Friend's Extreme Paranoia. Help.

[jimbu]

Hi, i have a friend who has done pills not regularly, but everynow and again for the last year and a bit.
I'm not sure if this is the write forum to write this in...
He explains to me that, about a year ago, he took a pill, then another, and that after taking the second pill, he experienced EXTREME paranoia "something u could never imagine or prepare for". To this day, he has self-doubt/slight paranoia from this experience, and claims he'd be a different person if it weren't for this occassion. It has been over a year, and he was not what you would call a 'regular' user.
Can anyone help identify what would have caused this reaction? Could it just have been an extreme reaction to speed?
He was a bit afraid to try pills again, but since then he has done mdma which has not had any negative impact. If someone could help give him some idea what it was that he took, it'd be appreciated.
Thanks in advance =)

 

[RJW]

Well, you certainally aren't giving anyone near enough info to help. Color, size, shape imprinting etc. Why don't you ask the guy that supplied the pills what they were. Oh! Why the hell would he take something not knowing what it was!
[This message has been edited by RJW (edited 19 November 2001).]

 

[porn*]

And why the hell didn't this get posted in XTC discussion???
And why the hell can't he do his own research into what his problem is???
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sucky...sucky... five dolla.
[This message has been edited by porn* (edited 19 November 2001).]

 

[SovietContin]

An extreme reaction to speed? Not likely. I would not at all believe this guys problems are physiological. It's psychological stemming from his experience and could be singled out to this one particular experience without any prior drug use even playing a role in his condition.
At any rate, if he still has problems a year later, he would only be a complete moron from using ecstasy again unless he likes being that way.

 

[Diffidence]

This really isn't the place to be asking this question. Bluelight is a good source for some information, but trying to get answers for shit that serious here isn't the best idea. Send your friend to a shrink not a drug message board.

 

[jimbu]

you people that have replied are exactly the people that NEED NOT REPLY to this thread. i was simply asking what chemicals in a pill might have caused a reaction of extreme paranoia. I'm sure that some of the more knowledgable (and considerate) people out there might be able to help me out here by looking at the side-effects of the drugs they know.
i should not have to explain things like "what sort of idiot is he to take something he doesnt know about", etc, etc... i know there are MANY people out there who have no idea about places like bluelight, and are not that knowledgable on the drugs they are taking.
if you're not going to give a reply that's helpful then DONT REPLY.

 

[TABula rasa]

man, you have no right to get so indignant here. you posted in the wrong forum, you still haven't provdided any information as to the nature of this mystery "pill" and you're skirting the real issue. what is that, you may ask? that it's most likely not "the pill," it's probably your friend. there is no one chemical that turns one into some sort of paranoid schizo. like soviet said, it's most likely something that existed in your friend previously that was brought out by a bad experience. no one is going to be able to identify exactly what caused this, even if we did know your friend, and exactly what he took. it's just not that simple.
now go read some forum guidelines.
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"When danger or pain press too nearly, they are incapable of giving any delight, and are simply terrible; but at cetain distances, and with certain modifications, they may be, and they are delightful, as we every day experience."
--Edmund Burke

 

[Icehead]

Ye,
must have to agree whole heartedly with TR - your friend is obviously already pre disposed with this condition, I seriously doubt its the pills.
"Diana Krall is a Spunk"

 

[porn*]

well Jimbu, i thought i actual gave a helpful reply... post this problem in XTC discussion. You'll probably get more information and more helpful replies. Also try searching under paranoia, anxiety and panic attacks in the medical, XTC or regional drug discussions. And in the FAQ, there is an article written, i think by Kyk, which outlines psychological side-effects of XTC use.
And finally, why don't you tell him about bluelight and let him post himself. That way he could say exactly what his symptoms are, describe in better detail what he took and actively discuss his problem on the board.
Seriously, from your post how could anyone determine exactly what he took there is no information except that he took two pills, which could have been anything from rat poison to chicken shit, and that he is now suffering chronic paranoia. Paranoia is a side effect of many drugs - it could have been an extreme reaction to anything. If indeed his paranoia is related to drug taking at all. It could be related to something completely different and he's just made the connection and convinced himself that it was that e that has fucked him up. It may very well be psychosomatic.
Why don't you visit pill reports and see if you can use that to track down these pills and possibly verify what was in them??? As much as i think someone on this board will be able to identify *those paranoia pills* that were floating around fuck knows where, 12 months ago... i'd say pill reports might be a better option.
And finally, what the fuck is your problem? With that sort of a vague post, what sort of replies were you expecting? Diffidence probably gave the best advice, send your friend to a doctor/shrink and actually get a proper diagnosis.
a) test your pills so at least you have some sort of idea whats in them.
b) quit the fucken attitude
c) if you want a helpful reply, write a helpful post
d) i think your friend is a tosser. Its obviously not bothering him that much if he's continuing to use drugs, so why is it bothering you. Tell him to sort his own shit out. Has it occurred to you two that by continuing drug use, he may actually be aggrevating the problem?

 

[jimbu]

*sigh*
you people are so arrogant, i can only hope that you are in a similar predicament someday, and are unable to get the simple help that you ask for without a barrage of flaming and sarcasm.
contrary to many of your replies, i didn't ask whether my friend needed to be told what a complete moron he was. i didn't ask to be told to tell my friend to go and get stuffed and get this information himself either.
you can take your 'PLUR' and shove it up your exit-hole for all i care, the only decent advice you've given me is to go somewhere else for information, because it's obvious that i wont find anything constructive with the level of maturity here.

