Drug Content

It’s nothing new- a college student pops a Ritalin (methylphenidate) or some other stimulant or cognition-enhancing drug so they could jump start their brains to study for a test or complete a project, but this has lead to bigger problems.  While this has been going on for quite some time, it’s obviously gotten a lot worse.  Let’s discuss stimulants, which are drugs that increase a person’s alertness and awareness, but also will get one high (produce euphoria).

Drugs such as Ritalin (methylphenidate) and Adderall (Amphetamine Salts) are known as “smart drugs,” and over the years the use of these drugs have increased amongst high schoolers who want to pass certain tests, etc.  These drugs are normally prescribed to children, teens and young adults to treat ADD (attention-deficit disorder) and ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder), but I’d have to say that the ratio of students that are prescribed these medications aren’t only taking them for their conditions.

When one takes a stimulant medication, they’ll have extra energy (provided from the drug) to do other activities that they normally wouldn’t do.  For instance, an individual on a stimulant medication will clean their room, but go over it numerous times so that it’s perfect.  This extra boost is due to the increase of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain.  While this results in a boost in one’s energy, it also produces euphoria (feeling “high”) and a greater sense of well-being.

There was a survery that focused on three drugs: Ritalin, Provigil, and beta blockers (used to treat cardiac conditions, as well as reduce anxiety).  Ritalin is used by more than 60 percent of people that stated using them for cognitive reasons, while 44 percent used Provigil (modafinil), and some 15 percent said they had used beta blockers.

With these numbers rising every day- I think we can say that caffeine is no longer the main concern in this category.  Just think of all of those A+ students back in middle school and high school…  Makes you think huh?

Citalopram- Half Life: 35 hours; Schedule IV Drug

Celexa (Citalopram) is a prescription antidepressant drug used to treat depression associated with mood disorders.  In certain cases citalopram is used in the treatment of anxiety if other medications do not work.  Citalopram belongs to a class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).  This drug may need to be taken for up to 4 weeks or longer before it starts to work as it differs person to person.

Citalopram is generally well-tolerated in patients taking therapeutic doses ranging from 20 to 60 mg a day.  Regardless of how strong a SSRI is, patients should always be monitored when taking them.  While Citalopram is taken by people of all ages, it is one of the main SSRIs that is given to elderly patients who need them.  Citalopram works by increasing the amount of serotonin (a natural substance in the brain) that helps maintain mental balance.

Investigational studies have found that citalopram significantly reduces the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy and premature ejaculation.  There is also evidence that it may even treat post-stroke pathological crying.  There are other medications that treat these conditions- however, if those medications do not work, a doctor may simply prescribe a low dosage to see if citalopram has any effect.

As stated earlier, citalopram is generally well-tolerated by patients taking it, so side effects shouldn’t be too much of a nuisance.  Medications work differently on every person, so there are no guarantees that citalopram will agree with you or not, so contact your doctor if there are any concerns when taking the medication.

Citalopram is listed as a Schedule IV drug of the United States’ Controlled Substances Act which means that even though it has a low potential for abuse, it can be still abused.  Do not stop taking citalopram without consulting your doctor first as the potential for withdrawal symptoms may occur if too much of the drug is taken or if the drug is taken for too long.

Side effects of citalopram cannot be anticipated, but if any develop or change in intensity, be sure to inform your doctor as soon as possible.  Only your doctor can determine whether or not it is safe to continue taking citalopram.  Side effects are as followed:

Nausea; dry mouth, gas; loss of appetite; diarrhea; insomnia; drowsiness; dizziness; trouble concentrating; feeling nervous, restless, or unable to sit still; weight changes; frequent urination; decreased sex drive; impotence; difficulty having an orgasm; dry or watery mouth; yawning; ringing in your ears

If any of these more serious side effects are experienced, be sure to contact your doctor as soon as possible:

Seizures; tremors; muscle stiffness; twitching; shivering; problems with balance and/or coordination; feeling agitated; confusion; excessive sweating; increased heartbeat

