Re: OT - natural alternative to Adderall?

[Guest guest]

Val, you're the first person I know of that shares this. I took it

for maybe 4-5 years and would get in arguments with the prescribing

doctor because he said it doesn't do anything for muscle pain,

digestion, etc. Although it was slow, I would grow adjusted to the

dosage, gradually drinking a lot of coffee again with it until I'd

increase 5 mg, so I stopped taking it when 20-25 mg wasn't working.

That doctor actually TOLD me to chew gum regularly to improve

concentration...so I had been doing so.

Another 3 years later, when I learned I needed thyroid, I assumed

that would take care of everything. It didn't, then did candida

cleansing, allergy testing & avoidance, and finally accepted the

mercury issue. When I was continuing to do so poorly & couldn't

avoid caffeine to function at all a year after my amalgams were out,

I went back to taking 10 mg Adderall 2-3 times a day. It was really

hard to do that, but benefits are so overwhelming. I've kept close

records, and my thyroid med has worked much better when taken with

it. My belief is that it generally increases all-over poor

metabolism, and I also suspect it's why chelation has been off to

such a good start. When I tried chelation without it, things were

not so good. I think Adderall improves levels of many hormones,

neurotransmitters & enzymes. When I don't take it, I'm constantly

searching for food for energy and don't get results.

I grew intolerant of coffee and avoid other stimulants except a

little green tea & 85% chocolate each day. If I felt it were safe,

I'd take more Adderall, but the tolerance issue isn't worth it and I

think it overstimulates some neurotransmitters at a high dose,

creating an imbalance.

Andy's book discusses DMAE and I use this on days I do not take

Adderall. It's not the same, but does keep me more alert and able

to concentrate. To avoid tolerance issues, I schedule at least one

day off Adderall per week, no matter how difficult that may be, and

take a week or two off every 4-6 months. I haven't yet found

phenylalanine or tyrosine to be very helpful, but it's possible I

don't take enough? I tend to go low with dosages of most things and

that's sometimes been a mistake.

When I took a higher dose of Adderall, I did have sharper swings

when it wore off. Even at 10 mg, I'm physically reminded when it's

time to take it.

When I'm finished chelating, I won't continue it and will accept

whatever my limitations are. I don't think it will be

difficult 'weaning' away from the low dose the way I'm doing it now.

For what it's worth, lots of green, leafy vegetables & reasonable

exercise also help me a lot. I also used to deliberately eat

broccoli often & that seemed very helpful. It's possible chemical

allergies are a part of what's going on. I have a terrible time

with chlorine & just started distilling water in addition to

filtering it a couple times, and put a filter unit on my shower,

too. It was especially surprising to realize what a difference it

makes in the shower - now I enjoy 'clean' feeling showers & come out

feeling refreshed instead of drained. You really have to be your

own PI at times to discover the little things that make a

difference. I have to avoid copy machines, unwashed

clothing/fabrics, & lots of other hidden sources of chemicals. My

muscle aches improved a lot by taking 5-HTP & an herbal supplement

with valerian & passionflower at bedtime. Getting sound sleep is a

tremendous help. On days off Adderall I take Malic Acid and

sometimes aspirin.

Even with all the other things, I am taking the Adderall and seem to

get more benefit from that than anything else. (very distressing!)

Joanne

>

>

> When I took Adderall a few years ago it fixed just about all my

> problems. Mood,digestion,ability to breath,skin dryness, and

muscle

> detioration (improving muscle tone felt like a miracle). However,

> when it wore off I felt worse. Then my next dose ramped me up

> again. My adrenals are already impaired and I thought heavy use

of

> stimulants (I needed 40 mgs a day to get this wondrous effect)

would

> be harmful in the long run. The best I could figure, was that it

> gave me the dopamine push I was lacking.

>

> I then hit on the mercury connection and thought once I get the

> mercury out I'll be like that naturally. ha..not as easy as it

> sounds. I can't afford alot of tests, but was wondering if any

> knowledgable person (Andy ?) could help me out. What could I use

to

> achieve the same affect naturally while I'm chelating?

>

> Thanks...

> Val

>