 

[porn*]

*sigh*
Thats right we're all morally reprehensible. All those posts and not one helpful reply, not one mention of;
* seeking a medical opinion
* using the search button
* looking in other forums
* an opinion that it probably wasn't an extreme speed reaction.
*Tisk, tisk!!!* and to think this is a harm minimisation site.
For christ sake, if you can't understand why all the posters have called your friend a moron then you are just as much of an imbecile as he is. Sorry for being so opinionated, arrogant and useless. People like you piss me off and give recreational drug taking a bad name! You make no effort to enact precautionary measures; no effort in harm minimisation; and when things fuck up you just pop another pill and pull up a random BL forum. Of course you're too much of the ants pants to use the search button and you post a vague problem which has been answered many a time before. And then you get snotty and arrogant yourself when people don't give you the time of day.
And as far as maturity levels are concerned. I think it was *highly* mature of you to wish a psychological problem on us all so we'd know what poor little Jimbu is going through.

 

[RaverMadness]

Hey, from one who just got over a nasty bout of recurring panic attacks: get to a doctor - not necessarily a psychiatrist, get on some benzodiazepenes. Ativan/lorazepam will probably be presribed at first, it should be strong enough at the 1-2 mg. range. It really helps.
My thoughs are that he probably triggered some kind of latent anxiety disorder which probably would have surfaced later in life anyway. There probably wasn't anything weird in the pills.
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Raves: All Night-Dance Parties of Death
The Church of War, Hate, Intolerance and Disrespect

 

[jimbu]

thanks crystalmethbunny, thats more the sort of reply i was hoping for. warm advice rather than resentment towards perhaps my own ignorance and lack of knowledge.
funny that alot of people think that telling someone they're a moron is part of 'harm minimisation'

 

[twiddlebug]

imo, it _could_ have been speed that caused the initial bout of paranoia, i can get that pretty bad sometimes. however, that shouldn't be around a year later! but then, i don't think the effects of any drug in such a small amount as would be in a pill would cause that sort of effect for that long. so, i think he's probably just focusing on that, almost as an excuse for how he's now feeling. don't take that the wrong way, it's just he's feeling a bit down/anxious/fragile whatever and he needs to find a reason for that.
whatever, i wouldn't worry about identifying what susbstance it was after this long, but rather looking at the effects he's worried about right now. and that probably does mean seeing a doc.
also, if your friend needs helpful advice in a general way it's worth putting up a post in the Dark Side forum where people are a bit more patient...!
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*twiddle*bug*
"work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching"

 

[jimbu]

thanks for your concern, twiddlebug. it hasn't got a GREAT deal of effect on him anymore. from what he's told me, he was EXTREMELY paranoid to begin with, which eased over a period of time, however he still has a little self-doubt where he believes he shouldn't, and feels this has been brought out by the experience he went through.
i thought perhaps it was speed as well, as i've been reading through some posts on this board, and paranoia seems to be a common side-effect of speed, though to what extent i'm not sure.

 

[[u.k neuronauticals inc]]

health Q&A,would have provided you with the proper attention this post required.

 

[Diffidence]

The issue isn't whether paranoia is a common side effect of any drug. There are no drugs that "commonly" cause the user to be paranoid for over a year. It isn't the drugs fault that he probably had an underlying condition. Your friend has psychological problems that aren't going to be dealt with on this board. Call us what you want, but you are the one that is asking this question in the wrong place. You can try medical Q&A, but you'll probably get the same response of "see a professional."
The only reply you've seemed to really like so far is the one that suggested that he start taking some benzos. CM Bunny is knowledgable but not exactly in a position to start writing prescriptions for your buddy. People suggested you post in the correct forum or search for others in similar situations. That is a start, but you seem to be ignoring the reality which is that your friend isn't going to find the answers he needs here.

 

[Technical User]

Its called "The Evil Roll" - sooner or later it will happen to everbody!
At first Its the most terrible thing you can expierience, instead of the lovey dovey felling, you get paranoid and think everbody is against you!
After this happens - there is only one way to save yourself!!!!!
Turn towards the darkness of Drum and Bass!
This is in the wrong catagorie - but believe in "The Evil Roll"!

 

[jimbu]

actually diffidence, contrary to your claims, i think i've gained quite alot of helpful information here, apart from your own inclusions, of course. from your reply, i gather that you havent read my posts too thoroughly, and you seem to believe that my friend still suffers from extreme paranoia.
as for "the only real reply i've seemed to like so far", if you will re-read my post, you might realise that the reason i thanked cmethbunny for his/her advice was because it was warm and without sarcasm. perhaps you could learn from posts like that.
anyways, thanks for those who tried to be helpful. i think i've gained enough insight into what my friend experienced, and now have some information which should satisfy his curiosity. for those who gave me a bit of a flame, whether it be at my arrogance or ignorance, i should have expected it, as i've come to see on this board that there are those who are genuinely here to help, and those who are here to be egotistical about their 'superior knowledge' and flame unsuspecting victims.
cheers,
jimbu.

 

[PhreeX]

Hey jimbu - you need to SHUT THE FUCK UP when we are trying to help you.. I am locking this so no one else has to hear you cry like a little bitch that the answers you're getting are not the "right ones" .. people are trying to help you and your ignorant ass is bitching because we didn't say "oh, the chemical that causes his problem is ----"
This is a psychological problem your friend has - chances are it's not the pill but your friends fucked up neurology - he takes amphetamines and gets paranoid.. it's not the chemicals causing the problem here...
And this is not an Other Drugs thread anyway.. he sounded like he was talking about an ecstasy pill..
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"I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don't care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is: 'What are they in a position to do about it?'" (William S. Burroughs)