Helldivers 2 has gotten a little stale recently with the Polar Patriots warbond new additions being mostly bad, the Airburst Rocket Launcher also being bad, and the new anti-tank mines actually look decent but will probably have to long of a cooldown so they will be niche. I'm proposing changes that could spice up the game by changing up enemies, modifiers, and weapons. Let me know what you think about the changes and what could be improved as I'm not a game designer and just want to see Helldivers 2 be better.
Assault Rifles
Assault Rifles are probably the worst class of guns in Helldivers, they don't excel at anything and aren't even that good allround. They need massive help
Liberator: Currently the base Liberator is just a worse Sickle. Not only does the Sickle have infinite ammo but for some reason it has higher DPS. I would reccomend changing its damage to 70 per shot and 11 shots per second bringing up its damage to 770 DPS. To go with the higher firerate, changing the reload time to 1.5 seconds on tactical reload and 2 seconds on a full reload would make the gun feel much better as a starter gun because it would just feel faster and kill better.
Liberator Penetrator: Liberator Penetrator is one of the worst weapons in the game. It has medium armor penetration but lacks any stopping power for it to be useful. Bringing the damage per shot up to 60 and upping the ammo to 35 bullets per magazine will take it a long way, having 640 DPS and medium armor penetration but having less bullets
Liberator Concussive: Liberator Concussive has the same probelm as the Liberator Penetrator in that it can't kill but even worse. I would reccomend bringing its damage up to a whopping 90 damage per shot. This sounds crazy but the changes to enemy spawns makes this more fair which i will discuss later. This increase in damage would give it a niche of a long range way of stunning bot enemies and actually being able to kill them. DPS would be 480 which isn't that crazy but the concussive ability would help. If I'm being honest this one might still be to weak so tell me what you reccomend changing for this gun.
Tenderizer: Tenderizer is in a very bad spot because it's an inferior Liberator even without my changes. I would reccomend bringing up its damage up to 70 per shot giving it a DPS of 700. In addition, because the DPS is lower I think giving it a small amount of stagger where enemies can't move or shoot back could go a long way in differentiating itself from the Liberator. Making the Tenderizer stagger enemies such as Hunters, Brood Commanders, Scout Striders (Striders wouldn't be damaged because of the lack of medium armor penetration but would be staggered if hit from the front), and standard Devastators would make the gun much more fun. Also make it fully resupply when refilling with resupply boxes like all other weapons.
Adjudicator: Adjudicator is in a pretty bad spot right now. It has poor handling and the damage isn't high enough to reliably one shot trash mobs, but it also doesn't have good enough damage to deal with more serious threats. I would reccomend bringing the damage up to 100 per shot for a total of 916 DPS. This would help justify the lower than average 25 bullets in a magazine.
Marksman Rifles
Marksman Rifles are in a decent spot with only the Diligence needing some help so that's what I've focused on.
Dilligence: The Dilligence is hard to balance as it is decent on bugs and bots but excels in neither of them. In addition it's hard to juggle balancing the Adjudicator, Dilligence, and the Diligence Counter-Sniper to make sure they're all good in their own ways. I think it might be fun to make the Dilligence the "easy medium armor penetration rifle". Get rid of almost all of its recoil and sway to promote more aggresive playstyles. The Dilligence would have lower DPS than the Adjudicator but it would be much easier to control and would just feel fun.
Dilligence Counter-Sniper: Honestly this weapon is perfect right now. It fulfills its role on bots perfectly and is fun to use. I worry that the Adjudicator changes would make this gun obsolete but I think it would still have its own niche. No changes
Sub-Machine Guns
One of the most consistent weapon types in the game with really only the Knight needing some help.
Defender: One of the most well balanced weapons in the game. No changes
Pummeler: It might be to early to say but the Pummeler feels good to use and fulfills its role, being worse at trash clear compared to the Defender but better against heavier targets thanks to the stagger. My opinion could change but for right now I don't think it needs any changes. no changes
Knight: The Knight is right now pretty bad just because it has a low ammo count for its firerate and fairly long reload time. These 2 factors just make the gun feel unfun to use because you are spending so much time reloading. It takes only 2 seconds to unload a full clip and 2.5 seconds to reload a full clip so you literally spend more time reloading than shooting. I would reccomend increasing the ammo per magazine from 50 bullets to a staggering 100 bullets per magazine and lowering the total number of magazines to 5. This would change the weapon's problem from "I have no ammo" to "I need to control my recoil so that I can kill better". This gun would reward close range play and good recoil management, being able to deal massive DPS if you can hit your shots.
Shotguns
Shotguns are probably the best class of weapon, issue being that some shotguns heavily outclass others. My goal is to equalize the difference between the shotguns and give them their own niches
Punisher: The most forgettable shotgun, the Punisher really just doesn't feel special. I admit that I don't have much experience with this gun so please tell me what you think about this gun currently. I think it would be cool if this shotgun was a jack of all trades shotgun. Reduce the spread but still have it be there and increase the firerate to 2 shots per second for a DPS of 810. It wouldn't have the range of a Slugger or the close range damage of a Breaker but it would have a little bit of both.
Slugger: Honestly just give it back its old stagger. This gun would functionally but the "precision shotgun" staggering and killing larger targers but having lower DPS in exchange
Breaker: Really the Breaker doesn't need help. It tears through trash mobs and does well against larger targets as well. The Breaker is fun and fair. It has lower ammo and not the greatest range but it's 100% workable. No changes
Breaker Spray & Pray: Breaker S&P isn't a bad weapon at all but it's 100% outclassed by the Breaker Incindiary. The only change I would make is to give it a 30 round magazine with 7 magazines to further lean into the "Spray and Pray" aspect of the gun.
Breaker Incindiary: This gun needs nerfs. I love the thing but it outclasses the Breaker Spray & Pray and fulfills its own niche at the same time. I would reccomend bringing down the firerate from 5 shots per second to 4, lowering its DPS from 1200 without accounting for fire damage to a DPS of 960 without accounting for fire damage. This lowered firerate would make the gun lean into its gimmick and have the fire do more work.
Explosive Weapons
Explosive weapons are probably the hardest to balance due to all of the recent nerfs to the Eruptor and Crossbow. I've decided to skip these weapons as I don't fully understand how explosive damage works
Dominator: A gun with good strengths and a fair amount of weaknesses to hold it back, making it fair. No changes
Energy Weapons
One of my favorite types of weapons and one that doesn't require much balancing.
Blitzer: The only change I have in mind for this weapon is the way that targeting works. Make it so that when you aren't aiming it the gun will always try to target as many enemies as possible and when aimed in it will aim all of the shots at the crosshair
Purifier: This weapon needs more testing but is unanimously agreed to be trash. If the gun works the way I think it does then the damage is much lower than people think it is, with the bolt dealing a respectable 250 damage but the explosion dealing much less. I would reccomend making the bolt and the explosion do 250 damage, essentially one shotting any low or medium level bot including Scout Striders. This should be fair because it has a large charge up time inbetween shots
Punisher Plasma: One of the most underrated weapons and a personal favorite of mine. I love what they did to the weapon but it deserves a small nerf. Revert the projectile speed to the way it was before it was buffed or find a middle ground from where it is now and where it was before
Scythe: The problem with the Scythe is really the way damage is dealt. It deals 350 per second. The issue with this is it's slow to kill anything because it at minimum takes 1 second for damage to be applied. I would reccomend making it so that damage starts as soon as the laser touches something for the first time. This could be abused so i would also reccomend raising the charge up time to .6 seconds. I'm not 100% sure if this would work how I think it would so please let me know what you think. I'll try and illustrate what this looks like
Current version
(Laser touches, 1 second passes, damage)
Changed version
(Laser touches and damages at the same time, 1 second passes, damage)
Sickle: Fantastic weapon that is fun to use. No changes
Scorcher: Fantastic weapon, great all around with low ammo to balance it. No changes
Pistols
Pistols are in an ok spot right now but some overshadow others largely
Peacemaker: I bet you don't even know what the Peacemaker is because nobody ever uses it. The Peacemaker needs some massive help. I would reccomend raising the Peacemaker's total ammo to 25 rounds per magazine, raising the magazines to 7 magainzes total, and raising the damage anywhere from 80-90 per shot. The damage would still be just ok, being good on trash mobs, but would be a big help on builds that waste a lot of ammo. I want the Peacemaker to one shot Hunters and Pouncers as I think that's the only change that could make it actually strong and not overshadow other secondaries
Redeemer: No changes. It's very useful as an "Oh shit" tool. It would have lower DPS than the Peacemaker but would be easier to use in a pinch because it's full auto where the Peacemaker is semi auto
Senator: No changes. Great gun with it's own niche
Dagger: Literal trash, it has the lowest DPS in the game, has a large cooldown, and builds heat quickly. I would change it so that it can't overheat at all and even then it might still be trash. Let me know if there are any better ways to balance it
Grenade Pistol: Great utility weapon. The only change I would make is to make the explosion radius a little bigger to more reliably destroy bot fabricators
Verdict: It's to early to tell but the Verdict looks strong, being similar to the Senator with a better ammo economy but no medium armor penetration. Making it a reliable anti medium target weapon. No changes
Grenades
Grenades are in a weird spot right now, with some being amazing and some being bad and I aim to raise the lower end of grenades to be in line with the rest
High Explosive: No changes. It's decent having a larger blast than impacts but being slower
Frag Grenades: These things are bad. I would change the max number of grenades from 4 to 6 when holding these grenades, making them great against fabricators and bug holes
Incindiary Grenades: Raise the blast radius and it's good
Incindiary Impacts: As long as the Impact grenades radius is smaller than the normal version, it's good
Impact Grenades: No changes
Stun Grenades: No changes
