Drugs that make you act like...

[intpz]

I'm trying to determine what my cousin uses. Just out of pure curiosity. Here's some some information about him:

When he's on the drug, he is very relaxed, even to the point where he can barely talk, as if he was in ecstasy. He can repeat himself about the same thing 10 times, maybe in a form as follows: "I'm telling you xxxxxx," as if he was drunk. After that conversation (say next day), he doesn't remember anything. He MAY remember that he has called me for example, but he won't remember what we spoke about.
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Another *possible* drug: He is feeling in charge, is aggressive, willing to follow his impulses, which are often based on anger.
Usually, however, he seems to be more of the "follower" type, reserved, not trying to get into anybody's way.

NOTE: read below for the meaning of "possible."
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Possible side-effect of the drug:

He's really impulsive, he can get angry over a slightest thing, then he gets calm real fast almost instantly.
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Some information about his personality:

He seems to be an ISTP to me. He's reserved, doesn't have many friends (though goes clubbing and loves to get drunk). I believe he has only one friend with whom he spends time with mainly. If I assume something about him, and I attempt to use that against him when he wants me to respect the rules or be more social because it's "normal," he gets really defensive and it's impossible to get anything about him. So there goes I. He respects the rules (written or unwritten) and cares about what his family is doing. He seems to like numbers and studies, he never played an instrument or liked images or anything like that, therefore he should be a T. He is following others, doesn't feel in charge, he's okay with rules and all, therefore I give him a P.
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I know that it ain't weed, as I've seen people under the effect of weed - it ain't it. They do remember what was happening to begin with.

 

[Jason]

My guess would be benzodiazepines or opiates. Benzos are used to treat anxiety and have effects similar to alcohol, they can also mess with your memory. I have also seen people get really angry easily while using opiates. Both drugs impair speech if abused. Everyone is different though and for all I know it could just be there personality.

 

[MissQuote]

My guess to that first description would be some sort of opiate.

 

[intpz]

My guess would be benzodiazepines or opiates. Benzos are used to treat anxiety and have effects similar to alcohol, they can also mess with your memory. I have also seen people get really angry easily while using opiates. Both drugs impair speech if abused. Everyone is different though and for all I know it could just be there personality.

You mean as a side-effect when not using them? (not withdrawal) If so, some sort of opiate would indeed make a lot of sense.

 

[TriflinThomas]

Possibly benzos.

 

[Pizzabeak]

Marijuana.

 

[intpz]

Actually I think he might've been using something similar to Ritalin instead of benzodiazepines, as he's studying, therefore he should be striving for increased IQ, not for decreased IQ. Ritalin seems to cause anger issues, as well as impulse control issues.

As for the drowsy state, I think opiates fit his condition well.

Odd guy though. Why would he be using both Ritalin and opiates? Doesn't make sense.

 

[The Gopher]

Another *possible* drug: He is feeling in charge, is aggressive, willing to follow his impulses, which are often based on anger.
Usually, however, he seems to be more of the "follower" type, reserved, not trying to get into anybody's way.


He's really impulsive, he can get angry over a slightest thing, then he gets calm real fast almost instantly.
---
Some information about his personality:

He seems to be an ISTP to me.

No that just seems like ISTP personality. While he does get angry over the slighest thing it's because he has been so passive it get's to a point where he will just burst over anything because everything has built up. That said this is only observed from my brother who is an ISTP. However that is exactly the same mentality.

 

[intpz]

No that just seems like ISTP personality. While he does get angry over the slighest thing it's because he has been so passive it get's to a point where he will just burst over anything because everything has built up. That said this is only observed from my brother who is an ISTP. However that is exactly the same mentality.

Let me give you an example, let me know if such situations do occur with him as well:

We're sitting at a dining table during the Easter. His mom's talking about him and keeps nagging him with "is that right?" questions. He bursts, shouts and all for a minute or two. Then he calms down. She quits doing that. He's calm for another 10 minutes. People are talking about random topics, and then someone asks me if I want to take X food. He, once again, gets angry as hell and starts telling them that if I want it, I'll ask for it. After the dinner, he's taking us to the cemetery, I ride with him, while the rest of the pack goes with his father. He's driving, and somebody just slows down to make a turn, shows the turn signal and all, and once again he gets angry as hell, rambles about it for a half a minute. When we arrive there, he once again gets angry as his father hasn't arrived yet, drove another road, etc..

That's just one of the examples, I could give many more, on different days and different situations. The point is, there's nothing much to build up in such short periods of time. Also, in some of these cases he's acting as an ESTJ, talking a lot, asking questions, feeling in charge, ordering around (just telling what he thinks I should do as if what he's saying would be the absolute truth), etc.. Not always, but in those cases he gets even angrier and it lasts longer. Basically in those cases, if he asked me "how's school," and I'd say "it's okay, why did you ask?", he would start shouting and screaming for the next 2 minutes (or more), telling me that he's my cousin and that he should be caring about me, or that I must tell him, or whatever other bullshit comes to his head at that moment.

