pingu
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What are stimulants?
stimulants are substances that increase activity in the brain and nervous system by increasing levels of neurotransmitters like dopamine and noradrenaline, and stimulating the central nervous system to speed up brain and body activity, thus boosting alertness, energy, and focus.
Commonly prescribed for individuals with ADHD (a genetic disorder resulting in low dopamine levels).
neurotransmitters:
neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that transmit signals between nerve cells.
the main types of neurotransmitters increased by stimulants are dopamine and noradrenaline.
Dopamine:
dopamine is the motivation and reward chemical. dopamine is the reason behind when you ejaculate and for a few seconds you get that intense euphoria and feel like you can conquer the world. that rush is mainly from a dopamine spike, it’s your brain’s way of saying “yeah, do that again-this is why dopamine-increasing compounds such as meth are so inherently addictive”, also increasing your brain’s ability to lock in memories, hence why it’s essential for studying.
Noradrenaline:
noradrenaline is the alertness and focus chemical. it puts your brain into a focused, locked-in state, raises heart rate and blood pressure. hence why during stressful situations your heart rate increases.
DIFFERENT STIMULANT CLASSES:
amphetamines (Adderall, Vyvanse, dextroamphetamine) work by flooding the cytoplasm with dopamine and norepinephrine.
Adderall: a mix of amphetamine salts that results in an overall 3:1 ratio of dexamfetamine to levoamphetamine.
Vyvanse: contains lisdexamfetamine, an inactive prodrug that’s metabolised into dexamfetamine, the active form.
d- vs l- isomers: dexamfetamine is more potent at increasing dopamine in the brain, while levoamphetamine is more potent at releasing norepinephrine, which causes stronger cardiovascular and peripheral effects — more of a “physical boost” but can lead to jitteriness, similar to caffeine.
hence Vyvanse gives more of a “cleaner” focus, with a smooth comeup and comedown than Adderall, which tends to feel sharper and more stimulating.
methylphenidate family (Ritalin, Concerta)
class: DNRI (dopamine–noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor)
they work by inhibiting the reuptake of neurotransmitters by binding to dopamine and norepinephrine transporters, leading to a build up of dopamine and norepinephrine in the synapse. result is clearer focus and alertness. they tend to be less effective than amphetamines and work through a more indirect increase in neurotransmitters compared to amphetamines.
general feel: tends to be milder and cleaner than amphetamines, with effects lasting shorter. they are not euphoric in the sense amphetamines are. lots of people tend to not react well to them, making them depressed and anxious.
Ritalin (immediate-release): kicks in ~20–40 min, lasts ~3–4 hours. good for short blocks or flexible dosing.
Concerta (extended-release): about 22% releases in the first 30–60 minutes, the remaining 78% over the next 10–12 hours. smoother, day-long coverage.
tl;dr same active drug (methylphenidate), different pharmacokinetics; pick IR for short, targeted focus and Concerta for steadier longer lasting effects
neurotoxicity and neuroprotection (dose matters)
most neurotoxicity reports come from abusing stimulants at high doses.
with amphetamines at very high levels, amphetamines cause an excess of dopamine which can drive oxidative stress and inflammation, which can damage dopamine nerve terminals, with particular vulnerability in brain areas involved in memory and higher cognition (hippocampus and cerebral cortex). methamphetamine is a more potent form and is generally more neurotoxic and addictive than standard amphetamine.
with methylphenidate, there’s evidence of neurotoxicity at very high doses. but unlike amphetamine, some lab studies (in animals or cells) also show methylphenidate can protect brain cells under certain stresses, like stroke-like injury, parkinson-like damage, or after meth exposure.
stimulants can feel different for people with ADHD and neurotypicals.
they’re prescribed to ADHDers to raise dopamine toward typical levels, which is why the effects tend to differ. people without ADHD may feel more hyper and energized at the same dose — dose matters.
this should be enough for you to get a good understanding on which stimulant to choose
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