| Sfj |
The Dopamine Pill. - I’m not kidding.
The Dopamine Pill.
I’m not kidding.
U.S. News and World Report, February 20, 2006. Page 56, article
“Fixing Your Brain.”
“Previously, doctors treating disorders like Parkinson’s – which
afflicts about 1.5 million people in the United States - had
tried to intervene with a pill. Cells in a part of the brain
called the substantia nigra produce dopamine, a chemical
essential for movement.”
- - -
“But the pill, levodopa, can replenish dopamine and restore
normality.”
Now then, as a recovering speedfreak, can’t you just imagine the
huge black market for such a pill?
Ok, nevermind. Parkinson’s is serious. But, can’t help but
wonder.
Hmm. |
Replies... |
TnSkye |
Re: The Dopamine Pill. - I’m not kidding.
Parkinson's is serious,
but you are right. In time, this drug will be a huge street
drug.
But, since it replenishes dopamine, won't they be able to use it
for recovery from meth addiction?
I suppose, therefore creating a new addiction... |
Sfj |
Re: The Dopamine Pill. - I’m not kidding.
I dunno, this is the
first I've heard, or read about it.
Anyone else know anything?
You can tell how exciting
my life is when I'm reading two week old U.S. News and World
Report on the first Friday Evening of the month. |
Triune
girl |
Re: The Dopamine Pill. - I’m not kidding.
SFJ,
Thanks for posting this. This is really major or at least has
the potential to be...
It is my understanding that speed addiction can be a precursor
to Parkinson's. It would only make sense from an economic
perspective to utilize this medication in treating meth
addiction as a preventative to Parkinson's.
And of course to help meth addicts jump start their recoveries.
Definitely worthy of further research...
Where can I get some, I'd like to slip some into my addicts
tea.... |
TnSkye |
Re: The Dopamine Pill. - I’m not kidding.
I'm flipping back and
forth hoping that enough people have posted to keep my busy
reading and replying for a while.
I'm about to make my kid go to bed and I'm going to watch either Sin City
or XXX: State
of the Union.
Here's a little something I found on
my first search.
|
Guene |
Re: The Dopamine Pill. - I?m not kidding.
Wow wouldn't that be
great if this pill could help meth addicts out. B |
Penelope |
Re: The Dopamine Pill. - I’m not kidding.
L-Dopa has been around
for at least 50 years.
Ever seen a movie called "Awakenings" with Robin Williams and
Robert DeNiro?
Thats the same drug they were using in that flick. It delays the
symptoms of Parkinsons disease / parkinsonian tremors, but
eventually the disease wins anyway. L- Dopa just gives people a
little more time before the disease takes over...
I think your issue of US News and World Report might be older
than 2 weeks.
I wonder what would happen, though, if a couple of burnt out
tweekers (Like say, you and me) were to be given L - Dopa?
Maybe I'd be able to re where my keys were once in a
while... |
nano
banano |
Re: The Dopamine Pill. - I’m not kidding.
The Problem With Levodopa
Herein lies the problem ….. Dopamine cannot cross the
blood-brain barrier. So, it is useless to the Parkinson’s
patient if it never gets into the brain !!
So….. the key is to keep levadopa as levadopa until it reaches
the blood-brain barrier.
You have to combine levadopa with a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor
to insure that levadopa gets to and can cross over the
blood-brain barrier.
Carbidopa is the name of the dopa decarboxylase inhibitor that
is combined with levadopa which enables levadopa to get to and
cross over the blood-brain barrier
At the blood-brain barrier, carbidopa is cleaved from levadopa.
In the brain, levadopa is converted to dopamine where it exerts
its inhibitory effects and calms the tremors, and other symptoms
of Parkinson’s Disease.
(I've read articles where research was being done, to determine
if levadopa may help restore normal function to brains damaged
by methamphetamine.....but can't find them now....will keep
looking....sounds promising to me!) |
Sfj |
Re: The Dopamine Pill. - I’m not kidding.
Feb. 20, 2006?
Unless I'm missing something, that was less than two weeks ago. |
TnSkye |
Re: The Dopamine Pill. - I’m not kidding.
I've been searching, too,
nana. I have found other interesting things, places to buy
'legal highs' and such. |
Penelope |
Re: The Dopamine Pill. - I’m not kidding.
