Favorite PCT Ancillaries

[Ghoul]

And in case anyone decides to follow up with more research, I'm aware high levels of retinoic acid (RA) are associated with depression and or personality changes sometimes experienced by people using standard/high levels of accutane, as well as with age related cognitive decline.

HOWEVER, these conditions are also associated with slower brain metabolism in the presence of high RA.

Low levels of Retinoic Acid, with normal brain metabolism, are associated with, to put it simply, being stupid, technically "low levels of cognition, learning, memory.".

I don't think it's retinoic acid causing the slower brain metabolism, but when it's slowed by some other factor, an unutilized surplus of RA builds up.

When RA is deficient, due to poor diet or some other factor, and brain metabolism is normal, cognition doesn't develop well and declines.

So possibly, with modafinil induced accelerated brain metabolism, a surplus supply of RA is put to use, building out the brain's capacity.

 

[sweetcynic237]

I’ll second that notion of getting excellent advice from @Ghoul I had a question about the Modafinil (Modvigil 200) I’ve been on it two days and it’s made a noticeable difference in my chronic fatigue. I don’t need caffeine constantly, but I have found it to wear off faster like you said in the above post. I ordered some ModAwake and ModAlert to see the difference. Is the Artvigil worth checking out? Also, with the Modvigil I take it upon waking, if you feel it wearing off, would you take an additional half dose? Or do you want to avoid doing that later in the day?

I want to find something for taking breaks from ADD meds, but semax isnt enough on its own.

 

[Ghoul]

I want to find something for taking breaks from ADD meds, but semax isnt enough on its own.

There is no break from amphetamines. You either decide your mind and body have suffered enough, or you stay on them.

There's nothing potent enough to feel like a "replacement". For many people, it's no longer about ADD symptoms, but feeling the speed, alas. It will be the next "opioid crisis" within a decade.

 

[sweetcynic237]

There is no break from amphetamines. You either decide your mind and body have suffered enough, or you stay on them.

There's nothing potent enough to feel like a "replacement". For many people, it's no longer about ADD symptoms, but feeling the speed, alas. It will be the next "opioid crisis" within a decade.

 

[sweetcynic237]

I do not know nearly as much about the topic as I would like. I was diagnosed as an adult and all I can say is that the medication is completely life changing. I wanted to cry the first time I took it because I never realized what the feeling of focus and the feeling of being able to do the things I wanted to do felt like.IT is difficult to describe the disconnect between "I want to do x" and "Why wont I just do x" when your are very aware that the suffering around avoiding x is greater than doing x itself.
I am trying to learn more, however, and this is supposed to be the most recent research review on ADD, so I hope to read through this soon.
I do think the topic of ADD and impairment in executive functioning is an interesting topic on a forum where members pride themselves on their discipline. Of course, self-discipline is a good thing and should be developed but an interesting thing to view through an ADD lens.

https://pure.rug.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/1124067910/s41572-024-00495-0.pdf

 

[Ghoul]

I do not know nearly as much about the topic as I would like. I was diagnosed as an adult and all I can say is that the medication is completely life changing. I wanted to cry the first time I took it because I never realized what the feeling of focus and the feeling of being able to do the things I wanted to do felt like.IT is difficult to describe the disconnect between "I want to do x" and "Why wont I just do x" when your are very aware that the suffering around avoiding x is greater than doing x itself.
I am trying to learn more, however, and this is supposed to be the most recent research review on ADD, so I hope to read through this soon.
I do think the topic of ADD and impairment in executive functioning is an interesting topic on a forum where members pride themselves on their discipline. Of course, self-discipline is a good thing and should be developed but an interesting thing to view through an ADD lens.

https://pure.rug.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/1124067910/s41572-024-00495-0.pdf

Been there. 40mg / day.

After enough time the physical toll will start to manifest itself. Dextroamphetamine "borrows" energy from the future. I'm sure you've felt that at the end of the day.

 

[sweetcynic237]

Been there. 40mg / day.

After enough time the physical toll will start to manifest itself. Dextroamphetamine "borrows" energy from the future. I'm sure you've felt that at the end of the day.

Yes, but I dont really need those last 10 years, right? Kidding.
Sort of.
I think everyone on the forum has agreed on an exchange of risk to health for some wanted benefit.
My work self needs focus so my 10 pm self will have to deal.

 

[Ghoul]

Yes, but I dont really need those last 10 years, right? Kidding.
Sort of.
I think everyone on the forum has agreed on an exchange of risk to health for some wanted benefit.
My work self needs focus so my 10 pm self will have to deal.

It's a tough spot I agree. I just feel the price is a slow deterioration of physical and mental health. I truly don't miss it, despite the cessation being forced on me during the pandemic shortages

 

[Ghoul]

@sweetcynic237

I mean, you were interested in taking a "break" from it.

