Blood clot/stroke? 22 years old.. help needed!!

I don't know anything about this, but do you see any
significant downside to seeing a Dr., perhaps at an ER, and
getting his advice following an examination?

Bill

John Corben said:

But somewhere within the latter stages of my addiction, I
started noticing scary side-effects. I would get occasional
pains in the left arm and strong feelings of pressure and
tingling in the left part of my neck and head. My left ear
was ringing constantly, and now I can barely hear out of
it. Unwilling to take heed, like a foolish addict I
continued use due to a severe psychological addiction.
Eventually, in addition to those side effects which
continued, my legs started to feel numb and light and very
floaty. It was as if I was walking on cushioned ground at
all times. Of no surprise is that I now have developed a
permanently irregular heartbeat, at times HIGHLY irregular--
although most often after having coffee or other mild
substances.

Speed can cause severe hypertension in addition to
arrythmia. The intake of alcohol can further increase blood
pressure levels for susceptible persons. So your pressure in
your head and your tinnitus might be symptoms of
hypertension --- but only a doctor can make the right
diagnosis.

Quoted message said:

Along those lines, I notice pronounced pressure and
tingling on the left side of my head (pressure in the left
ear especially) anytime I eat or drink something.. but
MARKEDLY if I have any psychoactive substance such as
caffeine or beer. It seems that now, all drugs work
"strangely".. with caffeine, it seems to barely affect me,
and often works in a "time-release" stage where the onset
is delayed or distorted. Usually, I'd feel a caffeine buzz
immediately, but now it's choppy or extremely faint.

See above.

Quoted message said:

I am wondering if I stay off amphetamines for long enough,
will this problem correct itself and will my body return
to normal? Or is there signs here of permanent damage,
perhaps to blood vessels in my brain? I cannot think of
any other reason why psychoactives just suddenly create
intense pressure in the left side of my head, and don't
work normally anymore. Is a clogged carotid artery a
possible culprit?

Only an ultrasound exam of your carotids and a brain
CT can tell.

Quoted message said:

I know I am very foolish for continuing an addiction that
could kill
me. Perhaps it was that false sense of power that the drug
causes that permits one to think nothing bad will
happen. The truth is--and this is odd--many of the
aforementioned side effects have been occurring for 2
months straight in varying degrees, though some of
them would decrease or vanish when I went a week or
two off speed completely. I have not had an "episode"
yet or gone to the hospital, nor do I wish to go to
the doctor and tell him about my compulsive addiction
to amphetamines.

You took the first admirable steps by stopping the intake of
meth and by posting your history on this newsgroup.

Now, please, don´t be foolish again out of a possible
anxiety to consult a physician, John ! There is no problem
to tell a doc about your addiction. Quite the contrary!

Quoted message said:

I know this is a lot to take in--but I am not able to "self-
diagnose" a condition, and perhaps telling my story here
and getting feedback is the next best thing to getting
professional help. Anyone have an idea of what is most
likely happening to me? Any medications I could use to
possibly alleviate the problem? Could Paxil perhaps have a
role in this somewhere?

So-called "monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI)"
antidepressant drugs definitely have serious adverse side
effects when concomitantly taken with amphetamines.

However, Paxil is not an MAOI -- and I don´t know the
specific negative interactions when taken with stimulants,
but it sounds plausible. Maybe Dr Chung can help out to
provide proper information about the matter.

The only thing I know about Paxil is not to drink alcohol
when being on this drug.

Quoted message said:

All feedback would be appreciated, if you want you can
email me at: [email hidden]

I am waiting for some insight.. thanx. I won't mind people
telling me to see the doctor or go to the hospital to get
checked, but it won't help to say my condition is urgent
and I will die if I don't get help at once.

You told us about symptoms that have little to do with the
"usual" withdrawal effects on the body (such as lassitude,
lethargy, depression, hypersommnia among others). Your
current condition appears serious to me, and as such, it
warrants an immediate visit to a doctor´s office (or even an
ER) if you like it or not. You need a complete physical and
cardiac evaluation plus follow-up professional counseling to
deal with your addiction!

Michael

John Corben <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

To get straight to the point, I got hooked on amphetamines
and noticed scary symptoms occurring bit by bit when my
addiction got completely out of hand. Clearly amphetamines
are too dangerous to use recklessly, but at the time I
never thought that they could cause me this continual life-
threatening nightmare I am going through. So, now that my
stupidity and lazy disregard for health is out of the way,
I can try to explain my story.

I cannot personally relate to your story as I have never
once tried illegal drugs. It definately sounds as though
you need some prompt medical help. You have to first be
honest with a doctor if you want to be healthy. I agree
with those mentioned side effects of so many different
drugs in your system, it sounds to me as though you are not
only confusing brain pressures that are affecting vessels
in your brain but also your central nervous system which
might explain your symptoms.

The issue of your heart activity changing is simple...
aggrivate the smoothe muscles in the lining of your heart
and the vessels that feed it and you get a bad result, which
is what you are doing. You are creating spams in your heart.
I once saw a patient suffer permanent damage due to cocaine
use, his heart was forever damaged as a result of a
spasmotic heart attack due to the drug causing cardio-
vascular constriction and the guy didn't even have a
blockage and he was only 31! If people knew just how serious
this stuff was they'd never touch the stuff.

If people could see what some heart patients go through who
have genetic cardiac conditions they would think twice
before even beginning a drug habit.