I was pulling yer leg...
But L-Dopa has been around since "Way" long ago.
WAY. |
Rancid1 |
Re: The Dopamine Pill. - I’m not kidding.
Not exactly related, but
some info on meth and parkinsons
amphetamines.com/methamphetamine/notpark.html |
mary
mary1 |
Re: The Dopamine Pill. - I’m not kidding.
Yep, it's been around. My
Grandpa took it for his Parkinson's and he died in 1974. After
he took it, he wanted to be touchy/feely too, beyond just
hugs!!! |
ian |
Re: The Dopamine Pill. - I’m not kidding.
I don't know anything
about this specific pill, never heard of it. What I do know is
that there really is no easy cure for addiction.
I was on and off methadone for a while during my 'career' back
there and at first I thought it was a wonder drug and that I
found my cure, it turned me from a full blown junkie into a
functioning human being instantly! It was a pretty high dose and
I had to get to the clinic every morning but at the time it was
worth it.
Until it was time to taper off, I never expirienced such severe
withdrawals from any other drug, including heroin, morphine and
hydromorphone (dilaudid), it's not so much the intensity of the
WD symptoms, it's how long they lasted because of the long half
life of the medication. So instead of a week or two initial WD
period, it turns into a month or two.. I relapsed back on heroin
not too long after that.
They just approved a new drug buprenorphine (subutex or suboxone
which comes with naltrexon which is an opiate blocker, although
some people choose to use an implant instead). It was only
avilable in institutions until 2003, now doctors who have the
proper medical training (and if you are looking for one, please
let me know, it's very easy to fall on the wrong doctors who
doesn't know much about addiction and it's your life on the
line..)
So now this drug is more avilable to the general population in
an office based setting but if you look at other countries which
had this drug prescribed for longer periods of time (france
especially) they have a HUGE problem with people abusing
buprenorphine, it's very dangerous, it's very easy to die
injecting it. Even though it's only a partial opiate and binds
to the receptors and does a great job in preventing WD symptoms,
most people stay on it for a long long time, just like with
methadone.
Heck, I re when the brand name 'OxyContin' came out, they
bragged about how this is such a non addictive opiate and could
be easily used as a substitute to morphine or dilaudid (or
heroin in other countries, like england). Now 60% of people in
treatment for opiate dependancy are their because of oxycodone.
Like I said, I don't know anything about this drug, I just know
from expirience, there is no silver bullet.. |
25 years
but no
more |
Re: The Dopamine Pill. - I’m not kidding.
Sfj is right! My doctor
and I have already been discussing this issue. Click on this
link for more information about it. www.nida.nih.gov/NIDA_Notes/NNVol15N4/Pursues.html Maybe there is some hope for us yet. |
clean
sober |
Re: The Dopamine Pill. - I’m not kidding.
hey i want my dopa mine
mine back,maybe some day the science guys will be able to fix us
all with a simple pill or injection. |
mkm |
Re: The Dopamine Pill. - I’m not kidding.
Doesn't sound good
-
Amantadine, levodopa and apomorphine at lower doses potentiated
(To promote or strengthen -a biochemical or physiological action
or effect) the rage inducing effect of APT. Moreover, at higher
doses amantadine or levodopa alone also evoked (To summon or
call forth) rage reaction similar to that induced…
amphetamines.com/rage/index.html |
WhoLet
Me
GetMe |
Re: The Dopamine Pill. - I’m not kidding.
I think the
cure lies within us in the end. How happenin' would it be to
have a meth fix?
Tyrosine (dopamine precursor), NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine), Alpha
Lipoic Acid, Silymarin (Milk Thistle), Liver X, and my cleansing
pills seem to make me feel pretty normal. The NAC and milk
thistle extract trigger glutathione development which helps crub
cravings. (Sorry for the mispellings)
I started feeling pretty desperate when calling rehab centers
and being told "there is no real detox treatment for cystal
meth". Bummer! That is enough to make someone want to continue
using. I fortunately had a week clean so I figured I'd gone
through some of the roughest days.
Day 16 and still smiling!!
Peace ~ Don't pick up, no matter what! I won't pick up, no
matter what! |
