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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards

Difference methylphenidate and amphetamine

logarithm

Bluelighter
Joined
Aug 11, 2012
Messages
62
Amphetamine and methylphenidat both increase dopamine in the synaptic cleft. So is there any perceived difference when taking recreational doses?
 
Yes.

Amphetamines- Releasing Agents

Methylphenidate- Reuptake inhibitiors.

Completely different pharmacology, and thus different affects. What they share in common are they are both dopaminergic stimulants. That's about it.

Google releasing agents, and re-uptake inhibitors to get a feel for how they are different.
 
methyl also inhibits noradrenaline at a high rate. this causes more anxiety and a harder crash.

with methylphedindate if you want you take it recreationally, you have to experiment, test and be patient. there is a sweet spot for everybody. start low, and gradually build up - not during a day but a week.

re-dosing methylphenidate is a waste, and causes more side effects as you continue to do so.

ampheratmine simply boosts levels of dopamine as mentioned earlier - to some extent a small amount of serotonin and no where near as harsh on noradenraline (dependent on what amphetamine.)
 
The above posts are correct. As a reuptake inhibitor, all Methylphenidate does is prevent the dopamine from re-entering into the neuron, therefore allowing it to build in the synaptic cleft without getting all "used up". As a releasing agent, Amphetamine simply causes more dopamine to be released, obviously.

Basically, Methylphenidate acts in almost the same manner as cocaine, while Amp. (obviously) acts in a manner more similar to Meth. If I understand correctly (I've never used Methyl-P. But have used Amp.), Methylphenidate should lead to less, more prolongued stimulation.

What I'd like to see is a combination of the two. Take the amphetamine to let extra dopamine be released, then the Methylphenidate to prevent it from being released to the monoamine transporters. Ahhhh... bliss.
 
By Amphetamine are you trying to compare it to Adderall?

If so, I can definitely tell the difference. I generally want nothing to do with Methylphenidate. After years of abuse or even regular use, there are many more side effects (mostly psychological) then just plain old amphetamine. or Adderall. Weird side effects too, just changes in behavior more so then amphetamine, EW.
 
^This is a good point. To some people, "amphetamine" means 50% levoamphetamine and 50% dextroamphetamine (racemic amphetamine). Dextroamphetamine is considered, by most people anyway to be much more clean, motivational and euphoric than levoamphetamine. Adderall is ~75% dextroamphetamine and ~25% levoamphetamine.

There's even Dexedrine/Dextrostat, which is 100% dextroamphetamine. The isomer and/or mixture of isomers of amphetamine you're talking about makes a difference here.
 
^what makes cocaine so much more euphoric than methylphenidate then? sorry not to derail the thread just curious

If I had to give my best guess (key word being "guess", maybe someone more educated in neurochemistry can verify?) it would be the fact that cocaine acts as a Serotonin-Dopamine-Norepenephrine Re-uptake inhibitor. Not only does it inhibit the reuptake of Dopamine, but Serotonin and Norepenephrine as well. Methylphenidate only acts as a Dopamine-Norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor. The excess Serotonin could do wonders. That's half the reason MDMA is so euphoric. There's also the possibility that cocaine has a higher affinity to the receptors. All just speculation on my part though.

By Amphetamine are you trying to compare it to Adderall?

If so, I can definitely tell the difference. I generally want nothing to do with Methylphenidate. After years of abuse or even regular use, there are many more side effects (mostly psychological) then just plain old amphetamine. or Adderall. Weird side effects too, just changes in behavior more so then amphetamine, EW.

I'm not sure if this was aimed at me or not, but Amphetamine could, in theory refer to any drug in the Amphetamine class. I was, in fact referring to Adderall, simply because it is the most common, most talked about form. NeighborhoodThreat is correct though. Levoamphetamine has very little recreational potential. Getting ahold of pure D-Amphetamine has long been a dream of mine.
 
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By Amphetamine are you trying to compare it to Adderall?

If so, I can definitely tell the difference. I generally want nothing to do with Methylphenidate. After years of abuse or even regular use, there are many more side effects (mostly psychological) then just plain old amphetamine. or Adderall. Weird side effects too, just changes in behavior more so then amphetamine, EW.

While i agree to an extent, focalin (dexmethyl-p), is much much smoother and nicer than racemic MPH. IIRC, the levo isomer leads to prolongation of the non-euphoric stimulation, and contributes alot of side affects. I think it works the same with adderal/dexedrine though too.

To me, its a fair tradeoff of the decreased toxicity of reuptake inhibitors vs re-leasers, but at the cost of, well, for a lack of better terms more cracked out jittery stimulation. But that residual (norephinepheric?) stimulation wears off much quicker than amphetamines, so thats nice too.

I always wondered if the tweaked out affects of dopaminergics are from them acting more/less on NE release/reuptake, or from the excess dopamine hanging around outside the neurons getting metabolized into NE. That's one of those questions that lead to 15 open Wikipedia tabs and ending up more confused than when i started though, lol. Basically, does too much dopamine release from less Norephinephineric stimulants, cause increased NE activity since dopamine is metabolized into NE. But then i wondered if mao chews the dopamine up into inactive metabolites before that happens.