I really have to try not to just tell people like you what I
*really* think of you, but for now, I'll take the high road
and encourage you to get to a doctor and be honest.

You are disrespecting life itself, and the giver of that
life by abusing your own body and I for one see plenty of
kids who do NOTHING wrong and who ONLY respect the life
they've been given have it get cut short due to genetics.
Just think of all the people you should/could touch in a
positive way, or the work you were put on this earth to do
and how you are wasting time trapped in the barbed wire of
addiction.

Now get yourself out of the gutter and get busy and start
being honest. Maybe you should go post on a drug addict
message board.

John Corben <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

To get straight to the point, I got hooked on amphetamines
and noticed scary symptoms occurring bit by bit when my
addiction got completely out of hand.

Salut John

John don't beat yourself up over this and DON'T be affected
by 19th century thinking and information on addiction:
addiction is a physical illness like any other. You are not
to blame for having any illness, whether it is heart disease
or drug addiction. Get to your local emergency, as Bill has
kindly and wisely suggested, where you will get immediate
treatment and find informed and educated understanding. I
can't stress enough, you have a physical illness. You are
NOT in the gutter. This has nothing to do with choice, good
or bad, anymore than having, for example, atrial
fibrillation or hypercholesterolemia is a choice. Addiction
is genetic, and physiological.

Zee

Clearly amphetamines are too dangerous to use

Quoted message said:

recklessly, but at the time I never thought that they
could cause me this continual life-threatening nightmare I
am going through. So, now that my stupidity and lazy
disregard for health is out of the way, I can try to
explain my story.

I'm 22 years old, caucasian male, 5'10", about 140 lbs.
Family has no history of early onset heart problems or
defects. Prior to amphetamine addiction, I was completely
healthy and never smoked, drank, or used drugs of any
other kind at all--besides correct usage of prescribed
antidepressants. I've been taking Paxil 30mg for 5 years
now, if that is of any importance.

The only amphetamine I've used is pharmaceutical Dexedrine
(dextroamphetamine, 10mg and 15mg time-release capsules.)
I've been using it on and off for about 7 months now.
Method of administration is oral, although I crush the
spansule beads so onset is quicker and sleep is possible.
Usual routine would be 20mg daily (taken at once) for up
to 10 days in a row, sometimes 30mg but almost never more.
Then I would go through a period of about 2 weeks where I
did not use amphetamines whatsoever. I would say about 12-
15 days out of a month I would have had some dosage of
Dexedrine.

But somewhere within the latter stages of my addiction, I
started noticing scary side-effects. I would get
occasional pains in the left arm and strong feelings of
pressure and tingling in the left part of my neck and
head. My left ear was ringing constantly, and now I can
barely hear out of it. Unwilling to take heed, like a
foolish addict I continued use due to a severe
psychological addiction. Eventually, in addition to those
side effects which continued, my legs started to feel numb
and light and very floaty. It was as if I was walking on
cushioned ground at all times. Of no surprise is that I
now have developed a permanently irregular heartbeat, at
times HIGHLY irregular--although most often after having
coffee or other mild substances.

I have just quit using amphetamines a few days ago after I
was forced to either quit or become disabled for life. But
I suppose terrible side effects don't go away in 2-3 days.
The veins on my arms are popping out all over, and I have
lost most of my feeling in the entire left side of my
body. Chest pressure and shortness of breath are common.
At times motor control on the left side of my body--left
eye/left leg movement--is a bit more "delayed" than usual.
My detection of odors and tastes is severely distorted.
Sometimes I have difficulty swallowing.

The pressure I notice the most, however, is always in the
left side of my neck/head. The vein going from the left
part of my neck to my head feels extremely pressured, and
pressing it is actually painful. It seems to lead up to a
"clumpy" area at the base of my skull and then disappears
into my head. I am not sure if the clump is just a muscle
in my neck, or what.

Along those lines, I notice pronounced pressure and
tingling on the left side of my head (pressure in the left
ear especially) anytime I eat or drink something.. but
MARKEDLY if I have any psychoactive substance such as
caffeine or beer. It seems that now, all drugs work
"strangely".. with caffeine, it seems to barely affect me,
and often works in a "time-release" stage where the onset
is delayed or distorted. Usually, I'd feel a caffeine buzz
immediately, but now it's choppy or extremely faint.

I am wondering if I stay off amphetamines for long enough,
will this problem correct itself and will my body return
to normal? Or is there signs here of permanent damage,
perhaps to blood vessels in my brain? I cannot think of
any other reason why psychoactives just suddenly create
intense pressure in the left side of my head, and don't
work normally anymore. Is a clogged carotid artery a
possible culprit?

I know I am very foolish for continuing an addiction that
could kill
me. Perhaps it was that false sense of power that the
drug causes that permits one to think nothing bad
will happen. The truth is--and this is odd--many of
the aforementioned side effects have been occurring
for 2 months straight in varying degrees, though some
of them would decrease or vanish when I went a week
or two off speed completely. I have not had an
"episode" yet or gone to the hospital, nor do I wish
to go to the doctor and tell him about my compulsive
addiction to amphetamines.

I know this is a lot to take in--but I am not able to "self-
diagnose" a condition, and perhaps telling my story here
and getting feedback is the next best thing to getting
professional help. Anyone have an idea of what is most
likely happening to me? Any medications I could use to
possibly alleviate the problem? Could Paxil perhaps have a
role in this somewhere?

