11 replies to this topic

[SwissGuy]

I am pretty desperate, and no one has answers, so hope someone here has any leads our ideas. 3 years ago I went out drinking, had 3 lines of cocaine, and have ever since had massive, intense symptoms that simply won't go away, specially: intense brainfog, no drive / motivation / energy, apathy. The symptoms are bringing me to the brink of losing my job and career, which of course stresses me as I have a son to raise.

This was probably the fourth or so time that I took cocaine - never before had I had any problems. My friends who consumed from the same batch did not have any problems. It being street cocaine it probably contained more amphetamine than cocaine.Ever since I have not consumed any drugs other than coffee, alcohol, cigarettes.

I have been trying to find answers for this (MRIs, standard blood work, psychotherapy,loads of supplements, etc.) but have not found anything that explains or helps.

The only thing that could explain is that at the time I was experimenting with daily 100 mg of Dhea supplementation, for stress relief, and very successfully so. Dhea I now understand has steroid-stimulating, so also dopaminergic properties?

What are the chances of this being the reason? And what on earth can I do?

Any ideas, help, leads, words of reassurance would be so appreciated. I am desperate.

Thank you.

[SwissGuy]

I should add: when I say I consume alcohol, cigarettes, coffee, I do so:

Coffee daily, two to three cups
On average one cigarette per day
A few drinks every weekend, typically beers or wine to go with food

Edited by SwissGuy, 14 July 2018 - 02:48 PM.

[jack black]

THIS? 

https://www.longecit...from-anhedonia/

[John250]

There has to be some underlining issue. Coke only 4x should not have done anything after this long. There is a chance the dhea may have suppressed natural production. If you’re not still using it maybe get a dhea test as low levels can cause similar symptoms. Maybe a 4 part cortisol saliva panel for adrenal function.

[Artificiality]

Yes, you might have a suppressed hormone production from taking DHEA. I'd recommend blood work. If you want to try simply fixing it look into post cycle therapy for bodybuilders.

They have various PCT supplements out there, which usually help in mild cases. Toremifene and Clomid are useful short term to get your hormone levels back up again.

[John250]

Yes, you might have a suppressed hormone production from taking DHEA. I'd recommend blood work. If you want to try simply fixing it look into post cycle therapy for bodybuilders.
They have various PCT supplements out there, which usually help in mild cases. Toremifene and Clomid are useful short term to get your hormone levels back up again.

That will only restore testosterone/HPTA. Dhea is a whole different catagory as it’s a neurosteroid. Dhea typically doesn’t shut down from endogenous dhea so this situation is pretty rare. Try naturally restoring it first otherwise there’s nothing wrong with taking endogenous dhea forever if levels will not return to normal. Just monitor bloodwork.

https://drjockers.co...st-dhea-levels/

[SwissGuy]

Thanks All! I supplemented with Dhea in the understanding that unlike testosterone et al it would not supress my body's own production. And at that point I had already supplemented for a while, with only positive effects. I will have blood levels tested.

I was wondering whether the neurochemical effects of Dhea and cocaine combined into something nasty , specially in the dopaminergic system. Something like a desensitization of dopamine receptors? I think this is how I feel. As if my dopamine was not able to do its job anymore. Prior to this incident I was a very driven, sensitive, motivated person. Often it would become negative and turn into anxiety, specially the social/performance. That's what the Dhea was helping me out with pretty nicely. Now I am the opposite: no anxiety (which is good), but also: no drive, motivation, excitement! I want that back!

Edited by SwissGuy, 16 July 2018 - 02:41 PM.

[John250]

Thanks All! I supplemented with Dhea in the understanding that unlike testosterone et al it would not supress my body's own production. And at that point I had already supplemented for a while, with only positive effects. I will have blood levels tested.

I was wondering whether the neurochemical effects of Dhea and cocaine combined into something nasty , specially in the dopaminergic system. Something like a desensitization of dopamine receptors? I think this is how I feel. As if my dopamine was not able to do its job anymore. Prior to this incident I was a very driven, sensitive, motivated person. Often it would become negative and turn into anxiety, specially the social/performance. That's what the Dhea was helping me out with pretty nicely. Now I am the opposite: no anxiety (which is good), but also: no drive, motivation, excitement! I want that back!

Not sure if this has any relation but whenever I did coke while on my prescription amphetamines I found the amphetamines didn’t give me any positive affects that they normally do.

[SwissGuy]

Any thoughts or hypotheses anyone? Is there any mechanism by which dhea as a neurosteroid and a stimulant (at a one-off, recreational but reasonable dose) could lead to some permanent effect?

Or are these the symptoms of worrying about the symptoms that perpetuates them? I do think about this a lot (how not to?) but all I have done to stop thinking/worrying about this (exercise, distraction through hobbies, meditation) has yielded no benefits...

[SwissGuy]

Any thoughts or hypotheses anyone? Is there any mechanism by which dhea as a neurosteroid and a stimulant (at a one-off, recreational but reasonable dose) could lead to some permanent effect?

Or are these the symptoms of worrying about the symptoms that perpetuates them? I do think about this a lot (how not to?) but all I have done to stop thinking/worrying about this (exercise, distraction through hobbies, meditation) has yielded no benefits...

[gamesguru]

These threads all follow a common pattern, I'm always amazed how many nice people rush to the scene.

 

If you took some random drug or smacked your head on concrete and now have some ostensibly factious problems, consider going to a doctor first.  Only once you've presented us with his laughable opinion are you entitled to the fruits of our labor: time, good diet, and more time heal all your indiscretions, looking to fix it with some megalo-phenyl-oxiracetam that just hit the shelves last month will only get you in muddier waters, looking to chase ten forum idiots down for their opinion when you've presented nothing of the history nothing of the science will only lead you to muddier waters.

[blind12]

Yes, you might have a suppressed hormone production from taking DHEA.

DHEA has positive, not negative feedback, i.e. exogenous increases endogenous production, iirc?

Coke's unknown adulterants might be the issue.