*************************** Article Separation ******************************** Hi folks, for all those interested in addresses for nootropics, here they are: InHome Health Services box 3112 CH-2800 Delemont Switzerland INTERLAB PO Box 587 Newprt Pagnell Bucks MK168AA England and..... WRN Research POB 839 Station A Montreal, Canada H3C 2V5 This companies may supply one or more of the following: Piracetam pyrogluamate Vinpocetine Acetyl-L-carnitine Centrophenoxine (lucidril) Choline AL721 (egg lecithin) DHEA (alliance 7 San diego 619-291-5360, HAF San fran 415-626-2316 & PDA New York 212-532-0363 ) Deaner (DMAE) GEROVITAL (GH-3) Hydergine Phenytoin (Dilantin) Propranolol Hydrochloride (Inderal) Vasopressin (Diapid) nasal spray only Vincamine Xanthinol Nicotinate L-tryptophan L-Phenylalanine And a host of Aminos, Vitamins and assorted goodies. GOOD LUCK!! PS - new book, "Smart drugs & nutrients" Ward Dean, M.D. & john Morgenthaler Addr - B&J Publication, P.O. Box 483, Santa Cruz, CA 95061-0483 IF YOU SEND A SASE, THEY WILL SEND YOU A LIST OF PHYSICIANS KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT SMART DRUGS & NUTRIENTS !! PLUS THEY HAVE A NEWLETTER FOR FREE!!! ***************************** Article Separation ****************************** Earlier, there were some questions about amino acids on alt.drugs. I posted a scanty summary of some of aminos I was interested in. More questions appeared after that, posted and in my mail box. This file is quite a bit more complete but still doesn't list many of the 22 or so AAs. (eg. alanine, histidine, idoleucine, proline, serine, threonine, valine... these are all common, but i haven't found much info on them). Documentation and sources are missing, so please don't take this file too seriously. I probably won't create another version of this for a while. (Note that this is a Folded file, for those with MSDOS machines and the shareware editor.) ============================= AMINO ACIDS AND THEIR EFFECTS ============================= Version 1.1 Compiled by: Bj Krawchuk (krawchuk@cpsc.ucalgary.ca) Several sources have been used and may be requested from above. (*@/// Phenylalanine *) (*@/// L-phenylalanine *) L-phenylalanine - converted into tyrosine which is precursor to noradrenaline (NE) and dopamine - like all amino acids best taken on empty stomach since it competes with proteins to cross the blood brain barrier. - requires vitamins C and B-6 for the conversion to NE. - Dosage: 500 - 1000mg along with 1g C, 30-50mg B-6 - phenylalanine also stimulates the release of cholecystokinin, which is the body's own appetite-suppressant, - can increase sexual interest - improves memory and mental alertness - antidepressant - do not use L-phenylalanine or L-tyrosine if you are using MAO inhibitors for depression (it can cause a major elevation in blood pressure). (*@\\\*) (*@/// DL-phenylalanine *) DL-phenylalanine - combination of synthetic (D) and natural (L) phenylalanine - produces endorphins and stimulates their use - thus, effective painkiller, often better than the opiate derivatives such as morphine. - nonaddictive, nontoxic - reverse-tolerance effect (pain relief gets better) - strong anti-depressant effect - can be combined with other pain-killers with few bad interactions (*@\\\*) (*@\\\*) (*@/// Tyrosine *) L-tyrosine - precursor to norepinephrine and dopamine - non-essential amino acid (since PA is converted into it first) - has been studied as an effective aid to cocaine withdrawal - (see L-phenylalanine) (*@\\\*) (*@/// Tryptophan *) L-tryptophan - precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin along with B6, niacin, and magnesium. - (actually immediate precursor to 5-hydroxytryptophan (5HTP) which is the precursor to serotonin (5HT)) - prolongs slow-wave sleep - reduces pain sensitivity - no effect or increases REMS - has some hypnotic effects - useful for some types of endogenous depression (has been found as useful as imipramine and amitriptyline) - aids in reducing anxiety and tension - an appetite supressant - dosages have been studied up to 15g - Major Food Sources: Cottage cheese, milk, meat, fish, turkey, bananas, dried dates, peanuts, all protein-rich foods. (*@\\\*) (*@/// Lysine *) L-lysine - needed for growth and enzyme, hormone, antibody production - aids concentration - treatment for some sterility problems - treatment and prevention for herpes infections - aids fatty acid -> energy conversion (*@\\\*) (*@/// Arginine *) L-arginine - used to increase sperm counts (semen contains up to 80% of arginine) - aids immune response and healing of wounds - helps stored fat metabolism - helps to tone muscle tissue - used for weight-loss in combination with L-ornithine - one amino acid required for production of growth hormone (*@\\\*) (*@/// Ornithine *) L-ornithine - similar to arginine - growth hormone (which acts as a fat metabolizer) is stimulated to be released by