So last week I had 3 midterms to study for and I haven't been to my classes because I've been very depressed since the new year began. Anyway, I began studying on Saturday, February 11 and this what my dexedrine dosing looked like:
February 11: 5 mg
February 12: Didn't take
February 13: 5 mg
February 14: Didn't take
February 15: Didn't take
February 16: 5 mg
Since the last week I've had numerous nootropic or cognitive benefits. I've noticed that I think faster, my mind is somewhat clearer, verbal fluency has increased, and my mood is a lot better.
I think this a lot to do with dexedrine. Of course, some people might say it's because I studied for a week and this is what caused the nootropic effects. But, I think that it's because I'm chronically under-stimulated. The fact is, I sleep 12 hours almost everyday unless I take modafinil, I feel tired all the time, I can't focus, I lack motivation, I have severe anhedonia, and I don't have any cravings nor addictions.
There's a saying that goes 'Use it or lose it' and I think this applies to the brain. Pathways in the brain are known to get stronger the longer you use them in a process known as long-term potentiation. In fact, low doses of amphetamines increase LTP:
Acute amphetamine treatment in wild-type mice produced a biphasic dose-response modulation of LTP, with a low dose enhancing LTP and a high dose impairing it.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3521514/
It also seems to improve neurogenesis, though this study found it increased it at both low and high doses:
Low doses of d-amphetamine decreased c-Fos and ΔFosB in the granule layer. Only the high dose induced substantial locomotor stimulation and sensitization. Results suggest both therapeutic and abuse doses of d-amphetamine increase the number of new neurons in the hippocampus when administered from adolescence to adulthood by increasing survival and differentiation of cells into neurons not by increasing progenitor cell proliferation. Mechanisms for amphetamine-induced neurogenesis are unknown but appear activity independent. Results suggest part of the beneficial effects of therapeutic doses of d-amphetamine for ADHD could be via increased hippocampal neurogenesis.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306452212011396
I think a lot of the problems associated with amphetamines arise from high doses in the long-term.
Any thoughts on this?
