Hi guys, it's my first post! %)
I've actually been poking around Bluelight off and on for a couple years now but haven't joined the conversation until today. I apologize in advance for writing such a long first ever post but it's a complicated issue that has brought up a lot of questions for me.
Around 3 years ago, I started therapy with methylphenidate (Ritalin) for ADD. I started abusing it pretty heavily and over the course of the next year had pushed the limits of my prescription all the way up to 20mg methylphenidate IR and 10mg mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall) IR each 3x a day, for a total of 90mg (60mg methylphenidate/30mg Adderall). 6 months ago, my tolerance had skyrocketed so high I couldn't achieve euphoria from even 400+ mg combined doses and I consequently have stopped abusing them. However, since then, the ridiculous 90mg/day doses are necessary for me to get the therapeutic benefits I was always supposed to. This would be fine, except the side effects, specifically hypertension and tachycardia, have become so severe that it's nearly intolerable.
How severe? 150/95 mmHg and 100bpm is pretty average.
Increasingly often, I'm seeing >195/120 mmHg and 130+ bpm accompanied by chest pains after my 3rd dose of the day. I understand this is considered hypertensive crisis and administer propranolol accordingly if/when it happens. This always sets it straight relatively quickly.
Obviously, I try to cut my dose as much as possible now but my tolerance is still sky-high. I'm looking into alternate therapies. I just don't understand how this has happened. The facts don't add up:
- On maybe 2 occasions, max, did I see this strong of a reaction when I was abusing these drugs regularly at >400mg doses for days on end. Now it occurs after just 3 30mg doses in one day.
- I started taking my prescription as written (total 90/mg daily) 6 months ago and didn't have this problem in any capacity. I noticed the hypertension first around 4 months ago and it has become increasingly severe since, at the exact same doses.
- Other stimulants, for example cocaine, don't elicit this kind of cardiovascular response.
My BP/HR are in healthy range when I don't take methylphenidate/Adderall and I'm not sensitive to other stimulants. I've heard one person suggest that my physiological tolerance has somehow dropped while my psychological tolerance remained high. Everything I know about tolerance says this is untrue.
I've scoured the internet for long-term studies on stimulant use, but as with near every drug, long-term studies are almost nonexistent.
So, what gives?! I've yet to find anyone who had a similar experience or who could offer some insight that I hadn't considered. At the very least, I think it's worthy of a conversation. Thoughts?
I've actually been poking around Bluelight off and on for a couple years now but haven't joined the conversation until today. I apologize in advance for writing such a long first ever post but it's a complicated issue that has brought up a lot of questions for me.
Around 3 years ago, I started therapy with methylphenidate (Ritalin) for ADD. I started abusing it pretty heavily and over the course of the next year had pushed the limits of my prescription all the way up to 20mg methylphenidate IR and 10mg mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall) IR each 3x a day, for a total of 90mg (60mg methylphenidate/30mg Adderall). 6 months ago, my tolerance had skyrocketed so high I couldn't achieve euphoria from even 400+ mg combined doses and I consequently have stopped abusing them. However, since then, the ridiculous 90mg/day doses are necessary for me to get the therapeutic benefits I was always supposed to. This would be fine, except the side effects, specifically hypertension and tachycardia, have become so severe that it's nearly intolerable.
How severe? 150/95 mmHg and 100bpm is pretty average.
Increasingly often, I'm seeing >195/120 mmHg and 130+ bpm accompanied by chest pains after my 3rd dose of the day. I understand this is considered hypertensive crisis and administer propranolol accordingly if/when it happens. This always sets it straight relatively quickly.
Obviously, I try to cut my dose as much as possible now but my tolerance is still sky-high. I'm looking into alternate therapies. I just don't understand how this has happened. The facts don't add up:
- On maybe 2 occasions, max, did I see this strong of a reaction when I was abusing these drugs regularly at >400mg doses for days on end. Now it occurs after just 3 30mg doses in one day.
- I started taking my prescription as written (total 90/mg daily) 6 months ago and didn't have this problem in any capacity. I noticed the hypertension first around 4 months ago and it has become increasingly severe since, at the exact same doses.
- Other stimulants, for example cocaine, don't elicit this kind of cardiovascular response.
My BP/HR are in healthy range when I don't take methylphenidate/Adderall and I'm not sensitive to other stimulants. I've heard one person suggest that my physiological tolerance has somehow dropped while my psychological tolerance remained high. Everything I know about tolerance says this is untrue.
I've scoured the internet for long-term studies on stimulant use, but as with near every drug, long-term studies are almost nonexistent.
So, what gives?! I've yet to find anyone who had a similar experience or who could offer some insight that I hadn't considered. At the very least, I think it's worthy of a conversation. Thoughts?