Thermite Grenades: These things need help. They really only have 2 uses. 1-2 well placed Thermites and and an anti-tank shot will kill a Bile Titan and 1 Thermite will destroy a Cannon Turret. I would reccomend increasing the final explosion blast radius size, damage, and the thermite burn radius. This would cause 1 anti-tank shot and 1 Thermite to consistently kill Bile Titans, it would be easier to hit Hulk eyes with Thermites and 1 shot them, and Thermites should kill with 2 grenades if hitting a Tank heat vent. Thermites should also strip Charger armor with 1 Thermite
Support Weapons
Expendable Anti-Tank: No changes, great support weapon
Recoiless Rifle: Increase the size of the explosion making it easier to hit weakpoints, Making it stronger than other anti-tank options in exchange for the backpack slot
Spear: Fix the tracking to be much more consistent. The Spear just doesn't have enough ammo and should have 6 shots instead of 4
Quasar Cannon: No changes, has unlimited ammo but has a cooldown and charge up time
Airburst Rocket Launcher: This thing is so dogshit. It requires a backpack slot, needs to shoot enemies far away from allies or you'll kill them or yourself, doesn't gurantee killing everything in the blast radius, etc. This thing needs a massive damage buff to be worth using. Increase the amount of cluster bombs to gurantee that whatever is in the radius is dead including Hulks. Increase the armor penetration value to at least strip Charger armor and do big damage to it, if that's not enough it should kill Chargers outright
Grenade Launcher: Increase the amount of magazines from 2 to 3. This thing is great but the low ammo makes it unviable so increasing the magazines by 1 will go a long way
Railgun: This thing needs help. It should require only 2 level 7-8 shots to strip Charger leg armor. It should 4 shot a Bile Titan in the face when using max charge shots. and 3 max charge shots should kill tank vents
Stalwart: The Stalwart is IMO an underrated pick on bugs. Its main issue is really that it's only good at unarmored horde clearing, leaving the user prone to being attacked by armored and high level enemies. I would propose that giving it medium armor penetration would take it a long way as one of the best horde clearing weapons, being able to deal with Hive Guards, Bile Spewers, and Scout Striders easier
Machine Gun: The Machine Gun might be the least used support weapon in Helldivers 2. It just doesn't really do anything special that another support can't do better. I would reccomend giving it heavy armor penetration, allowing it to kill Hulks when hitting the eye and it would go through devastator armor
Heavy Machine Gun: Unfortunately, from its inception the HMG has been bottom tier. It recently got a crosshair but even still it just gets outclassed by the Anti-Material Rifle, Laser Cannon, and even the Railgun. I think it could be cool to up the ammo to 100 rounds per magazine and add an optional backpack. This backpack would add an extra magazine and would increase the armor penetration to go through Charger & Hulk armor
Anti-Material Rifle: The AMR probably needs a small nerf. It 1-2 shots anything on the bot front. I would reccomend reverting its damage so that it needs to headshot devastators to one shot them
Autocannon: No changes
Laser Cannon: No changes
Arc Thrower: Make the Arc Thrower staggestun lock Hulks again and its great. Right now it's useless on bots
Flamethrower: The Flamethrower is great because it can horde clear and kill Chargers very efficiently. This is most likely unintentional but it is very fun. I would reccomend lowering the total magazines from 4 to 3 to balance out the Flamethrower's strengths.
Backpacks
Guard Dog: Guard Dog is currently just overshadowed by its Rover variant. I would reccomend changing the gun from the Liberator to the Liberator Penatrator, with the damage being the same but giving it medium armor penetration. Ammo boxes should also refill its ammo
Guard Dog Rover: No changes, the nerfs were justified. This is still a great horde clearing weapon but it doesn't play the game for you anymore
Supply Pack: No changes, you give up a backpack slot but you get 4 resupply boxes which is a big help and is balanced
Ballistic Shield: No changes, it fulfills its niche on bots and will get even better as time passes with new 1 handed weapons
Jump Pack: No changes, the Jump Pack is decent but it becomes much better depending on the primary weapon you use
Shield Generator Pack: No changes
Emplacements
Anti-Personnel Mines: Mines are completely terrible right now, their damage is decent but the cooldowns are just to long to be useful. I reccomend reducing their cooldown from 3 minutes to 1 minute
Incendiary Mines: Just like the Anti-Personnel Mines, the cooldown should be brought down to 1 minute but also since fire damage is weaker than explosive damage, there should be more Incendiary Mines in a larger radius
Machine Gun Sentry: The Machine Gun Sentry is just a weaker version of the Gatling Sentry. Instead of bringing the power of the MG Sentry up, I think it would be cool to lower the cooldown of the MG sentry. The idea with this sentry is to be the disposable horde clear sentry, similar to how EATs are the disposable anti-heavy support weapon
Gatling Sentry: No changes
Autocannon Sentry: No changes
Mortar Sentry: No changes
EMS Mortar Sentry: No changes
Rocket Sentry: Right now the Rocket Sentry is just largely inferior to the AC Sentry. I think it could be cool to increase the range and projectile speed of the Rocket Sentry massively. This would make it a lower DPS but longer range sentry with more ammo compared to the AC Sentry. The AC Sentry would be better in terms of DPS but would require better positioning and defense while the Rocket Sentry is something you could put farther away that would help with larger targets, which is what a missle should do.
Tesla Tower: I haven't used the Tesla Tower enough to discuss what should be done about it, please let me know what ideas you have for it
HMG Emplacement: Really just make the HMG Emplacement affected by sentry upgrades. These upgrades would give the HMG Emplacement more ammo, a better turn speed, and more health
Eagles & Orbitals
There are to many to list so I'll only be listing Offensive Stratagems that should be changed
Eagle Strafing Run: Give it heavy armor penetration. It would be good way to horde clear and kill larger targets but wouldn't excel at either role
Eagle Airstrike: Reduce the uses from 2 to 1. This thing is just to good to have 2 uses. It horde clears, kills bosses, destroy fabricators and bug holes, has multiple uses, etc. Nerfing the amount of uses before it goes on cooldown brings up a lot of other stratagems
Eagle Cluster Bomb: Reduce uses from 4 to 3
Orbital Gatling Barrage: The OGB should target and move around instead of being a stationary stratagem. Instead of targeting high level enemies it should target groups of low level enemies.
Enemy Changes
I might be in the minority but I feel like the main game mode (Helldive difficulty, 4 players) is to easy. I would reccomend buffing up the enemies to not only account for all of these new buffs but also to make Helldive hard again. All of these changes would only apply to Helldive difficulty as that's the only difficulty I have enough experience to have a good idea of what should change
Increased spawns on objectives: Objectives currently need to have more spawns, there is just to much downtime. Of course each objective will need its own spawnrates based on how long and how difficult each objective but generally there needs to be less enemies
Pouncers: Low level bug enemies are currently not threatening enough. They have low health, low damage, and are slow. I would reccomend increasing the Pouncer's movement speed to increase their ability to swarm players.
Warriors: Just like the Pouncers, Warriors just aren't very scary and should have increased movement speed to make them still a threat with their ability to swarm
Bile Spewers: These things need to be shot. Their spit attack is 100% broken. Damage on the spit attack needs to be reduced so that it isn't a one shot. I think a cool change though to make them still a threat is that diving would get rid of the slow debuff, but it would also increase the DOT from the acid, giving the player the choice between their movement or their health. Slow debuff should only be applied if the acid attack hits, not if the acid is in your general area
Bile Titans: These things are honestly just to tanky and completely define bug missions. There are to few ways to kill these. You either need an anti-tank support weapon or an anti-heavy stratagem. I think a good change would be that the legs should have lower armor (maybe heavy armor penetration and explosive weapons can do damage) and that if a leg is hit enough the Bile Titan would die. Hitting the head with anti-tank weapons would still be faster and leg shots would probably require 2-3 people to shoot the leg to kill the Titan at a reasonable pace but Titans wouldn't be unkillable.
Heavy Devastators: Devastators just need an accuracy nerf. They kill incredibly quickly and they frequently spawn so nerfing their accuracy would make them more fun to fight
New Additions
These are a few new additions to the game that I think would be cool
Gas Grenade: A portable version of the Orbital Gas Strike. It would have a larger AOE compared to incindiary grenades but a lower DPS
Thermite Breacher: A new support bolt-action sniper rifle that uses large thermite bullets. There would be 3 shots per magazine and 4 magazines total. Shooting this weapon sticks a large thermite bullet that deals high damage over time that explodes, similarly to the thermite grenade. No 3rd person scope. 1 leg shot would strip Charger armor, 2 headshots would kill. 3 headshots would kill a Bile Titan. One eye shot would kill a hulk, 2 shots would destroy heat vents
Incindiary Grenade Launcher: A grenade launcher with 4 magazines that shot incindiary grenades
Gas Grenade Launcher: A grenade launcher with 4 magazines that shot gas grenades. These grenades would have a larger AOE compared to the Incindiary Grenade Launcher but a lower DPS
Arc Spitter: An arc assault rifle that had lower damage per shot and firerate, but would also fire arc shots that could arc to 1 other target per shot
Glide Pack: A varaint of the Jump Pack. It doesn't have as much vertical height but you can hold the space bar to slowly glide back to the ground
Roman Exosuit: A new Exosuit meant to be used against bots. The left hand would have a shield that could block bullets from the front and would break after taking enough damage. The right hand would have a large Laser Cannon that could overheat and would have a long cooldown when overheated
Angel Support: A Pelican would come down from the Super Destroyer to hover over the player for 30 seconds. Would have unlimited ammo and a 4 minute cooldown. So far the 2 weapons I think it could have is an Autocannon and Gatling gun
Care Package: Once every 1.5 minutes, call down a Care Package that gives the player a random one time use stratagem that goes away upon death. Can only hold 1 Care Package stratagem at a time
Fido: A new stratagem that summons an AI controlled car. This car would go around spotting enemies, finding side objectives, collecting ammo, supplies, and samples
Sharpshooter: A new armor passive. Hitting weakpoints on medium and high level targets would reward the player with ammo, stims, & grenades. If a weakpoint breaks such as a brood commander leg or the target dies due to being hit in weakpoint, get some supplies back. This effect does not apply to low level targets. 5% chance to get a stim, 15% chance to get a grenade, 20% chance to get a support weapon magazine, 60% chance to get a primary and secondary magazine.
Thick Skin: A new armor passive. 25% damage reduction when being hit in the back or side
Extrasensory: A new armor passive. Gain the ability to detect enemies offscreen in a 25m radius
End of thread, please let me know what you liked and what you think should be changed