ornithine and arginine. - can be used as a slimming technique (while you sleep - GH is released by the pituitary gland then) (*@\\\*) (*@/// Glutamine *) L-glutamine - converted to glutamic acid, the brain's emergency source of energy when glucose is in short supply. - precursor to the neurotransmitter GABA - neutralizes excess ammonia (which can inhibit proper brain function) - improves intelligence - helps to control alcoholism - helps to speed ulcer healing - alleviates fatigue, depression, impotence, schizophrenia, senility (*@\\\*) (*@/// Aspartic Acid *) L-aspartic acid - ammonia neutralizer - a study showed improved stamina and endurance in atheletes (*@\\\*) (*@/// Cysteine *) L-cysteine - cystine is its stable form - antioxidant - contains sulfur - protects cellular membranes from "free radical damage" - prevents alcohol and cigarette smoke damage to the brain - stimulant to immune system - believed to be good for antiaging - effective against copper toxicity (eg. Wilson's disease) - protects against X-ray and nuclear radiation - warning: may affect insulin effectiveness (*@\\\*) (*@/// Methionine *) L-methionine - antioxidant - contains sulfur - prevents damage of brain cells from toxic heavy metals - important in producing neurotransmitters and energy - lowers blood level of histamine (this may help some types of schizophrenia) - combined with choline and folic acid, can prevent some types of tumors - deficiencies: hair loss, atherosclerosis, cholestorol deposits, edema, poor urine processing (*@\\\*) (*@/// Glycine *) L-glycine - treatment for poor pituitary functioning - supplies creatine which is essential for muscle function (effective against muscular dystrophy) - treatment for hypoglycemia - stimulates glucagon which metabolizes glycogen into glucose - antacid - treatment for low blood pH - treatment for leucine imbalance-causing body odor and halitosis (*@\\\*) (*@/// Leucine *) L-taurine - nonessential amino acid - aids efficient conduction of electrical impulses along nerve pathways - anticonvulsant (esp in combo with glutamic, aspartic acids) (*@\\\*) (*@/// Glutathione *) L-Glutathione - tripeptide amino acid made of cysteine, glutamic acid and glycine - "triple threat" antiaging - antioxidant - anti-tumor agent - respiratory accelerator in the brain - used in the treatment of: allergies, cataracts, diabetes, hypoglycemia, arthritis - prevents some side effects of chemotherapy and X-ray radiation - protects against some harmful side-effects of cigarrette smoke and alcohol (*@\\\*) (*@/// Carnatine *) L-carnatine - newly discovered amino acid - aids stored fat -> energy conversion - helps: hypoglycemia, reduces angina attacks, diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease - deficiency causes heart tissue damage (*@\\\*) ***************************** Article Separation ****************************** Tyrosine is available in a free form base from Vitamin Research Products based in Mountain View, CA. call (415) 555-1212 for number. Suggestion would be to start with 100mg of tyrosine at first, then to increase (weekly) to 300mg. Overdose symptoms include irratibility. This will need to be taken with several precursor vitamins like C B-5,6,12, for uptake into the blood/brain barrier. This amino wil compete with protein uptake, so take it on an empty stomach - see the book 'Life Extension" D. Pearson & S. Shaw - ***************************** Article Separation ****************************** I wasn't trying to analyze the precise pharmacology of tryptophan's toxicity (FYI, it is due to a contaminant, "peak E": Science 1990;250:1707; NEJM 1990;323:357). Peak E is dimeric derivative of tryptophan; contaminants such as peak E, in tiny quantities, are virtually inevitable when amino acids are synthesized by chemical syntheses. That is why I believe it is acceptable to refer, albeit loosely, to "tryptophan" as the culprit. ***************************** Article Separation ****************************** Saved from Health-Infocom News from last fall: Volume 3, Number 35 November 4, 1990 Update: Analysis of L-Tryptophan for the Etiology of Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome In August 1990, CDC and the Food and Drug Administration proposed a structure for peak 97 (Figure 1A), the high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) peak that was most predictive of L-tryptophan (LT) lots associated with eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS) cases(1). This report updates those findings. Analyses of the product of LT and acetaldehyde show that the product is the di-L-tryptophan aminal of acetaldehyde (DTAA), with the methine bridge coupling the two tryptophan molecules across the indolenitrogens (Figure 1B) rather than the amino nitrogens (Figure 1A). Thissynthesized product has the same proton nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) spectra, mass spectra, and HPLC chromatographic properties aspeak 97. [...] 