All feedback would be appreciated, if you want you can
email me at: [email hidden]

I am waiting for some insight.. thanx. I won't mind people
telling me to see the doctor or go to the hospital to get
checked, but it won't help to say my condition is urgent
and I will die if I don't get help at once. I am 22 years
old, after all.

John Corben <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

To get straight to the point, I got hooked on amphetamines

John

This is from a friend who has walked in your shoes:

"I am not an MD but I am fairly knowledgeable and offer this
for you: I have never heard of this degree of impairment
from just dextro unless it is interacting with the paxil
which is quite likely. you know you have to quit and that is
...you know as well as I...HARD. but i think you know you
have to do it or die. It takes a couple weeks to ten days
for the first stage of 'normalization' so be patient if you
can. I do suggest going to a doctor if you can though to
make sure you are not on the verge of collapse of some kind.
Maybe one of the drug NGs would be more apropo to see if
other people ever had these symptoms.

Or is there

Quoted message said:

signs here of permanent damage, perhaps to blood vessels
in my brain? I cannot think of any other reason why
psychoactives just suddenly create intense pressure in the
left side of my head, and don't work normally anymore. Is
a clogged carotid artery a possible culprit?

I know I am very foolish for continuing an addiction that
could kill
me. Perhaps it was that false sense of power that the
drug causes that permits one to think nothing bad
will happen. The truth is--and this is odd--many of
the aforementioned side effects have been occurring
for 2 months straight in varying degrees, though some
of them would decrease or vanish when I went a week
or two off speed completely. I have not had an
"episode" yet or gone to the hospital, nor do I wish
to go to the doctor and tell him about my compulsive
addiction to amphetamines.

That is the hard part...do you die or do you confide?
apparently some of the good people here decided to cast
stones in spite of your brave call for help. They don't
represent caring people so keep looking for a doctor that
can help you determine if there is any serious condition
that won't remit when you are finally able to get off the
dex. you problably need some support to help you thru this.
Can you contact one of the local outreach groups and ask for
annonimity? They might be able to arrange a vist to a
sympathetic doctor?

Quoted message said:

I know this is a lot to take in--but I am not able to "self-
diagnose" a condition, and perhaps telling my story here
and getting feedback is the next best thing to getting
professional help. Anyone have an idea of what is most
likely happening to me? Any medications I could use to
possibly alleviate the problem? Could Paxil perhaps have a
role in this somewhere?

Yes, i suspect paxil may have saved your life by
exacerbating your symptoms. I thought about serotonin
syndrome but the symptoms do not match yours.
members.aol.comsyndrome.htmOpen ↗ Perhaps though
you have a depletion of serotonin or a depletion of dopamine
would be more likely but what ever the cause you know the
answer...quit while you can. the lack of a caffiene response
would indicate to me that you are indeed suffering a
phyisiologic response due to imbalance of one or more
neurotransmitters. Caffeine stimulates the release of C-Amp
and secondarily the release of dopamine...the high from the
energy boost... if you are not able to illicit a release of
C-amp you have trouble that 'may' be temporary...you just
have to wait for a few more days to see. then you have to
wait a few months to see if you can regain a 'normal' state
without stimulants, hard i know but you have shown your self
the consequences of continuance.

how is your diet? you probably don't eat properly when you
are high and may be suffering the lack of some essential
vitamins and co-factors??? Try multi-vits and co-q10 along
with a few days of vegetables and milk in your meals. It may
sound trite but the furnace you stoke when you get the dexi-
high burns up nutrients at an alarming rate....try it, it is
cheap and no-one need know why, right?

you need support now....try to get it where you can.

sympatheticly, 'phew"

If you have any response to 'phew, John, that's a valid e-
mail address above. Zee

John Corben <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

To get straight to the point, I got hooked on amphetamines

John

This is from a friend who has walked in your shoes:

"I am not an MD but I am fairly knowledgeable and offer this
for you: I have never heard of this degree of impairment
from just dextro unless it is interacting with the paxil
which is quite likely. you know you have to quit and that is
...you know as well as I...HARD. but i think you know you
have to do it or die. It takes a couple weeks to ten days
for the first stage of 'normalization' so be patient if you
can. I do suggest going to a doctor if you can though to
make sure you are not on the verge of collapse of some kind.
Maybe one of the drug NGs would be more apropo to see if
other people ever had these symptoms.

Or is there

Quoted message said:

signs here of permanent damage, perhaps to blood vessels
in my brain? I cannot think of any other reason why
psychoactives just suddenly create intense pressure in the
left side of my head, and don't work normally anymore. Is
a clogged carotid artery a possible culprit?

I know I am very foolish for continuing an addiction that
could kill
me. Perhaps it was that false sense of power that the
drug causes that permits one to think nothing bad
will happen. The truth is--and this is odd--many of
the aforementioned side effects have been occurring
for 2 months straight in varying degrees, though some
of them would decrease or vanish when I went a week
or two off speed completely. I have not had an
"episode" yet or gone to the hospital, nor do I wish
to go to the doctor and tell him about my compulsive
addiction to amphetamines.

That is the hard part...do you die or do you confide?
apparently some of the good people here decided to cast
stones in spite of your brave call for help. They don't
represent caring people so keep looking for a doctor that
can help you determine if there is any serious condition
that won't remit when you are finally able to get off the
dex. you problably need some support to help you thru this.
Can you contact one of the local outreach groups and ask for
annonimity? They might be able to arrange a vist to a
sympathetic doctor?