Why is it that someone would feel AMAZING pain relief on say 4 (30 mg ER morphine) per day with no IR. But could take 8 OxyContin 20 mg ER per day plus IR oxycodone which is way over the max allowable dosage and not feel a thing except a constant need for more medication. Yet on the morphine be in a state of complete and utter calmness and pain relief and often so much so they forget they need to take anymore than 2-3 a day….
How do you approach your PM doctor and request a change in RX to Morphine ER, when they are so finicky already any time you ask for anything. HELP!

I’ve been struggling with a panic disorder for 12 years now. First two years were hell of ER and urgent care trips, and 911 calls that I can’t even count.
It was somewhat managed after I took Xanax for several months. Then for several years I even believed it completely went away while I wasn’t medicated at all. Started back up in 2018, so I started taking clonazepam 0.25 mg nightly. I also took 0.25 mg during the day as needed. All was under control and I stopped having the attacks.
Now since the February of this year it is back with a vengeance. I’ve already had 2 ER trips and one 911 call. I’ve been having to take clonazepam more often and don’t want to keep doing so. I’m waiting to see someone for an SSRI prescription. My attacks seem stronger than before and different. Whereas I used to get the aura of feeling detached from my body, now I feel like I’m going to go completely insane. I’m 41, f, have a career and finishing my master’s. I can’t do this anymore and need relief.
As far as I know there are only 3 SSRIs that are approved for PD by the FDA while others are used off label. I’m considering either Prozac (fda approved) or Lexapro (off label). Which has worked best for you guys?
TL/DR which SSRI works for you for PD and didn’t cause more panic attacks?