1. CDC. Analysis of L-tryptophan for the etiology of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome. MMWR 1990;39:589-91. 2. Reynolds WF, McClean S, Perpick-Dumont M, Enriquez RG.Improved 13C-1H shift correlation spectra for indirectly bonded carbons and hydrogens: the FLOCK sequence. Magn ResonChem 1989;27:162-9. 3. Crofford LJ, Rader JI, Dalakas MC, et al. L-Tryptophan implicated in human eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome causes fasciitis and perimyositis in the Lewis rat. JClin Invest 1990;86:1757-63. Health InfoCom Network News Page 28 ****************************** Article Separation ***************************** A safe stimulant which is not caffiene does exist and it available as a non-prescription drug from many health food stores. It's called Dimethylaminoethanol, or DMAE. It works pretty well as a stimulant and also increases levels of acetylcholine (it's a precursor). It also makes rats perform significantly better on maze tests, because the increased acetylcholine assists in some aspects of memory. Another way to decrease need for sleep is to raise brain levels of dopamine, which can be done by taking phenylalanine. It should be taken on an empty stomach (500 mg to 1 gram is a reasonable dose) with 1g vitamin C and 50 mg vitamin B-6 to assist in the conversion of phenylalanine to dopamine. Another way to take the phenylalanine is to place a small amount between the upper lip and gum about halfway back in the mouth. There are blood vessels there which go directly to the brain. If you're using this method, you should try a smaller dose (100 mg), as it is more effective when taken in this manner. Using these and other "safe" (i.e. adjusting the body's own chemicals rather than introducing something new; not necessarily safe but a priori a better bet than most traditional stimulants) I have been able to cut my need for sleep by 4 hours per day without discomfort for weeks at a time. I have no reason to believe that they would not be effective if used longer, but circumstances of class work seldom required me to cut sleep for longer periods than this. Be advised, however, that these methods will not be as powerful as, say, amphetamines or even high-dose caffiene, but they are not likely to mess you up either. But if you are trying to stay up for two nights to finish some huge project, you might be better off sticking with caffiene and cold showers. ****************************** Article Separation ***************************** Yes, aspartame is the methyl ester of phenylalanine and aspartic acid, two amino acids. According to Richard Wurtman of MIT, you can get increases in brain levels of phenylalanine if low-protein foods such as soft drinks are consumed on an empty stomach. The brain requires vitamins B-6 and C to convert phenylalanine into the natural stimulant noradrenaline and another important brain chemical, dopamine (which is also, among other things, a stimulant and euphoric) Thus even if you are taking no supplemental phenylalanine, you can still get beneficial effects on mood, etc., by taking C and B-6 because your brain will become more efficient at converting the phenylalanine that is already present in your diet. Speaking of diets, phenylalanine also stimulates the release of cholecystokinin, which is the body's own appetite-suppressant, used to tell the brain when the stomach has had enough. So phenylalanine acts indirectly as an appetite-suppressant. Note that all of the effects of phenylalanine are greatly enhanced if it is taken either on an empty stomach or with low-protein foods, because various proteins compete with phenylalanine for transport across the blood-brain barrier. Dosage: 500mg to 1g phenylalanine, plus 1g C, 30 to 50mg B-6. WARNING: Do NOT use phenylalanine: *If you are using MAO inhibitors, unless they are the extremely selective types such as deprenyl (selegiline); *If you have a cardiac arrythmia; *If you have hypertension; *If you have phenylketonuria; *If you have a psychosis; *If you have a pigmented malignant melanoma-type cancer; *If you have a violent temper. If you are taking other stimulants such as phenylpropanolamine, ephedrine, or even, potentially, caffiene or theophylline, you should monitor your blood pressure carefully because there is a possiblity of blood pressure rise and other problems characteristic of adrenaline-like drug oversoda. ***************************** Article Separation ****************************** Phenylalanine and many other amino acid supplements are available mail-order from Vitamin Research Products, 2044 Old Middlefield Way, Mountain View, CA 94043 USA. Tryptophan is currently banned for sale in the US, due to the contamination scare of last year. The source of the contamination was found (an experimental genetically-engineered bacteria used by _one_ Japanese firm to manufacture the Tryptophan) but