Posted by Larry Hoover on June 6, 2006, at 17:19:01
In reply to Attn: Larry Hoover -Treating amphetamine psychosis, posted by temoigneur on June 1, 2006, at 18:15:28
> Hi Larry, I've been following old posts of yours on amino acid supplementation, i.e. PA, tyrosine, etc.. and would really value your opinion. The *only* way I can function right now, is to take dexedrine, but after it starts to wear off on the second day, it produces horrible psychosis...
You really are going to have to try and describe this more precisely. I wonder if you're using the word psychosis the way it is meant. Psychosis is not something that comes and goes in an afternoon. Not typically, anyway.
> I've been following a vitamin regimen; B Complex, 200mg P5P, Zinc, B12, Niacin, Vitamin C, Glutathione,... I've cut dairy and gluten for 3 weeks - relapsed today.. thinking the diet wasn't making any difference..
>
> Anyway, I can focus well on dexedrine, and do fine in my studies, for two days, then I go completely psychotic.. I have schizoaffective disorder, with OCD/Tourette/Anxiety, depression. When not taking dexedrine, I'm completely unable to function, am apathetic for a while, then become suicidal, etc.. I'm really desperate for something that will allow me to succeed in school this semester. It hits on the second day, 6 hours after I take 2 x 10mg Dex spanules. Do you know of any way to curb amphetamine psychosis..
>
> Thank you
>
> BenI think I saw on the main board, the similar thread, with linkage making some really good suggestions. You can't take a dopamine agonist over and over and over again without anticipating and supporting your body's needs, due to that extra burden you're placing on it.
There are numerous physiological effects, and the ones that linkage is focussing on, based on his suggestions, implicate adrenal stress as a major part of your fatigue. It makes perfect sense. You're whipping yourself with the drug, and your body is just tiring from the constant pressure.
I'm still trying to get my head around this. I'm sorry, I didn't want to post to all those other people and leave you with nothing, but I hit the wall again.
Vitamin C and zinc for the adrenals. Adrenal stress is a good keyword block to search on. You have to rest yourself, too. You need to adapt better. Adaptogenic herbs would be useful, e.g. Siberian or Korean ginseng. Ashwaghanda perhaps. Rhodiola.
Antioxidants, because your pressure to perform, via the drug, has pushed your antioxidant system into the red. So, selenium, to replenish superoxide dismutase, and to mop up other free radicals. Alphalipoic acid, to restore mitochondrial membrane integrity. In concert with alphalipoic, you need the vitamins E and C in high amounts. Cysteine, or N-acetyl cysteine, to replenish glutathione.
Then the damage done by oxidant stress must be repaired. Fish oil, GLA.
It takes time to undo what it took time to produce. You need to protect yourself better, particularly because you recognize a vulnerability in your unique profile: the schizoaffective/OCD/depressive trait is a vulnerability. You ignore that at your peril. I know you're taking supplements to manage this, but you must still be pushing too hard, don't you think? Please adjust your expectations of yourself, as well. Take life in manageable bites, until you can endure your normal stressors without going into the red zone.
I will look over link's ideas. I think he has an insight that I lack. And perhaps I can fill in parts that he's overlooked.
I'm sorry I didn't get down to the bottom of the page, today. I'll start there, tomorrow.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:651621
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20060601/msgs/653741.html