CBD gummies are a hot wellness trend on social media, and you’re looking to try them for yourself. That’s great. At NutraHolistics, we sampled gummies from brands across the UK to assess the best options for your CBD experience. Here are our top choices.

Best CBD Gummies

1 Blessed CBD – The Best Overall CBD Gummies in the UK

Blessed CBD gets the nod for the best CBD gummies available in the UK. These delicious edibles feature formulation with CBD isolate containing pure cannabidiol and no THC. The CO2 extraction ensures no contaminants, and Blessed CBD products are NSF-certified, with COAs on the site for every batch.
These CBD gummies contain 25mg of CBD cannabinoids each (750mg in the bottle), making them a good choice for beginners and experienced users alike. You get 30 servings per bottle, and the price is great, with discounts for members and savings when you order a two-pack deal. The tropical mix flavor is great, giving you a sweet surprise with every gummy.

Pros

·Good balanced potency per gummy.
·Excellent flavor.
·Great pricing, with discounts for members and bundle deals.
·NSF-certified.

Cons

·Only one strength is available.
·No options for single flavors.

2 Vibes CBD – The Best CBD Gummies in the UK Runner-Up

Vibes gets our award for the runner up in this review. The brand offers a fruit mix of gummies with an updated formula, and excellent flavour. There’s 25mg of CBD isolate in each gummy and 500mg total in the can. You get 20 gummies per tin, and it’s completely THC-free.
Vibes uses third-party labs for testing its CBD, so you know it’s premium quality, and you can sign up for the mailing list to save 10% on your order. Like Blessed, these gummies are a good choice for beginners and experienced users, but they lack in the quantity department, giving you 30% fewer gummies per can. However, it’s still a great deal.

Pros

·Improved & refined formula.
·Great flavors and mixed variety per can.
·Decent pricing.
·Good choice for experienced users and beginners.

Cons

·Limited strength for experienced users.
·No single flavor options.

3 Supreme CBD – The Best Dosage Range for CBD Gummies in the UK

Supreme CBD has a great range, with options for gummy bears and cubes. The dosage measures between 16mg to 25mg per gummy, with the strawberries being the most potent option. It’s a good brand for beginners, but experienced users might find it a bit lacking in potency for most of the products.
The flavor range is good, but there’s no option for mixed fruit flavors, so you might get a bit tired eating out of the same bag every day. Supreme uses CBD isolate in their edibles, and every batch is tested by third-party labs for purity and efficacy.

Pros

·Good flavor range.
·Best choice for beginners.
·Cubes, gummy bears, and strawberries available.
·Varying potency range.

Cons

·Not a great choice for experienced users.
·Single-flavor options might get a bit tiring on your tastebuds.
·Small servings per bag.

#4 Just CBD – The Widest Selection of CBD Gummies in the UK

Just CBD products are great value for money, and they have a great selection of gummy edibles including sour worms, peach rings, mixed berry CBD gummies, and more. You can choose your jar size, ranging from 3,000mg to 250mg, and pricing is a bit to the higher end of the scale, but it’s still good value.
Just CBD uses THC-free CBD isolate in its gummies, and the selection of gummy styles is the standout feature of this brand. You have options for gummies ranging from 8mg to 31mg potency in each edible.

Pros

·Great selection of gummy products.
·Plenty of good customer reviews.
·Good range of strength options.

Cons

·Imported brand.
·Slightly expensive.

#5 Reakiro – The Best High-Strength CBD Gummies in the UK

Reakiro doesn’t play around with their gummy range. This brand offers dosages of up to 50mg per gummy, making them the highest-strength option in this review and a good choice for experienced CBD users.
They also offer full-spectrum CBD, so you might want to avoid this brand if you’re looking for a THC-free option. The prices are a bit steep, and the flavor range is limited, with cherry, orange, and apple & Lemon.

Pros

·Best choice for experienced users.
·Options from 10mg to 50mg per edible.

Cons

·Limited flavor range.
·Full-spectrum CBD is not suitable for people who want to avoid THC.
·A bit pricey.

#6 CBDfx – The Best Imported Range of CBD Gummies in the UK

CBDfx is a premium US Colorado brand available in the UK, with a great range of gummies. However, they use full-spectrum CBD, so there’s trace THC in the edibles. The brand also has higher-THC cannabis options, but those aren’t available in the UK. CBDfx has a great reputation, and good customer reviews.
CBDfx CBD products feature gummies ranging in potency up to 6,000mg per jar, making them more suitable for the experienced user. The biggest drawback is the gummy texture, and they’re more chewy than other options.

Pros

·Imported brand with a good reputation.
·Suitable for experienced users.

Cons

·Gummy texture and mouthfeel are a little off-putting.
·No THC-free options.

#7 Edens Gate – The Best Mid-Strength Range of CBD Gummies in the UK

Edens Gate is another premium UK brand offering excellent high-quality CBD edibles. You get multi-flavor jars with gummy bear edibles that are soft and sweet for an excellent mouthfeel. Dosage options range from 100mg to 1,800mg per jar.
However, the company frequently sells out of the most popular options and takes a few weeks to restock its supply, so keep checking back for availability.

Pros

·Good choice for beginner to intermediate users.
·Multi-flavor bottles.

Cons

·Lacking a high-strength option.
·Problems with the availability of some products.

#8 CBDiablo – The Best Vegan-Friendly Range of CBD Gummies in the UK

CBDiablo is our top choice for candy-style, gluten-free, non-GMO CBD edibles suitable for the vegan-friendly lifestyle. There’s a limited range, with options for 5-piece and 30-piece bags.
There’s only one flavor which is a bit limiting, and the 10mg strength makes them great for beginners, but not the best choice for experienced users.

Pros

·Vegan-friendly.
·Great gummy mouthfeel.

Cons

·No high-strength options.
·Expensive for smaller bag sizes.
·Limited flavor range.

#9 Provacan – The Best CBD Gummies in the UK for Beginners

If you’re a beginner looking to dabble in CBD gummies, Provocan has you covered. It offers CBD gummies in 10mg strength, with 50-unit and 100-unit bag options. The gummies are bursting with flavor and have a great mouthfeel.
However, Provocan is a premium brand, and the gummies are a little pricey, considering the milligram strength available. Experienced users should avoid this option and go with something stronger.

Pros

·Great choice for beginners.
·Premium brand.

Cons

·Expensive.
·Limited flavor range.
·Not suitable for experienced users.

