Posted by Questionmark on June 16, 2003, at 6:45:18
In reply to Re: Not necessarily, posted by Stacey fu on June 11, 2003, at 15:53:50
> > i really believe that most of the fatal or harmful reactions with ephedra/ephedrine occurred from taking an excessively high dose or from combining w/ sh** it should not be combined with. i've taken ephedra numerous times at no more than moderate doses and have never been more stimulated than i can be on a few cups of coffee at most (& nowhere near the stimulation i get from Adderall or methylphenidate). Again just start w/ low dose and exercise caution.
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> Hmmm, interesting. Are you ADHD? I found that when I was taking Ephedra, 25-35 mg. a day, it was a very stimulating and euphoric experience for me. (But also very anxiety producing) When I take my Concerta, 36 mg. or short acting methylphenidate 20 mg. I don't get a charge from it at all.Wow, that is interesting. i get definite stimulation and euphoria from any stimulant: caffeine, ephedra, methylphenidate, amphetamines. i'd have to say that methylphenidate is definitely the most "calming" for me, in that sit-down-and-focus-on-whatever sense of calming (but i could still do something physical and have more stamina or whatever than otherwise if i wanted to)-- maybe that's what you mean? i guess it depends on what sense we're talking about, as "calming" and "stimulating" aren't adequate words in themselves for this. i'm pretty sure i have ADHD (inattentive type), though the boundaries and specificity of what constitutes "ADHD" are becoming more and more blurry to me (yes i do believe that it exists-- but maybe much more of a general spectrum than we realize).
> I think it largely depends on your brain chemistry. People with ADHD are supposed to have a deficit of dopamine, and increasing the available amount of dopamine in the brain through the use of psychostimulants has a calming effect.
Well, catecholamine "deficit" (or whatever) i think it is, right? Which means could be either dopamine or norepinephrine or both. i don't think they've really come to a consensus.
> So since Ephedra is primarily an adrenergic, it would make sense that it is so anxiety producing and stimulating for me, unless it's just a slight hypersensitivity reaction.
Huh. Yeah, i wonder if that's the major difference-- adrenergic potentiation correlates with increased stimulation, while increased DA activity correlates with the "calming" kind of effect. i wonder. Ah heck i duno.
> I would be interested to know if any others with
> AD(H)D had a similar experience with Ephedra. And does anybody know the Biochemical reason why this happens?Yes, i'm curious too.
poster:Questionmark
thread:232094
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030614/msgs/234264.html