Nicaine
06-06-2005, 21:39
The following article gives a lot of clues as to why cocaine is addictive, and how to facilitate quitting:
Article (http://cocaine.org/cocabrain/index.html)
To sum up, here are some tips on quitting, based on the above article:
Withdrawal after 12 hours of unrestricted access to cocaine produced a substantial suppression of 5-HT release in the NAc. Compared with basal 5-HT levels in cocaine-naive controls, 5-HT efflux as measured by quantitative microdialysis methods decreased by more than 50 percent as early as 6 hours postcocaine (Parsons et al. 1995).
(1) Begin immediate supplementation with 5-HTP (http://www.iherb.com/tryptophan.html) (or start an SSRI antidepressant such as Prozac or Luvox).
However, it is important to note that brain stimulation reward deficits are already evident shortly after termination of access to cocaine, at a time when there is still some residual elevation, rather than a deficit, in accumbal extracellular DA levels. This observation supports the hypothesis that sustained dopaminergic stimulation by long-term cocaine self-administration leads to adaptation of brain mechanisms that mediate positive reinforcement.
(2) Supplement immediately with L-Dopa, L-Tyrosine (http://store.yahoo.com/iherb/tyrosine.html), or Wellbutrin (bupropion). Do stuff that gives you pleasure, whenever possible, whatever it may be.
Thus, certain forms of stress may exacerbate the neurochemical consequences of psychostimulant withdrawal by further lowering extracellular DA levels and, thereby, perhaps contribute to the resumption of drug-seeking behavior and increased likelihood of relapse associated with stress.
(3) Benzodiazepines (valium, librium, clonazepam) can be helpful.
Clinical observations suggest that stimuli previously associated with availability or self-administration of the drug can evoke intense subjective feelings of craving and can trigger episodes of relapse in abstinent cocaine abuse patients.
(4) Avoid all thoughts of, pictures of, and contact with cocaine & people who use it. Move to a different neighborhood, if necessary. Get rid of all paraphernalia totally.
Hope this is helpful to someone.Edited by: Nicaine
Article (http://cocaine.org/cocabrain/index.html)
To sum up, here are some tips on quitting, based on the above article:
Withdrawal after 12 hours of unrestricted access to cocaine produced a substantial suppression of 5-HT release in the NAc. Compared with basal 5-HT levels in cocaine-naive controls, 5-HT efflux as measured by quantitative microdialysis methods decreased by more than 50 percent as early as 6 hours postcocaine (Parsons et al. 1995).
(1) Begin immediate supplementation with 5-HTP (http://www.iherb.com/tryptophan.html) (or start an SSRI antidepressant such as Prozac or Luvox).
However, it is important to note that brain stimulation reward deficits are already evident shortly after termination of access to cocaine, at a time when there is still some residual elevation, rather than a deficit, in accumbal extracellular DA levels. This observation supports the hypothesis that sustained dopaminergic stimulation by long-term cocaine self-administration leads to adaptation of brain mechanisms that mediate positive reinforcement.
(2) Supplement immediately with L-Dopa, L-Tyrosine (http://store.yahoo.com/iherb/tyrosine.html), or Wellbutrin (bupropion). Do stuff that gives you pleasure, whenever possible, whatever it may be.
Thus, certain forms of stress may exacerbate the neurochemical consequences of psychostimulant withdrawal by further lowering extracellular DA levels and, thereby, perhaps contribute to the resumption of drug-seeking behavior and increased likelihood of relapse associated with stress.
(3) Benzodiazepines (valium, librium, clonazepam) can be helpful.
Clinical observations suggest that stimuli previously associated with availability or self-administration of the drug can evoke intense subjective feelings of craving and can trigger episodes of relapse in abstinent cocaine abuse patients.
(4) Avoid all thoughts of, pictures of, and contact with cocaine & people who use it. Move to a different neighborhood, if necessary. Get rid of all paraphernalia totally.
Hope this is helpful to someone.Edited by: Nicaine