adderall (and maybe other drugs) for optimum efficiency

[hmmm]

Hello,

SWIM is 25 and has done various drugs over the years (alcohol, pot, coke, adderall, ritalin). He has used these drugs in various combinations and for recreational use.

However, SWIM is over the "lets just see how messed up SWIM" can get stage.

SWIM is in a graduate program that he has little interest in. His main interests lie in psychology and philosophy. And these interests have led to a question that maybe someone may be able to answer.

SWIM has found ritalin and adderall to immensely improve his ability to maintain study and interest. However, as everyone know, tolerance builds up quite quickly.

Adderall, being the most effective in SWIM's case, he has wondered if there was a regimen that one can use that increaes productivity to its highest level without having to substantially increase the dosage over time.

And in the times of non-adderall-use, is there something else that may affect other areas of the brain that can, at least, offset the drainage of the adderall (and hopefully, even increase motivation, concentration, and memory levels during non-adderall usage.

ps. staying up for days on end is just not really productive and is quite detrimental to SWIM's overall goals. Sleep is an essential ingredient to memory (with REM sleep having links to increaed memory).

Currently, SWIM think maybe trying to split up 60 mg adderall orally every day and in times of difficult sleep, adding a klonopin or valium.

What do others think?

Remember, the heart of this question is maintaning continuous mental productivity in the long term. There may not be a way to continuously maintain productivity without increasing dosages to a level that a psychiatrist woudl not recommend.

[howlongisthenight]

There are alternative products that advertise as having the characteristics of adderall with the negative side effects or lack of sleep. Whether these products work well or not would be up for swiy to found out though.

[GForce]

SWIY could try some supplements from CVS or something. I know I always have 5-HTP and St. John's Wort on hand. 5-HTP (otherwise known as Tryptophan) is a building block of serotonin and marketed as a mood enhancer/energy booster. St. John's Wort is believed to inhibit the reuptake of 5-HT (serotonin) and is also marketed as a mood enhancer. While SWIM doesn't really need either for Adderall, he does use them for other stimulants (most notably MDMA). Amphetamines release serotonin stores from synaptic vesicles so 5-HTP and St John's Wort certainally wouldn't hurt to try. Much of the drainage SWIY feels could be manifestations of depression or anxiety which are common side effects of using drugs that alter serotonin levels.

As for mainting an effective dose, unfortunately the only real answer SWIM has found is moderation. 5-HTP could work somewhat with this by increasing the amount of serotonin your brain has available, and thus amplifying the euphoric and stimulating effects of Adderall that would otherwise be dampened by continued use. However, I don't think 5-HTP is enough because serotonin isn't the only chemical that Adderall acts upon. There are plenty of other supplements out there that are marketed as improving concentration or giving you energy. There seems to be a general negaitve stigma when it comes to supplements effectiveness vs. over-the-counter and perscription drug effectiveness, but most supplements do effect body chemistry and with the right bit of research it wouldn't be difficult to figure out what supplements could be of use. Still, the best way to maintain the effectiveness of a dose is, without a doubt, moderation, if SWIY can afford taking breaks.

[hmmm]

thanks for the info.

I'm somewhat wary of the over-the counter stuff be I think its impact on the mind is arbitrary--though im not completely counting them out.

I have have spent literally months in the "be as healthy one can be" mode.

My grades, social life, etc. suffered among other things. High-maintainence regimens were almost so obtrusive that the perfect regimen was counter-productive.

I mean if it takes a person 2 or 3 hours a day to do all the things necessary to maintain a healthy ifestyle, then it seems as though 3/16ths (or roughly 20% of one's waking hours) turns out to be curse in the long run.

Say one's average usefullness is 50 years while awake (very generous estimation). Well, that extra benefit seems to be nearly the same benefit percentage as though one had never went through the carrot juice and "God know's what" routine that people rely on to prolong to their lives.

Things such as extreme smoking and the like wiill, of course, reduce one's lifespan to such a degree that its not worth it (though a cig here and there isnt too bad, I'm sure).

However, the stimulant class of drugs (along with the ability to get adequate sleep) seem to be able to increase one's life by making the years, themselves, more useful. That is my interest in them.

So, by culminating others' past posts, it seems as though a 3-day adderall, one -day off regimin would be best. And, maybe, to be on the safe side, a one-day off, one-day on, schedule would certainly still reap positive benefits.

This regimen, along with the use of magnesium supplements, multi-vitamins/shakes, seem to be what would maximize one's brain power over the tenure of each person's life.

That's as much as I have gathered, anyway. And I haven't actually been on this regimen so its difficult for me to say what is best.