the FDA has still refused to lift the ban. ***************************** Article Separation ****************************** A little-known FDA ruling now allows the importation af a 3 month personal supply of drugs as long as they are regarded as safe in other countries. INTERLAB a mail order pharmacy was established in response to this new FDA ruling. Interlab carries a wide range of drugs for cognitive enhancement, life extension, and treatment of AIDS not available in America. All of the drugs briefly discuussed here can be pruchased without a prescription fron them. You can request a price sheet by writing to INTERLAB PO Box 587 Newport Pagnell, Bucks, England You must include the following signed statement with your order: I hearby declare that the products I am purchasing are not for commercial resale. They are for my own personal use only. The supply ordered does not exceed 3 months usage and they are used with the consent of my physician. [signed] Some Highly regarded Chemicals include: HYDERGINE (Ergoloid Mesylates)- Improves mental function, prevents hypoxia and other damage to brain cells,increases blood supply to brain, enhances brain metabolism, slows deposit of aging pigment and other posistive effects PRECAUTIONS- Too large inital dose may cause nausea, gastric disturbance or headache. Non-toxic even at very high dosages. Contraindicated for individuals with acute or chronic psychosis. DOSE- 9-12 mg/Day COST- 100 x 5mg. oral tablets $39 SULBUTIAMINE (Arcalion)- Described as being like hydergine only better. Facilitates wakefullness, inproves long-term memory, speeds reaction time . decreases anxiety. PRECAUTIONS- Do not exceed 3 x 200mg tablets at any time as may cause severe headaches. Other than this has no other adverse affects. DOSE- 2 x 200mg. tablets for 20 days. COST- 20 X 200 mg. tablets $11 VASSOPRESSIN (Diapid)- A brain hormone released by the pituitary. Improve attention, concentration, memory and reacall. Cocaine, LSD, amphetamines, Ritalin, and Cylert(pemoline) cause depletion of vassopressin. Marijuana and alchohol inhibit the release of vassopressin. A Whiff of vassopressin can transform your experience in about 10 seconds when using these drugs as it is an application of the specific hormone being affected. PRECAUTIONS- Vassopressin occasionall produces the following side affects; runny nose, nasal congestion, itch or irritation of the nasal cavities, headach abdominal cramps and increased bowel movements. Safety during pregnancy unknown. DOSE- Comes in a nasal spray bottle. 2-4 whiffs 3-4 time2 a day will produce noticeable affects in seconds. COST- 12 ml. nasal spray $22 Send $6 with order for shipping, $10 for accelerated shiping These are just a small cross section of the Interlab product line, but they have found favor with me and mine. You may find the newletter of the Cognitive Enhancement Research Institute helpful. Send $1.00 to CERI PO Box 483 Santa Cruz, CA 96061 ****************************** Article Separation ***************************** Some friends of mine make a vitamin formula that they sell to drug treatment clinics to combat the neurotransmitter deficit caused by stimulant abuse... It really works,a lot of people have been helped off cocaine with it. There are two separate preparations, an AM and PM formula, The PM formula used to contain tryptophan,but now does not,obviously, However,they have had some sucess with a formula that maximizes the conversion of dietary tryptophan into serotonin. Here is the formula... AM...... L-tyrosine 250 mg. D,L phenylalanine 125 mg. Pantothenic acid 25 mg. PABA 25 mg. DMAE 25 mg. Rubidium Cl 25 mg. Tocopherol acetate 12.5 mg. Beta carotene 2.5 mg. Manganese (gluconate) 2.5 mg. Folic acid 0.1 mg Copper gluconate .125 mg Selenium .25 mg. PM....... Niacinamide (ascorbate) 250 mg. Taurine 50 mg. Magnesium oxide 50 mg. Pyridoxine 25 mg. Niacin 12.5 mg. Riboflavin 12.5 mg Zinc 2.5 mg. Beta carotene 2.5 mg. Chromium (GTF) .025 mg. Vitamin B12 .0125 mg. This is basically a neurotransmitter boosting formula and benefits those who dont have a drug abuse problem too. *************************** Article Separation ********************************* I was recently lucky enough to be given several ounces of pure DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol) and boy,is it ever a lot better than the Twinlab stuff,which I had previously been using... I use it in combination with tyrosine in the morning and it has dramatically improved my memory (and an interesting sideffect is the induction of lucid dreams...) A good source for DMAE are the AIDS buying clubs that have popped up in major cities..(although thats not where I got this..) For anyone interested in neurotransmitter precursor supplementation (DMAE,a relative of choline,is a precursor of acetylcholine) this one REALLY works.. **************************** Article Separation *******************************