Mental Health Raising dopamine causing adverse effects??

[James2088]

Hey everyone, hope you are all well

I'm new to the forum, wasn't entirely sure which section or topic to post this under but I'm looking for some major advice.

I was diagnosed with adult ADHD (hyperactive and inattentive) last year and tried on pretty much every medication for it, (Strattera, Ritalin, Concerta, Vyvanse, and also tried Wellbutrin as I can suffer from depression,) all of which made me feel awful. They pretty much stopped my thought process, made me lazy, irritable, unresponsive, depressed. I found it difficult to answer people. I just wanted to stare at a wall in silence. Couldn't be bothered to do anything at all. They basically pretty much killed off my personality and made me really stupid, tired and clumsy!!! This went on for 9 months until I decided to give up and come off them and felt much better after a week or so.

I'm sure I'm missing something here, I researched a lot to do with neurotransmitters, specifically dopamine. So I came to the conclusion that meds must be too strong for me and I started trying herbs and supplements (tyrosine, ginseng etc) Now whenever I try any of these supplements I get that same zombie feeling and my personality along with my general abilities completely shut down and I feel like sh*t again.

It feels like whenever I raise my dopamine levels everything else in my brain shuts down. But all of my symptoms point towards low dopamine levels, but when I try to raise them to relieve the symptoms of low dopamine it actually makes all of them 20 times worse!! Literally the only dopamine booster that works for me is caffeine, it raises my motivation and mood, clears my brain fog and helps me focus but it gives me an awful stomach and only lasts about 90 minutes until I crash. Why is it only caffeine that works?? It's so frustrating. Somebody please point me in the right direction???

 

[JavInBoston]

Prescription drugs is not the way to go truuust me. I've tried them all and they're so addictive, plus high dope levels is associated with psychosis. The best thing I've found to cope with my ADHD is caffeine & green tea. Trust me try green tea with 3 bags steeped for 10 mins. It contains thiamine which helps keep you calm + caffeine lifts your mood. Your ADD probably stems from your diet, try less gluten and more colorful fruits and veggies. I find that what I eat directly effects how I feel, please steer clear of the prescribed drugs though in the long run they have devastating consequences.

 

[Londonscouser]

post your story on longecity, the scientists over there will love you try and solve your riddle

 

[Londonscouser]

btw caffeine is known to up regulate dopamine receptors, which means there is increased re-uptake of dopamine.

Also caffeine inhibits production of GABA...maybe you have high gaba levels and low glutamate or something

 

[jammin83]

Try not to worry about your neurotransmitters so much. Too much/too little dopamine, serotonin, etc. The brain is much more complicated than that. You can manipulate your brain so that it feels better but far too often people are worried about their receptors when they could be eating healthy, exercising, meditating, and filling their lives up with good things so that they don't feel so bad. You can't ever feel whole if you think you are broken.