Then you read amphetamines are re-uptake inhibitors and re-leasers and you just get confused as fuck. Thats when i just close firefox and vape a bowl. :D
 
@daytryptr

I haven't looked into it much but all I have to say is; When you see pictures in documentaries of kid's who have been on pharmecuticals for years and then walk into a school and start shooting, most of them were prescribed Ritalin at some point, and then later an SSRI or something stupid.

I see much more psychotic-like symptoms or amplified mental problems (mostly this) in kids or young adults who have been on Ritalin for years. Those who take Adderall have basic amphetamine issues. Lack of appetite so they're skinny, or now they're just lazy because they've been on Adderall for so long. Hardly the case with Methylphenidate.

I can relate because back in my first year of school I was abusing the meds as much as I was taking them to help. If I were to take a 30mg Adderall XR in the morning and 20mg of Ritalin ~6 hours later. 6 Hours after that..... omg i don't even want to tell you. I was literally a giant train wreck. I was completely aware of the situation but I couldn't keep myself calm pacing outside on the street and waiting to feel normal, god forbid if anybody confronted me I would have snapped like a twig on the ground. Needless to say its 100% because of taking the Ritalin 6 hours after the Adderall. I've never felt like that doing anything else in my life. FYI, during that time I was used to Adderall, I didn't really get comedowns anymore if I kept the doses 50mg/day or less. But I experienced that multiple times and everytime I did I know I could 100% contribute it to the Ritalin.
 
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^This is a good point. To some people, "amphetamine" means 50% levoamphetamine and 50% dextroamphetamine (racemic amphetamine). Dextroamphetamine is considered, by most people anyway to be much more clean, motivational and euphoric than levoamphetamine. Adderall is ~75% dextroamphetamine and ~25% levoamphetamine.

There's even Dexedrine/Dextrostat, which is 100% dextroamphetamine. The isomer and/or mixture of isomers of amphetamine you're talking about makes a difference here.

I'm using the racemic amphetamine. 50 % d - and 50 % l-amphetamine. Could never try the 100 % d-amphetamine. I heard that the d-amphetamine version is more centrally stimulating (brain) and l-amphetamine is more peripheral (body).

^what makes cocaine so much more euphoric than methylphenidate then? sorry not to derail the thread just curious
I heard that a very important difference with cocain, is that you get the full effect instantly. Methylphenidate needs about an hour for the full effect. I personally very much like the hour when methylphenidates effect is starting to build up. When I imagine to get the full effect instantly, then ... woaaa

I always wondered if the tweaked out affects of dopaminergics are from them acting more/less on NE release/reuptake, or from the excess dopamine hanging around outside the neurons getting metabolized into NE. That's one of those questions that lead to 15 open Wikipedia tabs and ending up more confused than when i started though, lol. Basically, does too much dopamine release from less Norephinephineric stimulants, cause increased NE activity since dopamine is metabolized into NE. But then i wondered if mao chews the dopamine up into inactive metabolites before that happens.
I'm very much interested in the exact mechanisms and especially in the contribution of noradrenaline to the effects of the substances. I heard that amphetamine has a better profile concerning side effects. Could it be that methylphenidate inhibits noradrenaline reuptake which causes negative side-effects like overstimulation?


What I read is that amphetamine and methylphenidate are both reuptake inhibitors, but amphetamine is also a releaser. Amphetamine reverses the dopamine transporters so they will release dopamine and in the same moment the transporters can't reuptake the dopamine from the extracellular space.
 
Basically, Methylphenidate acts in almost the same manner as cocaine, while Amp. (obviously) acts in a manner more similar to Meth. If I understand correctly (I've never used Methyl-P. But have used Amp.), Methylphenidate should lead to less, more prolongued stimulation.

Feel identical too, just less intense versions of the street drugs of reasonable quality. Slightly less a lot of the time. Forgot about methyl though. Was feeling coked up one day this week at work, excited, talkative, horny, sweaty, wide eyes, feeling hot, heart pumping how it feels on coke 5x 20 IRs (apparently are gummies now?) Eaten and one railed. over 3 hours. Crashed midday, psychologically shattered. Felt like a panic attack was going to happen then my mind went to past loss and pain. Fought with all I had to not cry, felt like I needed to sob. Felt like I was suffocating D-amp for me tapers itself there is no crash. Adderall is the one I take that makes me act weird, nervous, quiet, unable to make eye contact But damn that was a brutal crash.Needed a beer or 3 . Would have had a benzo and needed one. Crashed on blow at work before...really want to say methyl is worse. That was hard to hold my shit together.
 
Personally, amphetamine gives me euphoria, confidence, and motivation. Methylphenidate doesn't give me euphoria, but it gives me confidence in a negative way. It's not the same confidence from amphetamine... more of a cocky, arrogant, "I'm better then everyone else" attitude that I don't like, which is why I don't take it anymore.

Amphetamine comedown makes me anxious and less confident. Methylphenidate is MUCH harder. Even though I don't get as nervous as I do on the amphetamine comedown, I get depressed AS FUCK.
 
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