Re: [Zennie] BASE, ADHD & Dopamine
In reply to:
People with ADHD are believed to suffer from insufficient dopamine levels in the brain. These lower levels result in the hyperactivity and impulsivity which are hallmarks of the condition. Stimulants, such as Adderall, Ritalin and caffeine stimulate dopamine production and thus, paradoxically calm the ADHD person down.
I've had mild symptoms of ADHD for years. Why mild? Because I'm also hypothyroid, and it's a condition that tends to slow one down quite a bit. (i.e., I'm not a whirlwind, but if I settle down for the night to read a book, I'm up and down every five minutes doing some other little task.)
I was first diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 1972, but my short attention span interfered with meds-compliance, and after several moves and a comparable number of doctors, the diagnosis got lost in the cracks. I muddled along until 1994-5, when I was misdiagnosed with MS. Three things happened then. I demanded a thyroid panel, I quit smoking cigarettes, and I started skydiving.
For the first couple of years after that, even though I was taking about half the amount of replacement hormone I needed (overcautious general practitioners) and even though I was so weak, I could barely lift my head off the ground when lying supine, I felt terrific, especially after a jump.
In 1998-99, the too-low dose of medication took it's toll. I felt horrible, and I started smoking again. I saw an endo for the first time. She nearly doubled the thyroid meds, and she prescribed Zoloft for hypothyroid-induced depression until the increased thyroid meds started working. Zoloft didn't do much for me--it's an SSRI and too-little serotonin is not my problem. So when I mentioned a desire to quit smoking, she switched me to bupropion, aka Wellbutrin or Zyban.
Bupropion is a dopamine-serotonin-norepinepherine reuptake inhibitor, but its primary effect is on dopamine.
I no longer take Wellbutrin, and as long as my thyroid meds are adequate, I don't need it (well, maybe I do, because I'm still smoking). But when I need to increase the dosage of thyroid meds, three things happen: I experience a wide range of physical symptoms--including a complete loss of the ability to pay attenton--I smoke more,
I know one old-time BASE jumper who began taking Effexor (a serotonin-norepinepherine reuptake inhibitor), and although I'm not sure he noticed the connection, it was clear that as the meds started to work, he jumped less and less. He was a smoker, also, but I don't remember if his nicotine consumption decreased.
There's a clear connection between nicotine and norepinepherine, as well as between norepinepherine and blood sugar levels. The effect of caffeine is similar to nicotine, though not as pronounced.
There is also a connection between severe emotional trauma and a chronic deficit of all the neurotransmitters.
Here's a link to some interesting links about dopamine (included because this post has gotten way too long):
Dopamine
During the times I've taken certain supplemental amino acids (see the link), most of the lingering symptoms disappear. I still take tyrosine, but choline and phenylalanine enhance the effect, and NADH is pure gold.
rl
