I'm new to these here forums. Hello all! I found them whilst searching for something that has confused me for quite some time now.
I was diagnosed with ADD when I was in elementary school, I am 24 now.. I have always been told that the ritalin that I took from 1st grade until the 7th grade should never be taken by a non-ADD person because of it's opposite effects on these people.. I have always wondered how this is possible because, it just about put me to sleep every single day. Sure, I was more focused, but not on what I was supposed to be focusing on. I got extremely good at intricate things such as sketching or building with lego's, etc.. but if there wasnt anything that interested me, I couldnt keep my eye's open. I've heard and read that people that use ritalin for non-medical purposes have similar effects of that of cocaine.. hyperactivity, nervousness, general bouncing off the walls.. how is this possible?
My second question is similar.. Could the effects of caffeine on most people be opposite on an ADD person??
Lately I've been getting hooked on Rockstars and RedBulls.. whilst I am working I perform better and my mind seems to organize itself better.. When I am heading home from work I seldom stop and pick up a RedBull or similar with the idea that I can pick myself up from being tired from work. But when I get home I find it hard to stay awake or even keep my eyes open. Stupidly not connecting the tiredness to the caffeine, I do it night after night..
The other night I knew I had something important to do at home, so I stopped at walmart and picked up some "no-doze" so that I would not have problems falling asleep and I'd get what I needed to get done, even if it meant staying up till 3-4am. Around 10-11pm I was literally falling asleep whilst standing and talking to my girlfriend.. I couldnt keep my eyes open to save my life. Right then is when it clicked..

Can anyone help me figure this out? or am I just pulling things out of nowhere?

I think it's an issue of amounts, though I wouldn't know for sure. From what I've noticed at work, most do drink coffee, but I think the amounts are limited. On average, I'd guess that most drink coffee at at work, but not very much. Most here means a little more than 50%. Those who do drink it drink 1-2 cups per work period.

Caffeine has effects on dopamine. From what I've read, antagonizing adenosine at the A2 receptor potentates the effects of Dopamine at receptors of type D2. Caffeine also has effects on other systems (mostly causing increases in epinephrine and norepinephrine).

Are the effects the exact opposite? I'm not sure. Stimulants are known to be used on college campuses. As to whether or not they are used as study aids in the area of concentration, as opposed to simply staying awake for long periods of time (studying all night), that is questionable.

The way I've heard it described is caffeine stimulates the whole brain while the ADD stimulants like Ritalin stimulate the parts you are using (ie: concentration)

Not sure how scientifically accurate that is but it seems to make sense to me with the effects I get from both.

A have a friend with ADHD. He has always taken ritalin and many other meds since I've known him. lol, one time at his house some guys took ritalin and they got "high", a lot! I'm taking ritalin and I'm not even near to excited or anything; neither does my friend. The psychiatrist told me that it wouldn't have the same effect on me as in people without ADD.

The high was probably the brief euphoria that you get while your body adjusts. The one and only dose that those guys took was probably just the euphoria.

The first couple of doses my son and I took where quite euphoric. Then a week later it didn't have the same impact - but the concentration boost was still the same.

I think ritalin stimulates differently from caffeine.

Caffeine makes me feel more focused BUT also more euphoric.

Ritalin also makes me more focused BUT it calms me down aswell.

So the part of the CNS that controls attention is stimulated in the same way by both stimulants.

But the part of the CNS that controls emotions is effected differently depending on what stimulant you use.

It does seem that stimulants used for ADD tend to "jack up" people without ADD who take it. Then again, many non-ADDers who take it will insufflate it so I'm sure that makes a difference too.

Also, different stimulants affect different people differently. Lol.
Methylphenidate had a cocaine-like effect on me. It was very uncomfortable and not at all what I was expecting. Adderall makes me very focused and productive but I also yawn a lot on it and often have no problem taking a nap after taking it. So far Dexedrine doesn't seem to have any odd effects on me. There's certainly no buzz and I'm also not tired. But it does make me calm.

My body is not all that fond of caffeine in large doses or on a regular basis. I do occasionally drink a Red Bull if I'm not taking meds and want to get something done (like cleaning or going to the gym, not anything where I have to sit still). I don't feel euphoric at all on caffeine. More than two cups of coffee makes me sick. Caffeine pills make me sick as well. The caffeine in tea seems to have no effect on me. Same with most soda.

More than two cups of coffee makes me sick. Caffeine pills make me sick as well. The caffeine in tea seems to have no effect on me. Same with most soda.Caffeine knocks me out. I like to have a good cup of coffee but it makes me sleepy, same with tea and coke.

Caffeine is just a really blunt, low level stimulant. It stimulates your whole brain - but is kind of 'clumsy' in the way it works - so you might end up feeling jittery, etc.

Amphetamines like Adderall OTOH are very much designer drugs - they target dopamine levels and are VERY potent and thus you feel very alert and concentrate well yet the side effects are less.

Short answer: The idea that psychostimulants have a "reverse" effect on people who aren't diagnosed with ADD/ADHD is a myth, despite who you may have heard it from.

Short answer: The idea that psychostimulants have a "reverse" effect on people who aren't diagnosed with ADD/ADHD is a myth, despite who you may have heard it from.
Yeah, I wouldn't say "reverse" but there does seem to be a difference, speaking very generally. Of course then you have to factor in the fact that everyone, ADHD or not, reacts differently to these medications.

Short answer: The idea that psychostimulants have a "reverse" effect on people who aren't diagnosed with ADD/ADHD is a myth, despite who you may have heard it from.+1

Amphetamines will so the same thing to a normal person as they do to somebody with ADD (notice I said ADD, NOT ADHD).

ADD people generally have low dopamine levels, and stimulants raise dopamine levels to 'normal' levels.

Normal people who get amphetamines and already have normal dopamine levels will just go into 'turbo' mode:p basically - and if they aren't sleeping (because they're studying for finals) the amphetamines will keep them AWAKE.

The problem is that unlike us who live with this on a daily basis - they know nothing about amphetamines the side effects - so they will not only take more than they need, but sometimes they'll even combine them with huge shots off expreso and energy drinks:eyebrow:. They stay awake too long and end up all strung out (imagine your end of the day 'crash' times 100).