Quoted message said:

I know this is a lot to take in--but I am not able to "self-
diagnose" a condition, and perhaps telling my story here
and getting feedback is the next best thing to getting
professional help. Anyone have an idea of what is most
likely happening to me? Any medications I could use to
possibly alleviate the problem? Could Paxil perhaps have a
role in this somewhere?

Yes, i suspect paxil may have saved your life by
exacerbating your symptoms. I thought about serotonin
syndrome but the symptoms do not match yours.
members.aol.comsyndrome.htmOpen ↗ Perhaps though
you have a depletion of serotonin or a depletion of dopamine
would be more likely but what ever the cause you know the
answer...quit while you can. the lack of a caffiene response
would indicate to me that you are indeed suffering a
phyisiologic response due to imbalance of one or more
neurotransmitters. Caffeine stimulates the release of C-Amp
and secondarily the release of dopamine...the high from the
energy boost... if you are not able to illicit a release of
C-amp you have trouble that 'may' be temporary...you just
have to wait for a few more days to see. then you have to
wait a few months to see if you can regain a 'normal' state
without stimulants, hard i know but you have shown your self
the consequences of continuance.

how is your diet? you probably don't eat properly when you
are high and may be suffering the lack of some essential
vitamins and co-factors??? Try multi-vits and co-q10 along
with a few days of vegetables and milk in your meals. It may
sound trite but the furnace you stoke when you get the dexi-
high burns up nutrients at an alarming rate....try it, it is
cheap and no-one need know why, right?

you need support now....try to get it where you can.

sympatheticly, 'phew"

If you have any response to 'phew, John, that's a valid e-
mail address above. Zee

John,

You should go directly to a hospital emergency ward and
havce yourself checked out.

I took the same amount of dexedrine as you while your age at
university and was none the worst for it. 20-30mg is nothing
much. That's the amount I was prescribed by the doctor at
the school to treat my depression..

I suspect that your physical problems have little to do with
the dexedrine. Something else is going on. The best thing
you can do is to let medical science take a look at you and
fix the problem.

Meanwhile, addiction to amphetamines is not physical. It's
entirely mental. I'll bet you'll drop taking the little
green and white pills as if they never existed, once you let
competent doctors look you over..

liam

[email hidden] (Sandy) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

John Corben <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

To get straight to the point, I got hooked on
amphetamines and noticed scary symptoms occurring bit by
bit when my addiction got completely out of hand.
Clearly amphetamines are too dangerous to use
recklessly, but at the time I never thought that they
could cause me this continual life-threatening nightmare
I am going through. So, now that my stupidity and lazy
disregard for health is out of the way, I can try to
explain my story.

I cannot personally relate to your story as I have never
once tried illegal drugs. It definately sounds as though
you need some prompt medical help. You have to first be
honest with a doctor if you want to be healthy. I agree
with those mentioned side effects of so many different
drugs in your system, it sounds to me as though you are
not only confusing brain pressures that are affecting
vessels in your brain but also your central nervous system
which might explain your symptoms.

The issue of your heart activity changing is simple...
aggrivate the smoothe muscles in the lining of your heart
and the vessels that feed it and you get a bad result,
which is what you are doing. You are creating spams in
your heart. I once saw a patient suffer permanent damage
due to cocaine use, his heart was forever damaged as a
result of a spasmotic heart attack due to the drug causing
cardio-vascular constriction and the guy didn't even have
a blockage and he was only 31! If people knew just how
serious this stuff was they'd never touch the stuff.

If people could see what some heart patients go through
who have genetic cardiac conditions they would think twice
before even beginning a drug habit.

I really have to try not to just tell people like you what
I *really* think of you, but for now, I'll take the high
road and encourage you to get to a doctor and be honest.

You are disrespecting life itself, and the giver of that
life by abusing your own body and I for one see plenty of
kids who do NOTHING wrong and who ONLY respect the life
they've been given have it get cut short due to genetics.
Just think of all the people you should/could touch in a
positive way, or the work you were put on this earth to do
and how you are wasting time trapped in the barbed wire of
addiction.

Sandy said:

"I really have to try not to just tell people like you what
I *really* think of you, but for now, I'll take the high
road ... ."

"Now get yourself out of the gutter and get busy and start
being honest... ."

Take this [censored] somewhere else.

Zee

I do realize that my problem escalated to insane selfishness
and disregard for self and others. There's no explanation
for continuing usage besides stupidity and, well, addiction.

My symptoms are not improving; however, i did go to a doctor
(not the ER) to get a check-up and the EKG was apparently
fine, so was blood pressure. i dont understand what the hell
is happening to me. there's been no improvement yet

Zee said:

[email hidden] (Sandy) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

John Corben <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

To get straight to the point, I got hooked on
amphetamines and noticed scary symptoms occurring bit
by bit when my addiction got completely out of hand.
Clearly amphetamines are too dangerous to use
recklessly, but at the time I never thought that they
could cause me this continual life-threatening
nightmare I am going through. So, now that my
stupidity and lazy disregard for health is out of the
way, I can try to explain my story.

