Methylphenidates effect on norepinephrine

[HorseBucket]

SWIM read that Ritalin does not just inhibit the reuptake of dopamine but it also inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine resulting in elevated levels of the substance. In the past SWIM has had very good experiences with dopamine releasing substances such as cocaine and amphetamines but has had bad experiences with atomoxetine which is supposedly a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.

SWIMs wondering how much of an impact methyphenidate has on norepinephrine when compared with drugs like say amphetamines. SWIM suspects that the positive effects methylphenidate has on SWIM may be due to the dopaminergic functions of the drug whereas the elevated levels of norepinephrine may be the culprit for the side effects such as extreme drowsiness and just plain feeling weird. Atomoxetine had NO beneficial effects on SWIM but had no shortage of shitty side effects alot of which resemble the Ritalin crash.

The side effects from atomoxetine SWIM remembers were drowsiness, depression, extreme irritability and other assorted side effects. SWIMs read that atomexitine is a poorly understood drug but most people seem to agree that its main mechanism of action is as a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. SWIM thinks that the way these 3 drugs amphetamines, methylphenidate and atomoxetine effect him may give him a good idea of what the effects of increased levels of dopamine vs increased levels of norepinephrine do to him but he's no pharmocologist so he's looking for the input of more knowledgable people. Is SWIM on the right track? Is amphetamine a primarily dopaminergic drugs, atomoxtine a primarily noradrenaline related drug and methylphendate something in between?

SWIM finds all this very interesting and doesn't mind being a lab rat for things like this. SWIM should mention that a friend who was bipolar was put on Ritalin for years and killed himself last year. What kinda nutcase would prescribe Ritalin to someone with depression? SWIM was surprised when he found out that atomoxetine was initially prescribed as an antidepressant. The first time SWIM had ever been depressed in his life was when he started taking atomoxetine. SWIM got off atomoxetine as soon as possible and was switched to Ritalin which is a huge improvement but SWIM still finds that Ritalin makes him depressed every now and again.

Would SWIM be way off if he was to assume that altered levels of norepinephrine is the culprit for the depression and other shitty effects that Ritalin and Atomoxetine has on him whereas increased dopamine levels is responsible for the euphoria, increased mental functioning, energy and other beneficial effects that amphetamines seem to have no shortage of and methylphenidate seems to give a small amount of?