Everyone seems to come to that point.

Seeking an off ramp.

 

[sweetcynic237]

@sweetcynic237

I mean, you were interested in taking a "break" from it.

Everyone seems to come to that point.

Seeking an off ramp.

Ambivalent, love-hate relationship going on with it.
I do really need it for functioning but I do not love the heart rate issues. I can manage with the someone-pulled-the-power-cord-out-of-my-brain feeling at the end of the day if I time it well. I was hoping to find something else that would make things manageable on days when I dont take it. Im not sure if there is much truth to the concerns about overstimulating dopamine and becoming resistant. My dr said if Im not noticing a difference in responding at this point I should be fine, but I would like to find something to help for days where Im not working but would still like to be able to brain.
I dont appreciate my first dr starting me at such a high dose, however.
A forced cessation during a lock down would leave me useless. That must have been awful.

 

[Ghoul]

Ambivalent, love-hate relationship going on with it.
I do really need it for functioning but I do not love the heart rate issues. I can manage with the someone-pulled-the-power-cord-out-of-my-brain feeling at the end of the day if I time it well. I was hoping to find something else that would make things manageable on days when I dont take it. Im not sure if there is much truth to the concerns about overstimulating dopamine and becoming resistant. My dr said if Im not noticing a difference in responding at this point I should be fine, but I would like to find something to help for days where Im not working but would still like to be able to brain.
I dont appreciate my first dr starting me at such a high dose, however.
A forced cessation during a lock down would leave me useless. That must have been awful.

In hindsight the "tell" tolerance builds and/or it's tiring in the body is the desire to take a break. I'd take weekends off too, but in hindsight realized "What the hell am I doing? Drugging myself for the benefit of my employer, and enduring the crash on my own time?". Again, clear only in hindsight. while on it, making sure I never ran out became a priority, because even those short weekend breaks were awful. The thought of coming off entirely was unimaginable. Again, in hindsight, what does that sound like? The degeneracy that develops with any other addiction.

Hell, even the thought of forced coffee cessation. though to a much lesser degree, wasn't entirely dissimilar.

I encourage you to try Moda, it's likely better than nothing on weekends. However it's not a "physical" stimulant like amphetamine (or caffeine). It's really not a stimulant at all, in the conventional sense. It's in its own class.

So many adderall users initially say they feel nothing, or that it's weak, when the problem is they're looking for the wrong effects. It's very powerful, but in an entirely different way, that's so natural and complimentary to your brain and body, and largely side effect free, it can be easy to miss while adderall
is still having an effect.

For ADD purposes, in my experience it takes weeks, or even a couple of months of daily use to have an impact. However, after learning how to time and dose it properly for me, I've never felt "I need a break" nor has the idea of going without filled me with anxiety adderall did, a very good sign.

 

[Sam312xx]

Vyvanse is a thing of beauty.

 

[sinistral]

Can modafinil be used to help overcome addictions? If the withholding of the addictive stimulus causes a drop in dopamine would modafinil help ease or reduce that drop?

I've only just started looking into modafinil and I saw something related to cocaine addictions but it would seem if it helps with cocaine it would help with any addiction?

@Ghoul Any insight here?

 

[Ghoul]

Can modafinil be used to help overcome addictions? If the withholding of the addictive stimulus causes a drop in dopamine would modafinil help ease or reduce that drop?

I've only just started looking into modafinil and I saw something related to cocaine addictions but it would seem if it helps with cocaine it would help with any addiction?

@Ghoul Any insight here?

Modafinil is in a class of its own many ways.

Superficially it's a stimulant, and not a particularly strong one in the conventional sense, yet it's very powerful, but it's impact aligns so well with natural function it can be difficult to recognize what's going on until you have some experience with it and review your performance in hindsight.

In terms of treating addiction, I'd classify it as "withdrawal management".

One symptom common to almost all addictive substance withdrawals is a period of lethargy and brain fog. This contributes to a weakening of resistance to the mental "noise" demanding the substance being withdrawn from, and makes relapse more likely.

Modafinil lifts the brain fog, restores "wakefulness" and puts one in a much better position to maintain conscious resistance to the pull of addiction.

Long term Modafinil users are noted to have a significantly lower rate of obesity, which may be due to a similar mechanism. Exhaustion often leads to unconscious overeating in the absence of hunger, and Moda keeps the user more "aware".

If you' didn't know, GLP drugs are proving to be powerful anti-addiction treatments, by an entirely different mechanism, addressing the "noise", and soon to be FDA approved to treat alcoholism. It's also demonstrated effectiveness against a wide variety of substance use disorders. A combination of the two may be a very effective way to beat addiction.

 

[sinistral]

In terms of treating addiction, I'd classify it as "withdrawal management".

Yes. This is a better way of describing what I was trying to ask. Awesome. Thanks for the reply!