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
poster:shellie
thread:41063
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000717/msgs/41070.html