I cannot personally relate to your story as I have never
once tried illegal drugs. It definately sounds as though
you need some prompt medical help. You have to first be
honest with a doctor if you want to be healthy. I agree
with those mentioned side effects of so many different
drugs in your system, it sounds to me as though you are
not only confusing brain pressures that are affecting
vessels in your brain but also your central nervous
system which might explain your symptoms.

The issue of your heart activity changing is simple...
aggrivate the smoothe muscles in the lining of your
heart and the vessels that feed it and you get a bad
result, which is what you are doing. You are creating
spams in your heart. I once saw a patient suffer
permanent damage due to cocaine use, his heart was
forever damaged as a result of a spasmotic heart attack
due to the drug causing cardio-vascular constriction and
the guy didn't even have a blockage and he was only 31!
If people knew just how serious this stuff was they'd
never touch the stuff.

If people could see what some heart patients go through
who have genetic cardiac conditions they would think
twice before even beginning a drug habit.

I really have to try not to just tell people like you
what I *really* think of you, but for now, I'll take the
high road and encourage you to get to a doctor and be
honest.

You are disrespecting life itself, and the giver of that
life by abusing your own body and I for one see plenty
of kids who do NOTHING wrong and who ONLY respect the
life they've been given have it get cut short due to
genetics. Just think of all the people you should/could
touch in a positive way, or the work you were put on
this earth to do and how you are wasting time trapped in
the barbed wire of addiction.

Sandy said:

"I really have to try not to just tell people like you
what I *really* think of you, but for now, I'll take the
high road ... ."

"Now get yourself out of the gutter and get busy and start
being honest... ."

Take this [censored] somewhere else.

Zee

In all fairness, I believe that almost anyone can be made to
look bad when taken out of context. Sandy's response to the
OP when taken in its entirety is more civil and worthy of
consideration than the material coming from the lurkers
murmuring in the dark corners of SMC.

Nonetheless, these lurkers remain in my prayers to God in
Christ's name.

May God have mercy on their souls when He judges them.

Servant to the humblest person in the universe,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

**
Who is the humblest person in the universe?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

What is all this about?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

Is this spam?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

[email hidden] (Zee) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Sandy) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Take this [censored] somewhere else.

Zee

Zee,

Our medical system gets sucked dry by people who CHOOSE to
go on street corners and purchase addictive, illegal drugs.
Sure, they may have a genetic propensity to addiction but
they CHOOSE to take the drugs. The drugs were not imbedded
on their cheek bones at birth. I guess it's just too hard to
say NO hey? Well fella, I know a lot of people who are
genetic addicts who do say no because they are using their
time for other good causes! And we all know a healthy person
can CREATE an addiction if they opt to use a drug, some more
so than others.

It pisses me off when I see children who are on transplant
waiting lists, or who's medical benefits run out while they
battle serious genetic cardiac conditions and then I see
people who willfully and deliberately not only deceive
others but take things into their bodies they should not
just to "go with the gang" or "act cool" and that in turn
ends up sucking financial resources dry that could be going
to people who just simply say NO.

As well, LOTS of cardiac resources are used up on this type
of patient above... the WILLFULL drug user. And in the next
room is a child who we have to tell his parents...there's
nothing we can do, there's just not enough resources.

As far as I'm concerned the nit wit can go fill out a kidney
donation card and let's just see what happens. I can think
of a handful of people who'd love to have all of his healthy
organs. Sorry, my opinion.

John Corben said:

I do realize that my problem escalated to insane
selfishness and disregard for self and others.

Your problems likely arise from self-worship.

Quoted message said:

There's no explanation for continuing usage besides
stupidity and, well, addiction.

Ime, the only way to avoid addiction is to avoid self-
worship. Simply peer into the dark corners of SMC to see
numerous examples of the addictions/obsessions that afflict
those who would worship themselves (or food).

Quoted message said:

My symptoms are not improving; however, i did go to a
doctor (not the ER) to get a check-up and the EKG was
apparently fine, so was blood pressure.

You should inform your doctor about your worsening symptoms.

Quoted message said:

i dont understand what the hell is happening to me.
there's been no improvement yet

You remain in my prayers to God in Christ's name.

May He heal you.

Servant to the humblest person in the universe,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

**
Who is the humblest person in the universe?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

What is all this about?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

Is this spam?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

John Corben <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I do realize that my problem escalated to insane
selfishness and disregard for self and others. There's no
explanation for continuing usage besides stupidity and,
well, addiction.

My symptoms are not improving; however, i did go to a
doctor (not the ER) to get a check-up and the EKG was
apparently fine, so was blood pressure. i dont understand
what the hell is happening to me. there's been no
improvement yet

Run.

It seems to me I heard somewhere that John Corben wrote in article
<[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

I do realize that my problem escalated to insane
selfishness and disregard for self and others. There's no
explanation for continuing usage besides stupidity and,
well, addiction.

Quoted message said:

My symptoms are not improving; however, i did go to a
doctor (not the ER) to get a check-up and the EKG was
apparently fine, so was blood pressure. i dont understand
what the hell is happening to me. there's been no
improvement yet

John, I'm not in the medical profession, but ISTM you need
to be in touch with a support group of people who have been
through experiences like yours, as well as with a doctor who
has treated addiction and addicts. Your symptoms may be as
much emotional as physical, and the physical symptoms may be
from altered biochemistry as a result of the drug use.
--
Don [email hidden]

John Corben <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I do realize that my problem escalated to insane
selfishness and disregard for self and others. There's no
explanation for continuing usage besides stupidity and,
well, addiction.

