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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Eddie Stefurak on July 20, 2000, at 19:23:58
Shellie, by your subject heading it sounded as if you were offended by my post on the effects of stimulants. However you did adress two very good questions. First off, the specific info I wrote to MB pertained to depressed patients or individuals with mood disorders to a clinical degree, not everyone. As far as why you do not get a high from Ritalin, I obviously am in no position to say, but I can offer a few concise reasons. First, if you truley are ADHD/ADD there's a good chance that you brain chemistry is different from someone who doesn't have it. This is why stimulants have been used paradoxically to treat the disorder. I understand and personally believe that this may be too western culture and science-based of an idea, but it cannot be ruled out. Second, if you've been on Ritalin for a long time, you may have built up a tolerance to it in relation to someone who does not take it on a regular basis. Third, Ritalin is a CONTROLLED substance and it's highest dose is in 20mg which can be taken once a day or up to four times a day. Therefore, since it is regulated and approved by the FDA it is not strong enough to create as strong an effect as some other pharmaceutical stimulants or street drugs. Fourth, as far as affecting mood, stuff like Ritalin can vary in proportion to your overall body-state and mood that day. Also, you may not have the personality or brainchemistry that would crave such a substance in a low dose, however, there are people out there like that and I'm included. You may not have evaluated its effects as a pleasurable experience necessarily. Remember, the complexity of the brain is far beyond being totally understood. Some people try marijuana for the first time, second, third time or whatever, and they may not have a pleasurable experience and have no appeal to it. On the other hand, some kid may start getting high and have a total release of worries and boredom and get really really high and they end up habitually getting stoned and are dependent on it. If you read any studies, it's blatantly clear that this is more common in people with mood disorders and/or a distraught interpersonal life. not that weed is a horrible drug, but it can certainly be a problem for susceptible people. The same goes for prescription stimulants.
Posted by shellie on July 20, 2000, at 20:07:30
In reply to shellie-ritalin, posted by Eddie Stefurak on July 20, 2000, at 19:23:58
> Shellie, by your subject heading it sounded as if you were offended by my post on the effects of stimulants. However you did adress two very good questions. First off, the specific info I wrote to MB pertained to depressed patients or individuals with mood disorders to a clinical degree, not everyone. As far as why you do not get a high from Ritalin, I obviously am in no position to say, but I can offer a few concise reasons. First, if you truley are ADHD/ADD there's a good chance that you brain chemistry is different from someone who doesn't have it. This is why stimulants have been used paradoxically to treat the disorder. I understand and personally believe that this may be too western culture and science-based of an idea, but it cannot be ruled out. Second, if you've been on Ritalin for a long time, you may have built up a tolerance to it in relation to someone who does not take it on a regular basis. Third, Ritalin is a CONTROLLED substance and it's highest dose is in 20mg which can be taken once a day or up to four times a day. Therefore, since it is regulated and approved by the FDA it is not strong enough to create as strong an effect as some other pharmaceutical stimulants or street drugs. Fourth, as far as affecting mood, stuff like Ritalin can vary in proportion to your overall body-state and mood that day. Also, you may not have the personality or brainchemistry that would crave such a substance in a low dose, however, there are people out there like that and I'm included. You may not have evaluated its effects as a pleasurable experience necessarily. Remember, the complexity of the brain is far beyond being totally understood. Some people try marijuana for the first time, second, third time or whatever, and they may not have a pleasurable experience and have no appeal to it. On the other hand, some kid may start getting high and have a total release of worries and boredom and get really really high and they end up habitually getting stoned and are dependent on it. If you read any studies, it's blatantly clear that this is more common in people with mood disorders and/or a distraught interpersonal life. not that weed is a horrible drug, but it can certainly be a problem for susceptible people. The same goes for prescription stimulants.
Eddie-- nothing you said offended me. I think maybe this post is for someone else? I was the person who was questioning why I got no energizing, or stimulating, or any effects from ritalin, except that I felt tired. There was nothing there to addict me to--no pleasurable experience. I don't have ADD and it was being prescribed as an augmentation for an MAOI. Shellie
Posted by shellie on July 20, 2000, at 20:20:09
In reply to shellie-ritalin, posted by Eddie Stefurak on July 20, 2000, at 19:23:58
Eddie, do you know that you can answer anyone's post in the same thread it is in. For example, instead of writing three different threads to me, and libby and michael, you can write in the box under each of our posts, under followup. It will stay in the same thread, about stimulants, and we will be notified that a post (or posts) have been added to that thread. I don't know if you know that that's an option. Then you have right in front of you what each person said, as you answer them. You can either leave their message in the new followup post, or erase it, so it doesn't just repeat itself, then write your message, just as I'm doing now. There are boxes to check if you want to be notified of later followups in the thread, and also a box to check if you want the person's name to show up on the post (>> Eddie Stefurak) Shellie
Posted by Libby on July 21, 2000, at 11:53:39
In reply to Re: posting » Eddie Stefurak, posted by shellie on July 20, 2000, at 20:20:09
MB... It didn't seem to me that Shellie was upset at anything you said. I believe what she asked, about why she didn't get high, but in fact, got low on Ritalin, was just what it appeared to be:
a question. Shellie, to answer it... There are a number of people who experience a paradoxical effect with Ritalin. That's why a drug trial alone isn't sufficient to form a diagnosis of ADD. The paradoxical reaction is a good *indicator* but not in itself proof. As to what causes the paradoxical reaction, there are all kinds of theories having to do with everything from spinal alignment and inner ear infections on the one hand and neurological wiring on the other, but as far as I can tell, no one knows for certain why it affects us differently.Take care...
L.
This is the end of the thread.
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