Pharmacology of ADHD Medications: Amphetamine & Methylphenidate

[@robertomacari501]

I’ve tried both methylphenidate (concerta) and amphetamine (lisdexamphetamine). I found amphetamine definitely gave me more focus and made me feel like I had to be doing something. I also got very anxious, dry mouth, sweaty, all the things mentioned in the video. However, I found methylphenidate is amazing for me. I would say definitely a slight euphoric sense but no anxiety or crazy crazy amount of focus. For me it more so helps with motivation. I can task switch in work without forgetting what I was working on initially. Even when it comes to criticism or arguments I am a lot better at staying calm and dealing with them logically or taking advice on board.

[@greentroll9326]

@robertomacari501 not to mention speed keeps you awake and suppresses appetitte

[@joebutchreynolds5485]

Wow, I agree completly!

[@Guidus125]

As someone who is both in neuropharm and has ADHD (for which I take dexamphetamine), I was very impressed by this overview! It was unbiased and you didn't skip over anything crucial.

[@Neuropharmacist]

Glad to hear!

[@frantsel5711]

What else did you try besides using this drugs for your adhd?

[@whatta7793]

First time I done adderall I took an Adderall XR 30mg and it gave me tons of euphoria. About 6 years later, I went on a crystal meth binge. Been sober for over 2 years Recently got prescribed adderall, 40mg IR and it gives me absolutely NO euphoria. 40mg IR should give more euphoria than 30mg XR, by far, but clearly my meth binge has destroyed the possibility of that. If I switch to Ritalin, would I get some euphoria from it, since it works differently?

[@joeybasile545]

@@frantsel5711 Nothing. No effort was put into it. Just took the pill and hoped for the best. /s

[@jasonwhite1995]

It's crap lol

[@Andrew-qd5fc]

I have ADHD+ autism, ritalin is helping me study and have a functional life. Getting addicted is one of my fears, i dont have problems with substance abuse because my mother and father are alcoholics. And since alcoholism can be in the family, I have always been careful about this kind of thing unfortunately methylphenidate gives me that drive to always increase the dose.

[@heatsingh2205]

There is no such thing as alcoholism in family it's dependent on individuals to know when to stop.

[@gaelle4328]

Alternative medication can be voxra( wellbutrin) Strattera, and also buspiron actavis which can be either added or as a sole therapy.

[@Neuropharmacist]

True.

[@sidka8435]

@@Neuropharmacist Dr,what about pemoline,and d-methylamphetamine ? Aslo still aprrovved in the U.S (probably only generics now? )

[@HomoSapien-z5q]

I received voxra for a while when my doctors suspected I had adhd, it did some but not a lot for me I require a decent dosage of amphatamine for my adhd though so it might work for other people

[@whatta7793]

@@HomoSapien-z5q how much Adderall are you prescribed daily? IR or XR?

[@buitreofficial7765]

@@sidka8435Dextrometh is scripted as Desoxyn. Pemoline is gone after some liver failure incidents.

[@LouiesLog]

You nailed the exact effects and history of my ADHD meds. The psychosis after I kept upping my dose, the anhedonia, hyper tension etc. I wish there were other options because I function so well on them but can't take the side effects. I do not take them anymore unless I really, really need them (couple times a year). I hate this condition. You're probably going to think it's a bad idea, but I have been using redbull (zero no sugar version) and Kratom. It's not as good as my meds but is a hell of a lot better than nothing. And I don't get the horrible hangover and anhedonia. Another great video, well done!

[@LouiesLog]

Is there anything you could suggest for anhedonia?

[@Neuropharmacist]

​@@LouiesLog Not really, beyond comprehensive evaluation of daily lifestyle. I do think regular use of kratom is not recommended, since it acts like an opioid, and could contribute to a general dysregulation of mood.

