Ask a Neuroscientist: Why is Adderall addictive to SOME people and not others? (and other questions)
Aug 1, 2024
Join a fascinating discussion with a pharmacology expert who reveals the inner workings of antidepressants and the complexities of drug side effects. Discover why Adderall is addictive for some people and how it impacts dopamine levels in both the brain and gut. Gain insight into the challenges of pursuing a biomedical PhD, sprinkled with humorous grad school anecdotes. The hosts wrap things up with quirky fun facts and a celebration of scientific curiosity, inviting listeners to engage with their community.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Grad School Intensity and Support
Claire shares her grad school experience with intense, fast-paced biomedical science classes focused on pharmacology and neuroscience.
She balanced heavy coursework with lab research and found support in close relationships with her cohort and department.
insights INSIGHT
Drug Side Effects Explained
Drugs cause side effects by binding to multiple receptors beyond their target, creating off-target effects.
For example, tricyclic antidepressants affect histamine and acetylcholine receptors causing dizziness and confusion.
insights INSIGHT
Why Withdrawal Causes Opposite Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms arise from suddenly removing a drug, causing abrupt disruption in neurochemical balance.
These symptoms appear as the opposite effects of the drug as the body reacts to sudden absence.
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In this bonus episode of Chemistry For Your Life, hosts Melissa and Jam are joined by Claire, an expert in pharmacology and neuroscience, to discuss the inner workings of antidepressants and answer additional questions from the previous episode. Claire shares her grad school experiences, highlighting the challenges and unique aspects of her biomedical sciences PhD program. They also delve into the complexities of drug side effects, withdrawal symptoms, and whether Adderall is addictive, offering nuanced insights throughout. The episode concludes with each sharing fun facts that live rent-free in their heads and an engaging community-inspired segment.
00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 01:36 Meet Claire: Grad School Experiences 03:10 Navigating Grad School Challenges 05:26 The Importance of Support Systems 06:25 Exploring Pharmacology and Neuroscience 09:52 Fun with Tattoos and Science 11:40 Understanding Drug Side Effects 17:00 Withdrawal Symptoms Explained 18:44 No Parents Allowed 19:19 Is Adderall Addictive? 19:53 Dopamine and ADHD 21:38 Adderall's Effects on the Body 28:32 Fun Facts and Listener Contributions 35:30 Closing Remarks and Acknowledgements
We want to give a VERY special thanks to Claire for sharing her knowledge with us and for her most pleasant company!
We want to give a special thanks to Bri McAllister for illustrating molecules for some episodes! Please go check out Bri’s art, follow and support her at entr0pic.artstation.com and @McAllisterBri on twitter!
Chemistry For Your Life