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Coming down with grace
– combining party with dietary supplements
«Dan», drug-nerd and Chemfriendly Norge activist
Foto: Einar Hyndøy
Foto: Einar Hyndøy
Have you ever felt like a zombie after a drug-fueled party for hours/days? Unfortunately, "What goes up must come down" is the brutal and inevitable reality in a chem-friendly world. While you can't really escape from the comedown, these following supplements and partying tips might be your short- and long-term saving grace.
Hydration with a pinch of salt
Do you remember that one thing your mom often told you when you were a kid? "Drink more water!" she said. Turns out you might really want to listen to her on this during chem-sex.
Stimulants like speed and meth can affect one's hypothalamus from working properly. Hypothalamus is a tiny little part in our brain that controls lots of our body's autonomic and nervous functions.
Do you remember that one thing your mom often told you when you were a kid? "Drink more water!" she said. Turns out you might really want to listen to her on this during chem-sex.
Stimulants like speed and meth can affect one's hypothalamus from working properly. Hypothalamus is a tiny little part in our brain that controls lots of our body's autonomic and nervous functions.
Low on water and salt is responsible for that muscle cramping you hate and makes our veins less plumped and visible
One example would be the parasympathetic system which reminds us to drink and eat through sending out thirst and hunger signals. Drug-induced hinderance to parasympathetic system would make us not acknowledging the need to drink. Stimulants can also reduce hypothalamus' ability to regulate body temperatures, which is the main reason we feel overheat (hyperthermia) and then eventually sweat excessively during chem-sex.
Dehydration is not fun! Low on water and salt (through sweating) in your body is responsible for that muscle cramping, headache, and bad breath you hate. It also makes our veins less plumped and visible, which increases the chance of missing the needle point during slamming (i.e. intravenous administration of drug). It is also very important to replenish the electrolytes by adding salt or electrolyte tablets in your water. Sport-drinks and coconut water are good options too.
Dehydration is not fun! Low on water and salt (through sweating) in your body is responsible for that muscle cramping, headache, and bad breath you hate. It also makes our veins less plumped and visible, which increases the chance of missing the needle point during slamming (i.e. intravenous administration of drug). It is also very important to replenish the electrolytes by adding salt or electrolyte tablets in your water. Sport-drinks and coconut water are good options too.
Amino-acids might help that comedown blue
Have you noticed that you are more depressed the days after that chem-fueled weekend? The drug you took caused your brain to produce large amount of "happy-hormones" (such as dopamine and serotonin) and inhibiting the regulatory removal (i.e. reuptake) process of these hormones at the same time. As a result, your brain got flooded with these hormones that made you experience intense euphoria (or as we call it "high AF").
Have you noticed that you are more depressed the days after that chem-fueled weekend? The drug you took caused your brain to produce large amount of "happy-hormones" (such as dopamine and serotonin) and inhibiting the regulatory removal (i.e. reuptake) process of these hormones at the same time. As a result, your brain got flooded with these hormones that made you experience intense euphoria (or as we call it "high AF").
Increasing the intake of these amino acids might help making the comedown a bit easier
However, that weekend high comes with an even higher price. The intense euphoria will eventually wear off as we are done partying. This is when the comedown kicks in. The happy hormones are now depleted during comedown with the brain attempting to regulate itself by reducing the biosynthesis process of these hormones dramatically. Without these hormones, we would feel tired, depressed, and anxious – also known as the "comedown blue".
Biosynthesis of these "happy hormones" involves a series of complex biochemical processes, including synthesis and conversion between different chemicals called "precursors". Some of these precursors are basically essential amino acids that we can obtain from food or dietary supplements. By increasing the intake of these amino acids during the comedown might help us to replenish some of these "happy hormones", and hopefully making the comedown a bit easier.
Biosynthesis of these "happy hormones" involves a series of complex biochemical processes, including synthesis and conversion between different chemicals called "precursors". Some of these precursors are basically essential amino acids that we can obtain from food or dietary supplements. By increasing the intake of these amino acids during the comedown might help us to replenish some of these "happy hormones", and hopefully making the comedown a bit easier.
Methamphetamine and amphetamine are mostly dopaminergic, which means they mainly affect the synthesis of dopamine in our brain. Taking dietary supplements such as phenylalanine and tyrosine might help alleviate the imbalance of dopamine level as they are both precursors in dopamine synthesis. On the other hand, one can take tryptophan (a precursor in serotonin synthesis) to help with the comedown of MDMA/ecstasy, which is mostly serotonergic in nature.
It is important to take these dietary supplements as instructed and not exceeding the recommended dosage written on the packages
It is important to take these dietary supplements as instructed and not exceeding the recommended dosage written on the packages
Long term oxidative stress is connected to conditions like cancer, heart diseases, premature ageing and even neurological damages like early-onset Alzheimer's!
Oxidative stress – the evil that is often overlooked
Do you know your body can get "rusty" too? Recently, there are a lot of discussion about oxidative stress and how we can fight against it with "antioxidants". Oxidative stress occurs when there are more free radicals (or reactive oxygen species "ROS") in our body than the antioxidants able to neutralize. Long term oxidative stress is connected to conditions like cancer, heart diseases, premature ageing and even neurological damages like early-onset Alzheimer's!
Although free radicals are produced constantly as natural byproducts from metabolism, unfavorable factors like prolonged drug-use and sleep deprivation are likely to make things worse. For example, the metabolism for both drugs and neurotransmitter like dopamine and serotonin would produce large amount of ROS as byproducts. These oxidative substances would then cause various health issues by oxidizing and damaging DNAs and other cellular functions.
Do you know your body can get "rusty" too? Recently, there are a lot of discussion about oxidative stress and how we can fight against it with "antioxidants". Oxidative stress occurs when there are more free radicals (or reactive oxygen species "ROS") in our body than the antioxidants able to neutralize. Long term oxidative stress is connected to conditions like cancer, heart diseases, premature ageing and even neurological damages like early-onset Alzheimer's!
Although free radicals are produced constantly as natural byproducts from metabolism, unfavorable factors like prolonged drug-use and sleep deprivation are likely to make things worse. For example, the metabolism for both drugs and neurotransmitter like dopamine and serotonin would produce large amount of ROS as byproducts. These oxidative substances would then cause various health issues by oxidizing and damaging DNAs and other cellular functions.
Oxidative stress is not usually a big concern for people with healthy diet and lifestyle. However, during comedown from drug, we should take antioxidant-supplements to help neutralizing those extra free radicals resulted from hard partying and exhaustion. But don't worry! Antioxidant is just a fancy name that involves supplements that you have probably heard before. A few examples would be Vitamin A, C and E, Selenium and Glutamine (an amino acid).
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Publisert 13.9.21. Oppdatert 25.4.23.