Hacker News Reader

Comment by sova | Hacker News Reader

Thanks for sharing your experience. As a substance nerd I find all this info very helpful and illuminating. Are you familiar with Erowid?

View on HN

I tried a bunch of supplements and herbs. Some worked, some had nasty side effects, and most did squat.

The short list is I tried: Piractem, GABA, Rhodila Rosea, Cocamine (chocolate extract), gluractone (red bull ingredient), various ephedrine like stuff, various methly caffeine things (ie green tea), Yohimbine (I highly recommend you never ever take this).

I used to have lab like jars of the stuff at work and my coworkers would call me "the mad scientist".

Nothing worked better than exercise, sleep, nicotine, staying hydrated, and coffee. Strategic fasting is also effective but you have to be careful with that as well (ie intermittent fasting).

The other issue with trying weird stuff is we know a lot (longitudinal study wise) about nicotine. We don't for lots of natural supplements (just my 2 cents). I also can't stress it enough... do not take Yohimbine.. (that stuff should be illegal).

EDIT for Yohimbine explanation (I can't reply to ducttapemaster):

Yohimbine made me extremely lightheaded, extremely anxious, extremely nauseous and I could not sleep for 3 days and I think it was only 5 mg of HCL. I would rather have kidney stones again than go through Yohimbine...

The sick part is I have tried it multiple times (I guess to be scientific about it :) ).

Out of curiosity, what was your experience with Yohimbine? Why was it so bad?

What's a duct-ape and how did you learn to control them?

In regards to Yohimbine, I'll heed your experienced words should I ever come across, I won't partake. Wow, just googling it: "It is a veterinary drug used to reverse sedation in dogs and deer."

It's interesting that you can basically reap all the benefits of nicotine without any of the carcinogens. Do you feel at all like it's difficult to step away from?

I really like your list of "nothing worked better than ~" it makes sense and it's interesting how the more we pay attention to our bodies the better we feel and are.

> It's interesting that you can basically reap all the benefits of nicotine without any of the carcinogens. Do you feel at all like it's difficult to step away from?

I have a somewhat armchair biologist theory (based on anecdotes and light research) that much of addiction is based on genetics, social, and timing. I wasn't exposed to nicotine during my formative years and thus (just guessing) that I do not feel any addiction what so ever to nicotine (if it isn't nicotine but tobacco that causes it I have smoked cigars so I have done the raw stuff as well).

That being said I almost cannot go a night with out having one or two drinks and I have to have my morning coffee. I really wish I could stop drinking alcohol (calorie reasons) but I like beer and wine so much for the taste.

  do not take Yohimbine

Did you take actual, pharmaceutical-grade Yohimbine HCl, or an herbal? Actual, unrefined Yohimbe has other alkaloids that have adverse effects, and it oxidizes quickly.

I do not recall the manufacture but it was a very small white pill (I have seen the extract pills you might be referring to which are reddish).

I just don't think I can try the experiment again but I'm fairly sure it was the yohimbine (this was after repeated tries of different products).

Yohimbine is a horrible experience. Used clinically to induce anxiety attacks, and does so very well.

Wow, why would you want/need to induce an anxiety attack?

Not a real answer but I consider myself lucky I had my first one in the ER (which I was in at the time for other reasons). The medical staff could in a calm and collected manner explain to me exactly what I was experiencing and what mechanisms in my body was activating and it all became so much easier to deal with.

I can only imagine having your first one alone or among inexperienced people and how much more horrifying that must be.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com