[@Guidus125]

​@@LouiesLog I do research on kratom alkaloids so my answer will be biased on this one, but pharmacologically I think kratom isn't the worst contender for ADHD. It indeed has opioidergic alkaloids, but they are distinctly different from traditional opioids. The drug development industry has been attempting to synthesize functionally selective opioids for the past 20 years (albeit for chronic pain, not for ADHD), meanwhile kratom alkaloids already have said functional selectivity naturally. As a whole, the mixture of alkaloids in kratom produces a balanced portfolio of effects that span adrenergic, opioidergic, serotonergic and dopaminergic receptors (most of which have been drug targets for ADHD). Having said that, it's good to point out that nowadays rehab clinics see a considerable amount of kratom users checking in, and they often exhibit psychotic symptoms. It's unclear whether those symptoms are causally related to kratom, but generally if you have psychotics symptoms most drugs should be avoided in the first place, especially if they are as unexplored as kratom. Also, the problem with kratom is that the contents of kratom products vary widely and there have been plenty of reports of contamination with stronger opioids. Lastly, red bull has quite a lot of ingredients, some of which may produce unfavorable drug-to-drug interactions with kratom.

[@Guidus125]

@@LouiesLog by the way, from your descriptions it sounds like you were/are taking stimulant medications. Have you tried atomoxetine?

[@frantsel5711]

Dude there are so MANY options to treat ADHD. But most of them need daily work.

[@Futile0nion]

It took me two separate prison sentences to get help, I just couldn't get the help I needed and I ended up in a ward were I was diagnosed if you think you have adhd save your self the heart Ache and get it sorted asap before you burn your bridges

[@Somebodyelse141]

ADHD doesn't make you a criminal

[@JayCantrell-r4s]

ADHD may not make you a criminal but the choices you make when you have ADHD may lead to criminality. All my life I've been addicted to drugs and alcohol been in prison three times never was diagnosed with ADHD until almost 50 years old now that I've been diagnosed and treatment started I'm no longer addicted to drugs and alcohol and I don't commit crimes anymore I'm leaving a successful life thanks to medication and doctors who care

[@Futile0nion]

@Somebodyelse141 bit late to the party fam

[@Somebodyelse141]

@@Futile0nion not a time sensitive topic

[@Futile0nion]

@@Somebodyelse141 enough procrastinating

[@Somebodyelse141]

Great video. I enjoy learning the pharmacology of medication, especially the ones that i take

[@alexcsouza]

I liked a lot your videos! I just discover your channel and I'm happy to see this content about ADHD medication. I was recently diagnosed with this disorder (at 44 and one month taking medication). I'm taking lisdexamfetamine, kinda regulating dosage, and trying methylphenidate for specific days when I need to regulate my rhythm, all under medical supervision. It's been a big relief to make use of this medicine because I re-engaging on my activities and projects, that I like a lot, but was having trouble to finish and to persist due to al lack of motivation. I'm exited now to organize my life. I would love to see more content about those medication, including consequences of use of other drugs in conjunction with ADHD meds, while in effect or before/after use. I'd experienced some recreational drugs in the past and felt really good with much of them, always tried to maintain caution about the abuse (I always felt that I could loose path if I couldn't strongly control my self), but did abuse in alcohol some times. I still drink some beer and stuff and I love marijuana, which I like smoke sometimes. I'm really interested on the effects of this and other drugs on ADHD treatment (or threatment for it). Thanks for the good content!

[@Neuropharmacist]

Thanks! I will add the topic of mixing ADHD stimulants with other drugs to my list of ideas.

[@thenickel7]

Could you talk about other study drugs such as the racetams? I've seen that drugs like pramiracetam, etc. are particularly popular for cognitive boosting in the nootropic community, but don't really understand the mechanisms why.

[@Neuropharmacist]

Nootropics are definitely on my (long) to-do list!