Citalopram, just like any other drug can cause withdrawal symptoms.  Citalopram withdrawal symptoms tend to begin within eight hours of the last dose taken and can last anywhere from one to eight weeks.  This highly depends on how much was taken and differs from person to person.  If you or someone you know has stopped using citalopram, the best advice would be to taper slowly rather than stop suddenly.  Antidepressant withdrawal happens to be one of the more uncomfortable types of withdrawal- not that any type of withdrawal is comfortable, but with citalopram, there are many different symptoms that include but are not limited to:

Anxiety; dizziness; headache; fatigue; insomnia; tremors; hallucinations; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; restlessness; blurred vision; muscle/joint pain; tingling sensations; fever; abdominal discomfort; anorexia; agitation; vertigo; excessive sweating; irritability; aggression; insomnia; confusion; nightmares; chills; hot flashes; trouble concentrating; crying spells; thoughts of suicide; lethargy; weakness; flu symptoms

Now a doctor prescribes these types of medications to patients who need them, but there are times where a patient might not quite listen to a doctor when he/she tells them to take it as prescribed.  If one goes overboard, they are going to feel the effects of withdrawal, but even a person that has been taking an antidepressant like citalopram for a period over a couple of years, they will even need to taper off of the drug because they have built up a natural tolerance to the drug.

If drug addicts would only admit that they have a problem, life would be so much easier for both the addict and the doctor trying to treat the addict.  This post isn’t downgrading a person addicted to drugs, because everyone leads their own life, but it is important to seek help because you aren’t only hurting yourself, you are also hurting others around you.  This post is simply an aid, and the fact that there are people out there that can help is 100 % beneficial to you or the person suspected of being a drug addict.

Since the signs of drug abuse can be blatent, well hidden, and come in many different forms- they need to be recognized.  There is one word to describe a drug addict’s personality, and that is ”denial”.  99 % of drug addicts will believe and tell anyone that they do not have a problem- and this is the root of the person’s addiction.

Below is a list of the signs to look for in a drug addict.  Please either write these signs down or print this post out.  It can certainly be handy as a checklist for your personal aid.  ~Please answer this in the eyes of the drug addict, as they are all questions for the drug addict.

1. Do you use any illegal drugs (heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, meth, etc)?
2. Do you use any non-prescribed drugs?
3. Do you over exceed over-the-counter medications (cough medications, pain relievers, etc)?
4. Do you purchase drugs from non-licensed people (off the street, etc)?
5. Do you ever borrow money and have trouble explaining where it is going, or make up a story?
6. Do you have extreme hyperactivity (increased motivation such as: having a stronger urge to complete work, putting better effort into your work, being over productive, etc)?
7. Do you ramble on more often than usual (excessive talking)?
8. Are you happy one moment and angry or depressed another (extreme personality changes)?
9. Have you lost interest in things that were important before (changes in activities)?
10. Has your personal image dropped drastically?
11. Are you hostile towards your family members?
12. Do you keep your door locked or closed, or won’t let people in (excessive need for privacy)?
13. Do you slur your speech when you talk?
14. Are your eyes bloodshot all the time?
15. Do you feel like you need to have your drug(s) regularly, every day or more than every day?
16. Do you schedule your day around your drug(s)?
17. Do you make sure that you have a stable supply of your drug(s) on hand?
18. Do you need your drug(s) to function normally?
19. Do you go to one or more doctors to obtain your drug(s) if you cannot get them elsewhere (doctor shopping)?
20. Are you going through drug withdrawal?

This list is only an aid for you or someone you know who might be a drug addict.  Even if many of these questions were answered yes, it doesn’t naturally mean a person is addicted.  Just to be safe, if there were more than “7″ questions answered yes, please seek help just to make sure that addiction isn’t an issue.  If it is than there are plenty of things that can be done to hop back on the right path again.

Below is a recovery website that can help in beating drug addiction- it might be all that you need, as you can search state-by-state:

• Drug-Rehabs

There are also many other drug recovery programs on the net that are local as well, so pull up “Google” or your favorite search engine and type in “Drug Recovery Programs”.  If you want to find a drug recovery program in your area, just add your city in the search.