 

[The Gopher]

Let me give you an example, let me know if such situations do occur with him as well:

We're sitting at a dining table during the Easter. His mom's talking about him and keeps nagging him with "is that right?" questions. He bursts, shouts and all for a minute or two. Then he calms down. She quits doing that. He's calm for another 10 minutes. People are talking about random topics, and then someone asks me if I want to take X food. He, once again, gets angry as hell and starts telling them that if I want it, I'll ask for it. After the dinner, he's taking us to the cemetery, I ride with him, while the rest of the pack goes with his father. He's driving, and somebody just slows down to make a turn, shows the turn signal and all, and once again he gets angry as hell, rambles about it for a half a minute. When we arrive there, he once again gets angry as his father hasn't arrived yet, drove another road, etc..

That's just one of the examples, I could give many more, on different days and different situations. The point is, there's nothing much to build up in such short periods of time. Also, in some of these cases he's acting as an ESTJ, talking a lot, asking questions, feeling in charge, ordering around (just telling what he thinks I should do as if what he's saying would be the absolute truth), etc.. Not always, but in those cases he gets even angrier and it lasts longer. Basically in those cases, if he asked me "how's school," and I'd say "it's okay, why did you ask?", he would start shouting and screaming for the next 2 minutes (or more), telling me that he's my cousin and that he should be caring about me, or that I must tell him, or whatever other bullshit comes to his head at that moment.

Yeah that sounds similer, however the cool off is a little longer and slightly less frequent. However it is possible there is a drug enhancing his personality however as a general rule that is typical of an ISTP. (with a bad attitude maybe)

 

[Pilot the Cannibal]

Does your cousin have ADD?
He could be on Adderall (or vyvanse, ritalin, concerta, metadate...you get the pictures.) These are all different types of stimulant medications used to treat ADD (and narcolepsy and sometimes depression.) They're all amphetamines. They makes you feel really "calm" if you DO have ADD, because it allows your brain to focus on one thing at a time instead of everything at once. (If you don't have ADD, it mostly just makes you really spastic.) In people with ADD, it is exciting the inactive frontal lobes and enabling you to concentrate. It also makes you feel like you could accomplish anything, basically, which would account for the impulsivity. But when you're coming off of it, it makes you really, really, angry and irritable. They made this new drug, called Adderall XR; the XR stands for "extended release," and basically it just releases the drug really slowly so it'll last longer. For some people, though, it just feels like they're constantly coming on and off of Adderall (you feel energetic, then tired, then content, then angry, then euphoric, then depressed.) So that might be a cause of his moodswings. Adderall is a weird drug because it effects everyone differently; but in general, it IS a stimulant, so it causes increased activity, more confidence, more aggression, and better concentration (obviously.) Also, your cousin might be taking it even if he doesn't have ADD. A lot of people take it (illegally, mind you) because they like the way it makes them feel, despite the side effects. If he's a really shy person it might also help him be more outgoing. But I do know what it feels like to be coming off of it; and basically, everyone makes you mad (especially if you're hungry. Just saying.) One time, I had taken WAY too much (50 mg. adderall, 30 mg Vyvanse), and my brother walked into my room and accused me of taking his pencil sharpener. So, I punched him in the face, threw a calculator at his head, and then kicked a hole in my own door. At the time, all of those actions seemed like a perfectly appropriate response (and I am usually a pretty non-confrontational person.) I can't even properly describe it. You just want everyone to go away, and anything that they say or do is going to annoy you.
However, take all of this with a grain of salt, because I'm actually on Adderall right now and might be slightly biased towards it. And really, these symptoms don't sound that severe, so he might not even be taking drugs at all.

ALSO: for drug #1, he could be taking some sort of anti-anxiety medication (like Xanax or Valium) because the Adderall was making him anxious (it can cause anxiety because it increases your heart rate and blood pressure.) I know that this sounds like the stupidest thing ever---and it kind of is---but doctors prescribe these two things simultaneously with surprising frequency, even though they basically do opposite things.

I'm not saying it makes sense. I'm just saying it happens.

 

[intpz]

That's interesting. I don't think he has ADD though, but it's possible. I know that *for some reason* he used to go to a psychologist. But then again, his father is quite controlling, so he might've disliked that he smoked or drank, so that could be the cause for that. I'm not close to any of them.

 

[Pilot the Cannibal]

Just FYI; there are about 1 million people in the US alone who are misdiagnosed with ADD (or, even more commonly, ADHD.) If a parent brings their kid or teenager in with behavioral problems, 9 times out of 10 they'll diagnose them with ADD. Failing out of school? Lack of attention, you've got ADD. Sneaking out at night? Impulsivity, you've got ADD. Drinking and smoking? Poor impulse control, you've got ADD. Messy bedroom? Disorganization, you've got ADD. The doctor wants to find the quickest and easiest solution, as well as the cheapest. Instead of sending the teenager to behavioral therapy, family therapy, or even just signing them up for extra tutoring after school, medication is always the answer. Then, if the Adderall isn't helping, they'll prescribe you more. If that makes you have an anxiety attack, they'll prescribe you relaxants. If you become addicted to valium; well, you have ADD, so that's probably your addictive personality kicking in. NOW you should probably get sent to therapy; but that isn't the doctor's fault, of course.

Sorry, that turned into a rant. To sum things up; you might be right. Your cousin might NOT have ADD. But chances are, if he went to a shrink, the topic came up. I'd say that's the most likely possibility.

Doctors are great, aren't they...?

PS: The rant was not against Adderall. Adderall can actually help a lot of people with ADD. It was against doctors, and the way in which they prescribe it to everybody.