#10 Bristol CBD – The Best Premium Vegan Edible Range in the UK

If you’re looking for a high-end vegan-friendly gummy, try Bristol CBD. This company has a great reputation, and its gummies come in a delicious cherry flavor with 25mg of CBD isolate in every edible.
Bristol CBD uses organic ingredients, and there are potential benefits to being environmentally friendly and cruelty-free, which should be considered when choosing these gummies. We wish they had more flavor options.

Pros

·Good strength per gummy.
·Vegan-friendly.
·Premium ingredients.

Cons

·Limited flavor options.
·Pricey.

What We Considered When Assessing the Best CBD Gummy Brands

Understanding CBD Oil – Broad Spectrum CBD Vs. Full-Spectrum CBD Gummies

Full-spectrum CBD gummies feature some residual THC, usually under 0.3% in the formula. Broad-spectrum CBD products and CBD isolate gummies from the hemp plant don’t contain any THC at all. However, all three forms of CBD contain cannabidiol cannabinoids.
Full-spectrum gummies provide an “entourage effect” that’s more holistic, while broad-spectrum CBD gummies from hemp extract or cornbread hemp extract don’t have the same effect on users. It’s a very different experience from gummy bears made with cannabis.

Flavors & Range

Most CBD edibles contain trace amounts of terpenes combined with a berry flavor or other natural flavors like watermelon. Some might even contain additional ingredients like turmeric to remove inflammation in the digestive system. Look for gummies with natural ingredients and avoid products with corn syrup used in the flavoring.

Strength & Effect

Full spectrum CBD gummies offer you the best wellness effects from the cannabis plant, interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) for the desired effects. The amount of CBD in the formulation determines the effect as the CBD interacts with the CBD receptors in the ECS.
Beginners should pay attention to the amount of CBD in the gummies and choose a lower dose to start. Look at the product description for the mg of CBD in the gummy. Optimizing your dose of CBD to your tolerance is the best way to have a pleasant experience.

Third-Party Tested CBD

Your gummy brand should offer third-party lab testing and lab reports on the gummies for concentrations of CBD. The third-party lab tests the CBD used in the gummy formulation for heavy metals, pesticides, and contaminants to ensure you get a safe and effective product. The certificate of analysis (COA) shows if the gummies are THC-free and the type of extraction method. The FDA doesn’t regulate the market, so COAs are important to ensure product safety.

Price & Value

Look for products offering a money-back guarantee. These brands are willing to stake their reputation on your user experience. Some products cost more than others, so choose wisely and get a balance between price and efficacy when selecting your gummies.

Reputation & Customer Reviews

What are people saying about their experience with the brand? Check out Google reviews and what people are saying on social media to get an idea of the quality of the gummies and the benefits of the user experience.

The Benefits of CBD Gummies, The Effects of CBD Gummies & Side Effects

CBD gummies are a safe wellness product. They can assist with pain relief from chronic pain symptoms (Although, there is no medical evidence showing this wellness effect, see our disclaimer later in this buyer’s guide).
Some users might experience minor side effects like drowsiness or dry mouth, but the benefits of CBD gummies far outweigh the cons. If you’re using any medication, consult your healthcare professional before ordering CBD gummies.

THC Vs. CBD Edibles – What’s the Difference?

THC edibles contain the psychoactive substance THC, while CBD gummies will only contain up to 0.3% THC. THC gummies make you feel high, while CBD gummies don’t have a psychoactive effect. CBD gummies are more for wellness and well-being, and THC gummies are a recreational drug.

Wrapping Up – A Quick Disclaimer on CBD Health Benefits

CBD gummies are a tasty treat and a great way to improve your sleep quality and reduce stress. However, it’s important to note that there is no medical evidence surrounding these claims. That said, there’s plenty of anecdotal reports from users saying how using these gummies changed their lives. Give it a try yourself and buy CBD gummies from one of the brands on our top 10 list.

The 10 Best CBD Gummies in the UK – FAQs

Q: Why choose CBD gummies over oils or tinctures?
A: There are plenty of CBD products on the market. Top brands use CBD isolate in CBD edibles, tinctures, and CBD capsules, ensuring you get the purest form of cannabidiol. There are different types of CBD, and high-quality CBD products contain full-spectrum CBD to achieve the best results.
Q: What experience can I expect from eating CBD gummies?
A: The cannabinoids in the cannabidiol found in CBD gummies will soothe your nervous system. The effects of CBD gummies improve your well-being and lower the stress response (see our disclaimer surrounding wellness and CBD). Most first-time CBD gummy users will get a similar experience to using creams and other topical or vape pens. There’s no psychoactive effect, just a calming feeling that washes over you. Most organic CBD gummy brands are gluten-free and suitable for vegans, but that’s not the case with all of them, so check the label before buying.
Q: Do CBD gummies get me high? Can I use them if I’m part of a sports drug-testing program?
A: No. CBD gummies contain less than 0.3% THC, so they won’t get you high. The FDA and USDA recognize them as supplements. While they feature cannabis in the formulation, there’s no THC and no risk of feeling high for CBD users.
Q: Do CBD gummies have an herbal flavor, or will I taste traces of plant material?
A: CBD gummies feature pure CBD extract and CBD oil as the base ingredient in the formula. However, leading CBD brands filter the plant material out of the extract and the terpenes, leaving behind pure CBD and nothing else. The gummies in this review are sweet and satisfying, with no earthy taste.
Your Trusted Guide to the Best CBD Gummies of 2024 - With NutraHolistics and Nathalia Hoedjes: NutraHolistics, a renowned Dutch wellness retailer, and expert tester Nathalia Hoedjes, bring you a detailed buyer's guide to the best CBD gummies. We provide critical information about the concentration, ingredients, and the sourcing of each product, alongside third-party test results. While we may earn commissions for purchases, our reviews are strictly neutral. Consulting a healthcare professional about CBD is advised.Pros
·Best choice for experienced users.
·Options from 10mg to 50mg per edible.

Cons

·Limited flavor range.
·Full-spectrum CBD is not suitable for people who want to avoid THC.
·A bit pricey.

#6 CBDfx – The Best Imported Range of CBD Gummies in the UK

CBDfx is a premium US Colorado brand available in the UK, with a great range of gummies. However, they use full-spectrum CBD, so there’s trace THC in the edibles. The brand also has higher-THC cannabis options, but those aren’t available in the UK. CBDfx has a great reputation, and good customer reviews.
CBDfx CBD products feature gummies ranging in potency up to 6,000mg per jar, making them more suitable for the experienced user. The biggest drawback is the gummy texture, and they’re more chewy than other options.

Pros

·Imported brand with a good reputation.
·Suitable for experienced users.

Cons

·Gummy texture and mouthfeel are a little off-putting.
·No THC-free options.

#7 Edens Gate – The Best Mid-Strength Range of CBD Gummies in the UK

Edens Gate is another premium UK brand offering excellent high-quality CBD edibles. You get multi-flavor jars with gummy bear edibles that are soft and sweet for an excellent mouthfeel. Dosage options range from 100mg to 1,800mg per jar.
However, the company frequently sells out of the most popular options and takes a few weeks to restock its supply, so keep checking back for availability.

Pros

·Good choice for beginner to intermediate users.
·Multi-flavor bottles.

Cons

·Lacking a high-strength option.
·Problems with the availability of some products.