My symptoms are not improving; however, i did go to a
doctor (not the ER) to get a check-up and the EKG was
apparently fine, so was blood pressure. i dont understand
what the hell is happening to me. there's been no
improvement yet.

From Zee...conversation with a friend....

Continuing from sci.med.cardiology groups.google.cagroupsOpen ↗
osting.google.com&prev=/groups%3Fhl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-
8%26q%3Dsci.med.cardiology%26meta%3D

Quoted message said:

Well the self-righteous continue, and poor John keeps
apologizing for his 'badness'.

So I ask myself, what's the difference between ritalin and
amphetamine?

The prescription, the pseudonyms, are the only difference.
The American pilots in Afghanistan that killed the Canadian
troops were high on "go pills" which are dexidrine
(amphetimine). But they can't be bad becaue they were
PRESCRIBED, and called GO PILLS not SPEED.

This is what society does, they classify people by
everything, even their drugof choice. The potheads, the
junkies, the speedfreaks...the good folk with their
'drink', valium, benzodiazapines, anti-depressants. We have
the moral majority and their favorite "drink" -- ethanol;
notice ethanol is not called a drug it is a DRINK (for the
taste only).

So, if a doctor prescribes it or injects it it is fine, if
we self-medicate we are evil. Never mind that your father is
an alcoholic only we don't call him that cause he's an oil
exec and not passed out under the tree in the park. Nah. He
passes out at home after terrifying his kids.

John's a junky because he bought his drug on the street..
Mothers little helpers, back pills, nerve pills....I have
heard them all used by the same people that talk about
putting pot smokers in jail. Anyway, moralizing is the
privilege of the normals and the chosen. God loves a good
and decent person. I know he must because he keeps trying to
rid the world of all the rest of the people in the most
gruesome and painful and seemingly arbitrary manner...

The moralizing is a byproduct of egotism and zenophobia.

Zee...continuing....conversation with a friend....

How is that poor guy making out with the holier than thous?
Too bad he sought normalcy in a news group. not very
representative of 'normal' is it?

I had to synthesize ritalin for (pharmaceutical co i worked
with) so i am very familiar with it. The 'formula', meaning
the number of atoms and types, is different and doesn't
reflect the bio-activity anyway. You are correct however in
that they work on the same neuro-centers and are eagerly
bought by the kids at school from the dx'd Addrs

Same effects...stimulation and release of endorphins.
they (stimulants) have a calming effect on Addrs
because they stimulate the inhibitory neuro'~s..ie,
they put on the brakes, which seems paradoxical until
you make that analogue.

Yes, rit~ and Dexedrine are enzymaticly similar. check out
eroid vaults for more info.

erowid.orgask.cgiOpen ↗

Q: Is meth the same thing as Amphetamines such as
prescription drugs like adderall and ritalin?

R: "Meth" is meth-amphetamine, which is a type of
amphetamine. The "meth" from Meth-amphetamine comes
from the chemical name "methyl". The chemical
Methamphetamine is composed of an amphetamine
molecule with an additional methyl group attached to
its nitrogen (amine group). A methyl is one of the
simplest atomic groups which can be added to a
molecule: it is a single carbon atom with a set of
(usually) 3 hydrogens.

Take a look at Chem Compare. If you look on the far right
end on these images, you can see that there is a "NH-CH3" on
the Methamphetamine where there is a "NH2" on the
amphetamine. For many of the known psychoactives, adding a
methyl group slightly alters the effects, duration, and/or
potency. As you start to pay attention to other chemical
names, you'll see "meth" show up in many names and this will
almost always indicate that there is a methyl group on the
molecule somewhere. For Methamphetamine, the methyl allows
it a little better fat solubility and thus better
penetration into the brain.

Adderall is simply a brand name for a particular mix of
different "stereoisomers" (same atoms connecting at the same
places, just pointing in different directions in space at
one point in the molecule) and salts of amphetamine. Take a
look at the page describing Adderall for a little more info
about this.

Ritalin (methylphenidate) does contain an amphetamine-like
backbone, however it is more complex. Take a look at the
difference in Chem-Compare. The additional structures on
this molecule also alter its interaction with the body and
the neurons in our brains. Methylphenidate is reported to
have less euphoric effects (some people describe it as 'more
dull'😉 than methamphetamine, but every individual is unique
in their reaction to psychoactives, so no statement is
universally true. While similar in backbone structure,
amphetamine, methamphetamine, and ritalin are all quite
unique drugs, with somewhat similar, but distinct, effects.

Another thing to note when talking about the differences in
the amphetamine-class stimulants is that one of the strange
effects of current culture is that particular drugs are
demonized in the news, entertainment media, government
information, and school curricula. Methamphetamine is
particularly demonized, amphetamine somewhat less so, even
though amphetamine-related stimulant drugs -- including
methylphenidate (Ritalin), amphetamine (Adderall,
Dexedrine), & methamphetamine (Desoxyn) -- are commonly
prescribed for children from as young as age 3. All three
of these can lead to difficult-to-break habits and can
become a problem for some people who try them. But the
marketing teams of the pharmaceutical companies do what
they can to soothe parents' concerns by separating the
image of street-speed users from the clean, clinical,
healthy use of their products.

All of these substances are swallowed, snorted, smoked, and
injected by users (in estimated order of frequency) and all
can be dangerous in combinations with MAOIs, at high doses,
or at high frequencies of use.

"Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Zee said:

[email hidden] (Sandy) wrote in message news:<-
[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

John Corben <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...
> To get straight to the point, I got hooked on
> amphetamines and noticed scary symptoms occurring
> bit by bit when my addiction got completely out of
> hand. Clearly amphetamines are too dangerous to use
> recklessly, but at the time I never thought that
> they could cause me this continual life-threatening
> nightmare I am going through. So, now that my
> stupidity and lazy disregard for health is out of
> the way, I can try to explain my story.

I cannot personally relate to your story as I have
never once tried illegal drugs. It definately sounds
as though you need some prompt medical help. You have
to first be honest with a doctor if you want to be
healthy. I agree with those mentioned side effects of
so many different drugs in your system, it sounds to
me as though you are not only confusing brain
pressures that are affecting vessels in your brain but
also your central nervous system which might explain
your symptoms.

The issue of your heart activity changing is simple...
aggrivate the smoothe muscles in the lining of your
heart and the vessels that feed it and you get a bad
result, which is what you are doing. You are creating
spams in your heart. I once saw a patient suffer
permanent damage due to cocaine use, his heart was
forever damaged as a result of a spasmotic heart
attack due to the drug causing cardio-vascular
constriction and the guy didn't even have a blockage
and he was only 31! If people knew just how serious
this stuff was they'd never touch the stuff.

If people could see what some heart patients go
through who have genetic cardiac conditions they would
think twice before even beginning a drug habit.

I really have to try not to just tell people like you
what I *really* think of you, but for now, I'll take
the high road and encourage you to get to a doctor and
be honest.

You are disrespecting life itself, and the giver of
that life by abusing your own body and I for one see
plenty of kids who do NOTHING wrong and who ONLY
respect the life they've been given have it get cut
short due to genetics. Just think of all the people
you should/could touch in a positive way, or the work
you were put on this earth to do and how you are
wasting time trapped in the barbed wire of addiction.

Sandy said:

"I really have to try not to just tell people like you
what I *really* think of you, but for now, I'll take the
high road ... ."

"Now get yourself out of the gutter and get busy and
start being honest... ."

Take this [censored] somewhere else.

Zee

In all fairness, I believe that almost anyone can be made
to look bad when taken out of context. Sandy's response to
the OP when taken in its entirety is more civil and worthy
of consideration than the material coming from the lurkers
murmuring in the dark corners of SMC.

Nonetheless, these lurkers remain in my prayers to God in
Christ's name.

May God have mercy on their souls when He judges them.

Servant to the humblest person in the universe,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

** Who is the humblest person in the universe?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

What is all this about?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

Is this spam? makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

I have held in my arms a young person so afflicted,
terrified to sleep or close my eyes, or leave them alone
long enough to shower, not knowing if I would wake or return
to find them dead.

Where is John now? He came here for support and help.

Brave, brave young man.

Was he Jesus, Andrew?

If any kind fathers, uncles, brothers, anyone here, can
offer John words of support and encouragement I beg you to
please do so.

Zee

Don Kirkman <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

It seems to me I heard somewhere that John Corben wrote in
article <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

I do realize that my problem escalated to insane
selfishness and disregard for self and others. There's no
explanation for continuing usage besides stupidity and,
well, addiction.

Quoted message said:

My symptoms are not improving; however, i did go to a
doctor (not the ER) to get a check-up and the EKG was
apparently fine, so was blood pressure. i dont understand
what the hell is happening to me. there's been no
improvement yet

John, I'm not in the medical profession, but ISTM you need
to be in touch with a support group of people who have
been through experiences like yours, as well as with a
doctor who has treated addiction and addicts. Your
symptoms may be as much emotional as physical, and the
physical symptoms may be from altered biochemistry as a
result of the drug use.

Particularly, I think, the paxil drug use is prolematic.
Health Canada has warned against this drug, and against all
SSRIs, so has the FDA and the British regulatory body. Until
recently the warnings were for children, then youth under
18. They are now for persons of any age including adults.

John has been using this unsafe drug for 5 years, since
he was 17.

I question if the paxil use created the condition resulting
in John's self-medicating with amphetamine.

And although there is no mention here of physcial harm, I
would bet there is evidence of such in the information
supressed by pharma prior to marketing of this drug.

hc-hc-Open ↗
sc.gc.ca/english/protection/warnings/2004/2004_31.htm

Health Canada advises Canadians of stronger warnings for
SSRIs and other newer anti-depressants

Emphasis Zee

OTTAWA - Health Canada is advising Canadians that all newer
anti-depressant prescription drugs, known as Selective
Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) or Serotonin
Noradrenalin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SNRIs), now carry
stronger warnings. These new warnings indicate that
*patients of all ages* taking these drugs may experience
behavioural and/or emotional changes that may put them at
*increased risk of self-harm* or harm to others.

The new warning for each of these drugs, which are listed
below, appears in the information package received by
patients and in the prescribing information available to
health professionals.

*Patients, their families and caregivers* should note that a
small number of patients taking drugs of this type may *feel
worse instead of better*, particularly within the first few
weeks of treatment or when doses are adjusted. For example,
they may experience unusual feelings of agitation, hostility
or anxiety, or have impulsive or disturbing thoughts that
could involve self-harm or harm to others.

