reports when i read , some say it is norepinephrine some say dopamine.
My simplistic understanding is that motivation/drive is mediated by norepinephrine, pleasure/reward is mediated by dopamine, and satisfaction/joy is mediated by serotonin. "Interest" is a more complex emotion that probably needs all 3 working together.
> Also do you think the mesolimbic system is responsible for anhedonia ?? do you think a deficiency in opiods is responsible too ..??
Can't say. Now you're moving away from my area of expertise. I understand the chemistry, but you've probably researched brain structure/function much more than I have.
> What do people do ?? i can't bear to think i have to be like this till i die ..
Unfortunately, "trial and error" seems to be the state of the art. You need to be persistent, reflective, insightful, and patient. Having a good pdoc and good health insurance helps too.
> i see alot of links that link cocaine abuse to anhedonia . and i also see also of links about drug/alcohol abuse in general causing anhedonia , and they also say it is prexisting genetics .
> i have also read that constant stress raises our level of norepinephrine fight or flight and if we get enough stress for too long are endorphins become no longer able to work .. hence blunted feelings like post tramatic stress disorder ..
> do you think having constant high levels of norepinephrine all through the years of your life cause this also ???Stress (of various types) can lead to depletion of certain neurotransmitters. This can diminish one's ability to cope with the stress, thereby amplifying the effect of the stress and causing a vicious cycle.
> do you think that all the sensitivity to the stimulants is because of lots of norepinephrine ? is that what highly sensitive to sympathomimetics means ?? being senstive to stimulants
Sympathomimetics are agents which act like the body's natural hormones (specifically epinephrine and norepinephrine) that stimulate the sympathetic nervous system. Sympathomimetics are therefore (directly or indirectly) stimulants, and most meds which are called "stimulants" are in fact sympathomimetics. But there are exceptions. Provigil and caffeine are certainly stimulants, but they are not true sympathomimetics.
However, hypersensitivity to stimulants is very different from "having too much norepinephrine". The sensitivity simply means that a small amount of a stimulant has a big effect. High norepinephrine levels wouldn't cause this sensitivity, but might possibly be a result of it.
I am extremely sensitive to stimulants, but I think my norepinephrine levels are if anything too low. I say this because meds which are known to increase norepinephrine, such as amphetamines, Wellbutrin, and desipramine, have a positive effect on me.
But I may be just as confused about what all this really means as the next guy. Like you, I read a lot, and try to put it all together in a way that makes sense. But we're all just groping around in the dark. When we find something that works (a drug, a belief, an activity), we stick with it until it fails us. Then we move on.
- Bob
PS: I really enjoy your questions and theories. It's given me a lot to think about and respond to.
poster:not exactly
thread:138954
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030204/msgs/140070.html