#8 CBDiablo – The Best Vegan-Friendly Range of CBD Gummies in the UK

CBDiablo is our top choice for candy-style, gluten-free, non-GMO CBD edibles suitable for the vegan-friendly lifestyle. There’s a limited range, with options for 5-piece and 30-piece bags.
There’s only one flavor which is a bit limiting, and the 10mg strength makes them great for beginners, but not the best choice for experienced users.

Pros

·Vegan-friendly.
·Great gummy mouthfeel.

Cons

·No high-strength options.
·Expensive for smaller bag sizes.
·Limited flavor range.

#9 Provacan – The Best CBD Gummies in the UK for Beginners

If you’re a beginner looking to dabble in CBD gummies, Provocan has you covered. It offers CBD gummies in 10mg strength, with 50-unit and 100-unit bag options. The gummies are bursting with flavor and have a great mouthfeel.
However, Provocan is a premium brand, and the gummies are a little pricey, considering the milligram strength available. Experienced users should avoid this option and go with something stronger.

Pros

·Great choice for beginners.
·Premium brand.

Cons

·Expensive.
·Limited flavor range.
·Not suitable for experienced users.

#10 Bristol CBD – The Best Premium Vegan Edible Range in the UK

If you’re looking for a high-end vegan-friendly gummy, try Bristol CBD. This company has a great reputation, and its gummies come in a delicious cherry flavor with 25mg of CBD isolate in every edible.
Bristol CBD uses organic ingredients, and there are potential benefits to being environmentally friendly and cruelty-free, which should be considered when choosing these gummies. We wish they had more flavor options.

Pros

·Good strength per gummy.
·Vegan-friendly.
·Premium ingredients.

Cons

·Limited flavor options.
·Pricey.

What We Considered When Assessing the Best CBD Gummy Brands

Understanding CBD Oil – Broad Spectrum CBD Vs. Full-Spectrum CBD Gummies

Full-spectrum CBD gummies feature some residual THC, usually under 0.3% in the formula. Broad-spectrum CBD products and CBD isolate gummies from the hemp plant don’t contain any THC at all. However, all three forms of CBD contain cannabidiol cannabinoids.
Full-spectrum gummies provide an “entourage effect” that’s more holistic, while broad-spectrum CBD gummies from hemp extract or cornbread hemp extract don’t have the same effect on users. It’s a very different experience from gummy bears made with cannabis.

Flavors & Range

Most CBD edibles contain trace amounts of terpenes combined with a berry flavor or other natural flavors like watermelon. Some might even contain additional ingredients like turmeric to remove inflammation in the digestive system. Look for gummies with natural ingredients and avoid products with corn syrup used in the flavoring.

Strength & Effect

Full spectrum CBD gummies offer you the best wellness effects from the cannabis plant, interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) for the desired effects. The amount of CBD in the formulation determines the effect as the CBD interacts with the CBD receptors in the ECS.
Beginners should pay attention to the amount of CBD in the gummies and choose a lower dose to start. Look at the product description for the mg of CBD in the gummy. Optimizing your dose of CBD to your tolerance is the best way to have a pleasant experience.

Third-Party Tested CBD

Your gummy brand should offer third-party lab testing and lab reports on the gummies for concentrations of CBD. The third-party lab tests the CBD used in the gummy formulation for heavy metals, pesticides, and contaminants to ensure you get a safe and effective product. The certificate of analysis (COA) shows if the gummies are THC-free and the type of extraction method. The FDA doesn’t regulate the market, so COAs are important to ensure product safety.

Price & Value

Look for products offering a money-back guarantee. These brands are willing to stake their reputation on your user experience. Some products cost more than others, so choose wisely and get a balance between price and efficacy when selecting your gummies.

Reputation & Customer Reviews

What are people saying about their experience with the brand? Check out Google reviews and what people are saying on social media to get an idea of the quality of the gummies and the benefits of the user experience.

The Benefits of CBD Gummies, The Effects of CBD Gummies & Side Effects

CBD gummies are a safe wellness product. They can assist with pain relief from chronic pain symptoms (Although, there is no medical evidence showing this wellness effect, see our disclaimer later in this buyer’s guide).
Some users might experience minor side effects like drowsiness or dry mouth, but the benefits of CBD gummies far outweigh the cons. If you’re using any medication, consult your healthcare professional before ordering CBD gummies.

THC Vs. CBD Edibles – What’s the Difference?

THC edibles contain the psychoactive substance THC, while CBD gummies will only contain up to 0.3% THC. THC gummies make you feel high, while CBD gummies don’t have a psychoactive effect. CBD gummies are more for wellness and well-being, and THC gummies are a recreational drug.

Wrapping Up – A Quick Disclaimer on CBD Health Benefits

CBD gummies are a tasty treat and a great way to improve your sleep quality and reduce stress. However, it’s important to note that there is no medical evidence surrounding these claims. That said, there’s plenty of anecdotal reports from users saying how using these gummies changed their lives. Give it a try yourself and buy CBD gummies from one of the brands on our top 10 list.