[@karineaudet6270]

@@Neuropharmacist do you help find a neuro psychatrist or pharmaco who can legally prescrive ritalin, Im serious. I took ritalin for m’y adhd d’âge for 15 years and took ritalin for 15 years with success and a random doctor removed it saying i never had adhd évent thought 3 psy told me so and slways gave me thé med. No 2 montes of i cant focus deive organise concentrâtes. Im d’empressés, apathy asthenia adedonia narcolepsia, well dopamine too low ans she dont care really. I have trouble focus, can Siméon vélo me find a good doc who can represcribe m’y médication. Sincerely.

[@heatherscustomdesigns2236]

Love the video! This will be very helpful in my research paper.

[@travelwithme949]

you need to make a part 2!

[@Neuropharmacist]

What would you like to see in part 2?

[@JoeStarman]

great video, i really would love even more this video if subtitles were available :(

[@Neuropharmacist]

Thanks! Need to think about it.

[@F38U]

Soooo i just got diagnosed and prescribe ritalin, done speed for fun. Will see the differences

[@Neuropharmacist]

There certainly is a difference stemming from the pharmacodynamic and kinetic properties.

[@F38U]

@@Neuropharmacist in people without adhd is there any difference given how similar the 2 compounds are?

[@lailadavids]

Great video. Very informative. What drug is most effective with the least detrimental effects on the body/mind over time. And, do you recommend any holistic choices

[@inverbi]

It's very strange. These drugs are not stimulating me. I have had Lisdexamphetamine for a month now. 100 mg, no effect on ADHD but I sleep better than ever, I had a sleeping problem all my life. But not anymore. Any comments?

[@Neuropharmacist]

Very interesting. Some people with ADHD do say that they can easily take a nap while under the effects of stimulants. I guess there is just a lot of variation in how our brains are wired.

[@joellarsson9486]

I use kratom and lisdexamphetamine. Kratom reduces the stress I can get from the amphetamine. It works ok. Don't know if it's safe long term though. Sometimes I get aggressive migraine and puke my guts out for 12-24 hours.

[@rodneydaub3812]

Great content, I'll be watching all your videos asap!

[@Neuropharmacist]

Thanks! I'm working on doing some more content soon :)

[@rodneydaub3812]

@@Neuropharmacist hey can you do a little segment on propoxyphene please? It was banned but I think it would make an interesting drug lore topic I had a distant family member die while on it. Though the death cert. said acetaminophen poisoning I always wondered if she died of an arrhythmia

[@berternie6181]

Good stuff

[@Neuropharmacist]

Thank you!

[@MamaZShaman]

As always great content - 👁️

[@Neuropharmacist]

Thank you!

[@annezotos9803]

What is the generic of concerta

[@bee1411]

Methylphenidate ER! :)

[@tristafrog]

Thank you so much for your amazing content!

[@Neuropharmacist]

Thanks!

[@Dilyn-h9w]

Watching this with ADHD and no meds 🫠

[@Neuropharmacist]

😅

[@michaela.kelley7823]

I have a prescription for adderall. I recently failed a drug test for meth. Problem is ive never done meth. Can someone help me understamd how this happened?

[@Neuropharmacist]

Adderall is amphetamine, meth is methamphetamine. The molecules differ only in one methyl group. This may make some tests give a positive for methamphetamine, but it should be distinguishable in more detailed analyses.

[@nathanbass1159]

Sudafed may cause a false positive as well especially if in combo w an actual ADHD med ie adderall

[@pamelaweakley5824]

​@@Neuropharmacist❤

[@bee1411]

I had that happen to me on Vyvanse actually! But I didn’t fail it, as they knew I was on the medication via my files.

[@madwhitehatter]

I've developed ADHD as an adult. I believe a lot of the reason is because of chronic pain from two cervical fusions and taking different prescriptions of several opiates over the last 11 years. Just wondering if you can explore this. Because I still take tramadol daily and hydromorphone rarely when the pain is extreme, my doctor will not prescribe amphetamines. I've always been confused by my opiate use because I've never felt a high of any kind. They've also never given me a sedating effect. Alcohol had always been best at pain relief, but I can't function, so I've been nursing the same bottle of Jim Beam for the last year. Tramadol really just makes me care less about the pain, but never actually gets rid of it. Any thoughts you have about this would be insightful.

