Posted by bob on March 7, 2000, at 17:57:30
In reply to The effect on the brain: ADs vs. ADD drugs, posted by Cass on March 6, 2000, at 23:09:06
> I've been thinking a lot about ADD and whether or not I might have it. I know that ADD drugs are stimulants, and something about that concerns me. When I was on a stimulating AD, specifically, Wellbutrin, I became paranoid and I believe, psychotic, as well. It was nightmarish and something I would never want to experience again. Do the chemicals in ADD drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin work on the same part of the brain as a stimulating antidepressant such as Wellbutrin? Any information would be appreciated.
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Got so caught up with my mini-research project on effexor, I forgot about what I really wanted to say here...Hi Cass,
The first time I tried wellbutrin, I had a psychotic response to it ... the second time, at much lower levels than my first experience, I had enough warning signs to know I shouldn't go there again. On the other hand, I just started Ritalin over a week ago and I'm having a pretty good response to it for my mood, my anxiety, my concentration and focus, and my energy level.
I doubt they "work on the same part of the brain". Reading through some material on both, here's what I got:
How wellbutrin works is not all that well known (but that's coming from a 1997 publication, the Manual of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 3rd Ed.). More studies have been showing it has some effects on the NE system, and that this might be its primary mechanism as an AD. Apparently, links to wellbutrin and it's inhibition of the reuptake of dopamine show up most strongly in, would you believe, people who have a psychotic reaction to it, not those with a positive AD effect.
The same source describes the mechanism for Ritalin in terms of it "releasing dopamine into the synapse". It also notes, as someone around here has mentioned, that it appears that amphetamine-like stimulants typically are not abused by those who benefit from them as an AD.
[it also said something about hesitating to raise dosages to an optimal level due to fears of addiction, which now has me paranoid that I'm not taking enough ... you know what they say about a little knowledge ....]
That's about all I'm good for, tho, citing these passages. Someone else around here can probably tell you why blocking the reuptake of dopamine can lead to a psychotic reaction while releasing dopamine into the synapse doesn't.
But like the commercial says, I don't care about what all those studies say--I just know that it (ritalin) works (for me).
Anybody want to give a quick lesson on this? In terms this biology-phobe can understand? Thanks.
bob
[why do they call it "life science" anyway ... dissecting dead things and all, it should be called "dead icky science"]
poster:bob
thread:26198
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000302/msgs/26280.html