I’m currently 15 and heading to be 16 in a little over a week obviously this doesn’t matter, I’m a JW (PIMO) and have never celebrated my birthday or any other holiday
And just bringing up the idea of that to my parents would probably get me kicked out the house My story starts in 2008 when I was born My parents were both baptized in 2007 And my brother was 5 years old and had already had about 3 years of indoctrination My story from here is like a bunch of other JWS and Ex-JWs alike Born in the religion, as a little kid you’re fascinated with all these stories in the Bible and the promises of eternal life and resurrection I loved it and just for a brief part of my life I think I was all in for this religion
2012 would be an important year as this was the year I would start pre-K as well as the year my dad got named Ministerial Servant (MS) however unlike many JWs my questioning started a bit too early In kindergarten I’ll admit I said no to cupcakes, I would even cover my ears when they sang happy birthday And everyone knew I didn’t have any fun However once first grade rolled around my life took a slight change
I started talking to kids and actually making friends I realized I was gonna have to be a different person in front of my parents than the person I was in school I wasn’t necessarily doing anything bad All I was doing was trying to make friends But in Watchtower land even that’s enough to put a 6 year old on edge then it happened
One of the friends I made had a birthday and his mom came to the class with cupcakes and chips and goodie bags I knew this was strongly against my “beliefs” but as a 6 year old I kinda didn’t care And in my eyes I was just hungry and wanted something to eat However this officially started my double life at 6 years old
From here on I would still consider myself a good child I was definitely 2 faced and was absolutely a different person in the Kingdom Hall than School However I got away with it, and I have gotten away with it at-least until now Everyone in the Hall still saw me as that sweet kid that was definitely gonna grow up to me an elder or whatever I still commented (and still do) and whenever we needed those assignments where you ask litro kids questions
I would always be the first choice Around fourth grade I think I started changing Although I still was technically living a double life Making friends and celebrating birthdays at school is still not really much I still had to decline every invitation for out of school events (and still do) I started swearing (only in school obviously) which I know isn’t really a big deal but once again In watchtower land, anything can put a 10 year old on edge
At the beggining of 5th grade I’ll say I started becoming not necessarily a “model kid” in the hall and for my parents I was still the same Angel but even outside of school I started realizing I was becoming a bit of a troublemaker I was placed in advanced classes every year from first grade until modern day And while I did my work from grades 1-4 Grade 5 and 6 I definitely slacked off alot And didn’t take education seriously and if I’m being honest I don’t think I ever have from that point on (we’ll get there in a bit)
grades 5 and 6 were also where I had “different” urges, I started developing crushes and even had my first “girlfriend” although it didn’t really count we were like 11 Also I got a crippling porn addiction around this time which still has its grasps on me Covid ended 6th grade early and I got out of elementary and also became a publisher around this time (My dad was still a MS and my brother had just gotten baptized at 17)
Middle school started and this is definitely where my life changed the most Not 7th grade tho All of it was as online and I got dog shit grades as I was never even logged in half the time and just jacked off and played Clash Royale every day 8th grade was where the good stuff happened I was now 13 so now the congregation no longer looked at me as a sweet little kid Now they saw me as a Youngster
Obviously they still saw me as spiritual and somewhat exemplary although this faded later as almost every kid in my age group would get baptized at this time except for me And my baptism date wouldn’t come for another 2 years (9/10/23) In school 8th grade was basically where I was forced to grow up I had my first kiss Lost virginity Did weed for the first time (told myself never again cause it was 550 MG of edibles and I got sent to space) Basically every thing that watchtower wants teens to avoid I did pretty much everything in 8th grade Beginning of freshman year I thought I was unstoppable
I had gotten away with this double life for so long that I genuinely thought I was untouchable And I was right cause we’re still going strong
But freshman year wasn’t really much different from 8th grade that promise I made myself wean’t out the window cause the girl I was dating was a pretty huge stoner so I kinda got into that aswell but I did promise myself not to do anything stronger than weed Freshman year however was different than every other year in the sense that my untouchable double life could’ve ended
by this point I was the only Gen Z in the congregation that wasn’t baptized And I was 14 at this point so I got some looks And although my dad never said it I knew that the only thing keeping him from going from MS to elder was me not being baptized this was also around the time I got curious and started watching alot of ex Jw content on YouTube (mostly TellTale and JW Panda)
So by this point I was a full blown PIMO And living an entire double life you see I didn’t just act different in school I also looked different I’m Hispanic and my congregation is a Spanish congregation and made up of mostly Hispanics Living in South LA where it’s mostly Hispanic You’ll often see the legendary “Edgar Cut” Here It’s basically just a textured bowl cut and while a bit goofy this was the hair style I rocked in school While for meetings I took all my hair and slicked it back
I also wore my glasses for meetings while I don’t for school As well as my way of dressing fitting more with the style and trends around here Well this was brought up in a shepherding visit we had around the end of freshman year And while my clothing wasn’t mentioned my hair was however this was my fault I already knew that my hair wasn’t really “Appropriate” but I still didn’t bother to slick it back when this elder asked my family to dinner So that one was on me
All it did was feed deeper into my double life And now I made sure to keep my hair slicked back around any brother Every day I thank whatever greater power there is out there And I’m thankful that my parents aren’t that strict While they’re still JW parents and controlling I strongly believe they’ll be amazing if we weren’t part this cult even after an elder basically telling me my hair was to messy My dad still didn’t force me To cut it off (something even my non JW friends go through) And while my mom would definitely do it if she could she can’t so we’re good Now we’re in the last year of my life and this year has definitely been something I got baptized 9/10/23 I knew it was the worst decision possible and knew that if I made one little mess up now it was over But the pressure definitely got to me Keep in mind I have JW friends in the congregation too, and even tho I know the day is coming where I no longer go to meetings and I’ll No longer see them these are still my friends that I was friends with from before I even started the double life And the pressure from them and the entire Hall and my family built up and I did it Only a few meetings after my baptism my dad was announced Elder
But now this is where the fun begins because shortly after I got the microphone privilege And although I broke up with stoner girl The habit stuck So I’ll say 70% of my shifts on microphones have been on a little bit of the za which makes it so much funnier when the elders tell me they’re proud of all my work Only a few weeks ago my brother got named MS Which basically solidifies that if I decide to keep going I can end up as a PIMO MS But I’ll probably leave as soon as I can sustain myself But that’s gonna take a while (LA rent prices are diabolical) In my 15 years of life nobody has truly seen 100% of me everybody at school has no idea about me being a JW
And in those 15 years everyone in the hall has no idea about the life I live outside the hall I’ve declined probably hundreds of invites to parties (not all of them B-day parties but Watchtower doesn’t allow them) I’m not proud of my life I know I’ve failed I’ve failed a lot of people Ive been failing my parents for over a decade and they don’t even know it I’ve failed my teachers for years now aswell I’ve failed all my school friends that I’ve had to decline invites by making up random half assed excused which has caused people To think I just don’t want to go I’ve failed every brother in the congregation by doing what I do
And I even failed myself Doing weed even after promising I wouldn’t I post this here because nobody in my life has ever known me inside-out Known both of my faces And I guess I’ll give that privilege to Reddit To see me for who I am
edit(just broke it up Into paragraphs so it’s easier to read)

INTRO:
I started playing Foxhole just after update 45 released in 2021. It was in my opinion as an infantry player, peak Foxhole. We'll be looking at the ugly changes infantry have endured over the years since I started playing, in order to understand how they went from the backbone of the front to Devman's punching bag.
I'll quickly note that we are only looking at infantry's interaction with other things- infantry vs tanks, infantry vs bunkers, infantry vs artillery, etc. We're not considering changes to infantry vs infantry. A buff to MG bunkers, a stronger tank, and a cheaper way to make artillery shells are all nerfs to infantry. Field Guns are not infantry- they act exactly like vehicles, they are vehicles.
DETAILED CHANGELOG:
Update 46 (September 2021):

• LARGE NERF: The Bardiche was added. With its massive 10 sticky bombs worth of health and built in MG, it cut down on the viability of late game Warden tank hunting considerably.
• LARGE NERF: The Outlaw was added. You might let its 7 sticky bomb health bar delude you into thinking it's a heavy tank, but don't be so hasty- with its boost feature, it can accelerate so fast that it can escape Colonial sticky bomb rushes without even needing to see them coming. That front mounted MG doesn't help either.
• LARGE NERF: The rifle and MG pillbox replaced the old foxhole. The old foxhole was like a weaker rifle pillbox. The presence of stronger, meaner, and in the case of the MG immune to 12.7mm AI on the field drastically reduced the ability of infantry to maneuver.
• SMALL NERF: Minor buffs to MG garrisons
• LARGE NERF: Most weapons used by infantry to fight other things got an encumbrance increase, allowing infantry to carry less ammo.
• SMALL BUFF: The sticky bomb managed to snag itself -10% encumbrance
• LARGE BUFF: Uniforms were added. You're all aware how uniforms can allow infantry to carry more grenades, bandages, rockets and avoid intel. This was the last large positive change infantry would ever receive.

Update 47 (December 2021):

• SMALL BUFF: The Typhon and Foebreaker were added. Infantry tripods are generally quite useless, these weapons are really only used on half-tracks, but it technically counts as a buff.
• SMALL BUFF: Field Bridges were added. No one ever really uses these, but a tiny buff is still a buff.
• SMALL BUFF: 30, 40, 68, and RPG explosive radius was slightly nerfed. Anyone who's fought a tank in the past 3 years will know this didn't do much, but every little bit counts.