Zee said:

"Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <[email hidden]>
wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Zee said:

[email hidden] (Sandy) wrote in message news-
:<[email hidden]>...
> John Corben <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<-
> [email hidden]>...
> > To get straight to the point, I got hooked on
> > amphetamines and noticed scary symptoms occurring
> > bit by bit when my addiction got completely out of
> > hand. Clearly amphetamines are too dangerous to
> > use recklessly, but at the time I never thought
> > that they could cause me this continual life-
> > threatening nightmare I am going through. So, now
> > that my stupidity and lazy disregard for health is
> > out of the way, I can try to explain my story.
>
> I cannot personally relate to your story as I have
> never once tried illegal drugs. It definately sounds
> as though you need some prompt medical help. You
> have to first be honest with a doctor if you want to
> be healthy. I agree with those mentioned side
> effects of so many different drugs in your system,
> it sounds to me as though you are not only confusing
> brain pressures that are affecting vessels in your
> brain but also your central nervous system which
> might explain your symptoms.
>
> The issue of your heart activity changing is
> simple... aggrivate the smoothe muscles in the
> lining of your heart and the vessels that feed it
> and you get a bad result, which is what you are
> doing. You are creating spams in your heart. I once
> saw a patient suffer permanent damage due to cocaine
> use, his heart was forever damaged as a result of a
> spasmotic heart attack due to the drug causing cardio-
> vascular constriction and the guy didn't even have a
> blockage and he was only 31! If people knew just how
> serious this stuff was they'd never touch the stuff.
>
> If people could see what some heart patients go
> through who have genetic cardiac conditions they
> would think twice before even beginning a drug
> habit.
>
> I really have to try not to just tell people like
> you what I *really* think of you, but for now, I'll
> take the high road and encourage you to get to a
> doctor and be honest.
>
> You are disrespecting life itself, and the giver of
> that life by abusing your own body and I for one see
> plenty of kids who do NOTHING wrong and who ONLY
> respect the life they've been given have it get cut
> short due to genetics. Just think of all the people
> you should/could touch in a positive way, or the
> work you were put on this earth to do and how you
> are wasting time trapped in the barbed wire of
> addiction.
>
>

Sandy said:

"I really have to try not to just tell people like you
what I *really* think of you, but for now, I'll take
the high road ... ."

"Now get yourself out of the gutter and get busy and
start being honest... ."

Take this [censored] somewhere else.

Zee

In all fairness, I believe that almost anyone can be
made to look bad when taken out of context. Sandy's
response to the OP when taken in its entirety is more
civil and worthy of consideration than the material
coming from the lurkers murmuring in the dark corners
of SMC.

Nonetheless, these lurkers remain in my prayers to God
in Christ's name.

May God have mercy on their souls when He judges them.

Servant to the humblest person in the universe,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

** Who is the humblest person in the universe?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

What is all this about?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

Is this spam? makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

I have held in my arms a young person so afflicted,
terrified to sleep or close my eyes, or leave them alone
long enough to shower, not knowing if I would wake or
return to find them dead.

The wages of sin is death.

Quoted message said:

Where is John now?

Enslaved to this world.

Quoted message said:

He came here for support and help.

He will have it from God if he allows it.

Quoted message said:

Brave, brave young man.

Slavery is not bravery.

Quoted message said:

Was he Jesus, Andrew?

No.

Quoted message said:

If any kind fathers, uncles, brothers, anyone here, can
offer John words of support and encouragement I beg you to
please do so.

Better would be to pray for him, lift him up to God, in
Christ's name.

That is what I am doing.

Servant to the humblest person in the universe,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

**
Who is the humblest person in the universe?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

What is all this about?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

Is this spam?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

John Corben <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

To get straight to the point, I got hooked on amphetamines
and noticed scary symptoms occurring bit by bit when my
addiction got completely out of hand. Clearly amphetamines
are too dangerous to use recklessly, but at the time I
never thought that they could cause me this continual life-
threatening nightmare I am going through. So, now that my
stupidity and lazy disregard for health is out of the way,
I can try to explain my story.

I'm 22 years old, caucasian male, 5'10", about 140 lbs.
Family has no history of early onset heart problems or
defects. Prior to amphetamine addiction, I was completely
healthy and never smoked, drank, or used drugs of any
other kind at all--besides correct usage of prescribed
antidepressants. I've been taking Paxil 30mg for 5 years
now, if that is of any importance.

The only amphetamine I've used is pharmaceutical Dexedrine
(dextroamphetamine, 10mg and 15mg time-release capsules.)

************************************

John I hope you are still here and not given up on us.

I asked a physician friend who said this:

"...side effects in the Physician's Drug Handbook {include}
numbness under Paxil, but not {under} amphetamine. In fact,
the Paxil list appears quite longer, and may fit his
symptoms more.... Having said that, amphetamines can cause
somatic delusions/hallucinations so we can't just rule this
out. The fact that some of his symptoms may fit what are
called focal neurological symptoms (like the left-sided
numbness and incoordination) can be quite concerning, though
he's 22. There is no question that this guy should see a
doctor either way, and all possibilites should be
considered."

So. Perhaps nothing really radical here John. But some
validation and encouragement from someone who knows, and
proof that there are health care professionals who won't
judge you badly. The speaker is a resident in a major
university hospital, a member of my health policy advocacy
group, and very radically anti-pharma.

Don't give up John. There are good people out there who
will help you.

Zee