[@Neuropharmacist]

Sorry to hear about your situation struggling with chronic pain. Opioid use can obviously affect one's ability to focus, but drugs like tramadol do not go well with amphetamines. Treating chronic pain can be very difficult and I'm definitely not an expert in this area or a medical doctor. I can only refer you to seek the guidance of doctors specialized in treating chronic pain.

[@joellarsson9486]

Should check your testosterone levels. Opiates cause low testosterone. Might need test gel or something

[@AlexandreTremblay-q8p]

Mehadone is best for chronic pain and can be use with adhd medication. I take methadon for spinal stenosis and Concerta for adhd. Im back at work

[@maurunmal1422]

kewl

[@manuelsanz6718]

nice!

[@Main-itt]

8:13. u got it wrong there. For example Concerta is a methylphenidate that lasts 12 hrs. methylphenidate = 12hrs. Amphetamine = 3hrs.

[@Neuropharmacist]

I have it right.

[@dxd42]

No, Brother. Concerta or Ritalin LA is the type of capsule that slow release ... The pharmacology is the same, just the delivery method is different.

[@dasherx1070]

Amphetamine last 4 hours not 3

[@vevenaneathna]

phendimetrazine god tier lol

[@johnwilliams-ni8cn]

anyone that is smarter, can see, a system others are trying to limit them into criminal?

[@lailadavids]

Maaan, I got diagnosed at 35. To be totally honest, I wish I just carried on coping without. Because I knew I was forgetful, head in the clouds , a dreamer 😅, so I just lived my life exhaustingly forgetful and impulsive. Nowwww! Uggh, 5 years taking Adderall :( I’m dependent. I don’t want to be because it’s made me so gauntly looking and honestly I feel more dumber ,but being on my meds I don’t care. Im like whatever, at least I’m moving daily. But yeah. If anyone is thinking of taking this drug. Don’t. Find another solution. It really is just “meth” from the pharmacy.

[@whatta7793]

Coming from someone who used to have a meth problem, you would be surprised how much weaker Adderall is. It is most definitely two different animals, that have similar effects. You could take just 2-3 hits of meth (smoking/vaporizing) and I guarantee you'd be awake for 2 days straight, even with 5 years of Adderall use as a tolerance. Meth is WAY stronger, even in the same milligram dosing.

[@lailadavids]

@@whatta7793 I believe you. And I’m glad to hear it’s your past. :) . I don’t think it’s the same , but it’s still something I’m very dependent on because of the mood swings . It also helps curb my drinking which sucks too cuz I switched one drug for another. Anyway. You take care

[@whatta7793]

@lailadavids I'd much rather be on the Addy than drinking. I was a heavy alcoholic before starting the crystal, within some months I had completely quit drinking, without even trying to quit. Same for my nicotine habit. Got out of jail, started drinking again, and I used Kratom to quit drinking this time. Terrible WDs from Kratom. Went to the doctor to get Adderall to help quit the Kratom. I've cut the Kratom dose in half, but the Adderall just doesn't give much euphoria due to crystal binge even though that was 2+ years ago. The mood swings from amphetamines is pretty rough, I know exactly what you mean with that. Go from being completely fine into an emotional wreck within minutes. 😅 Wishing you the best mane, Addy ain't too bad in comparison to a lot of stuff people use. Don't beat yourself up over it! If it keeps you off of the booze, that's massive. 👌

[@lailadavids]

@@whatta7793 Yup! Alcohol is the worst .

[@F38U]

​@@lailadavids2 lines of speed and i was awake for 18 hours partying

[@greentroll9326]

why would you give kids speed

[@jessewallace12able]

You do not understand the disorder and you do not understand the medication. I agree kids should not be given these meds, however once they become an adult they are helpful.