Update 48 (March 2022):

• LARGE NERF: The beloved Satchel Charge, infantry's most crucial tool for lategame relevance, was nerfed. Infantry could now only carry 1 at a time instead of 2, considerably hampering their ability to fight lategame concrete spam.
• LARGE NERF: The Ignifist was nerfed in both damage and penetration. It is my opinion that infantry vs tank balance was already wildly biased in the favor of tanks at this time- Colonials losing their White Ash counterpart did not help.
• SMALL NERF: Uniforms made more expensive
• SMALL NERF: Bane made slightly harder to turn with
• SMALL NERF: 7.92 armored cars, King Spire, and Outlaw MG's initial accuracy improved
• SMALL BUFF: Venom and Bonesaw made slightly easier to move with
• SMALL BUFF: White Ash damage and travel speed increased slightly
• SMALL BUFF: The Tremola and grenade launchers were added for both sides. However at this time the Tremola did not do enough damage to ever see considerable use.
• SMALL BUFF: Smoke grenades (which used to disable AI entirely) were returned. Now they just mildly weaken rifle pillboxes and garrisons and do almost nothing against MGs. They would not ever see widespread usage.
• SMALL BUFF: Recon camo made slightly less likely to be spotted by intel

Update 49 (May 2022):

• LARGE NERF: The Ransuer was added. Take the Bardiche's titanic health and give it a bigger machine gun. Ouch.
• LARGE NERF: The Highwayman was added. What's better than a tank that can out-accelerate a sticky rush? A tank that also has 2 independently rotating turrets that excel at tearing through infantry.
• SMALL BUFF: Ignifist equip time reduced 20%

Update 50 (September 2022):

• LARGE NERF: A primary result of facilities is that it was made much easier to spam massive amounts of infantry killing artillery.
• LARGE NERF: The re-implementation of battle tanks gave tank hunters an even bigger health bar to go up against, with historically the weakest AT arsenal they've ever had.
• SMALL BUFF: Infantry flamethrowers were added, which had a niche use against undefended bunker bases.

Update 51 (December 2022):

• Virtually no changes made for infantry here one way or another

Update 52 (March 2023):

• LARGE NERF: The final nail in the coffin for infantry. The Satchel Charge was essentially deleted, and the Havoc Charge was specifically designed to be unusable. The last thing infantry were at all good at, conc busting, was removed.
• SMALL NERF: Infantry flamethrowers made much worse at igniting bunkers
• SMALL NERF: Infantry can no longer jump into manned unlocked enemy vehicles
• LARGE BUFF: Nowhere close to the nerf that is losing the Satchel, but the Tremola's damage was doubled, making it finally viable against tier 2 bunkers.
• LARGE BUFF: The addition of msupp modifiers at least made pillbox spam more difficult.

Update 53 (June 2023):

• Virtually no changes made for infantry here one way or another

Update 54 (October 2023):

• SMALL NERF: Large ships and SPGs present a new way for infantry to get obliterated by 150mm. However, they're so expensive that this barely happens.
• SMALL NERF: Heavy trucks now require partisan infantry to carry encumbering AT.

Update 55 (December 2023):

• LARGE NERF: Outlaw, Highwayman, Falchion, Spatha, and Talos health improved considerably. This was done to help tank vs tank balance. In what's become a theme since after update 52, Devman seemingly did not bother to consider the implications for tank hunters.
• SMALL BUFF: Ignifist damage from 325 to 375. This would do little for the popularity of the weapon.

Update 56 (April 2024):

• LARGE NERF: With broken components being produced at 5 times the rate, the material cost of tanks and concrete essentially no longer exists.
• LARGE NERF: You remember how in update 52, msupp modifiers were added to cut down on pillbox spam? They're gone.
• SMALL NERF: The Argonaut, every infantry player's favorite ride, lost 1 inventory slot. To this day, no one knows why Devman did this.
• SMALL NERF: Mild disable threshold improvement for the Drummond Spitfire.
• SMALL BUFF: The Drummond, every infantry player's second favorite ride, now requires 2 40/68 shots to be disabled instead of 1.

THOUGHTS:
When I look at these updates, I see 3 stages of Devman's approach to balancing for infantry. With update 47 and prior, we have something of a faulty but considering hand. He might absent-mindedly balloon the health, acceleration, and anti-infantry firepower of tanks, but he also gives infantry uniforms to help them carry the extra explosives needed to kill them.
I would label updates 48 through update 52 to be the "I hate you" approach. Devman went out of his way to nerf every single thing about playing infantry. There were a handful of inconsequential buffs, and an epic series of crippling nerfs. This is time period that got infantry to the pathetic state they're in today.
With update 53 and later, it would appear that Devman genuinely forgot that infantry are even in the game. There were buffs and nerfs, but mostly as an indirect result of him tweaking other things. It makes sense, really, infantry have been so crippled, it's easy to forget they even exist.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
While everything else in the game has been made stronger and stronger, infantry have been left in the dust and often dragged back even further. Artillery shells must be made more expensive, anti-concrete tools must be considered, and infantry must be given the lategame AT options they should have gotten 3 years ago when the Bardiche came out.

Here is a guide on how to fight and defeat Germany and the USSR with Poland, using the left sanation path. But first, why would you want to do this?

• If you play as Poland on historical and don’t give up the east or Danzig, it is you plus the allies against the Axis and the Comintern. Also, you are pretty isolated from the allies. This is an incredibly challenging scenario, and one that I personally find very fun.
• Second, the Sanation left path is very underappreciated that needs some appreciation! In my opinion, this is *kind of* Poland’s strongest path. There are plenty of paths for Poland that are stronger after the war - the Slavic Union comes to mind. But you don’t need to be strong *after* the war, you need to get strong *before* the war, and this is where Sanation left excels.
• LARP lol. Defeating both the Nazis and the Soviets as Democratic Poland?? That is cool as hell.

What makes the Sanation left path strong? Polish militarism + right wing paramilitarism = +4.5% recruitable pop. You will have more manpower than you will ever need with this path - far more than the cores from monarchist paths can give you before the war. Second, common organization of society gives +10% factory output. Third, Walery Slawek as both a leader and advisor is +20% stability. Nothing to turn up your nose at. Fourth, you only spend the equivalent of 6 focuses on your political path to get all of its benefits, giving you more time to use on Poland’s excellent industrial branch.
Ok! So now onto the guide.
Intelligence Agency
You’ll want an intelligence agency as Poland that has Psychological Warfare, and army department. This is used for two important tasks.

• As early as possible, you want to start boosting ideology in Hungary. Hungary gets the “strengthen fascists” spirit, giving them +0.03 daily fascism support until Dec 6 1938. If you can stop them from getting more than 40% fascist support, they can never renounce the treaty of trianon and join Germany. But Germany still gives them carpathian ruthenia. So you can use Hungarian neutrality to block troops moving from the USSR-Romania side to the Germany-Italy side, and this makes a huge difference in making the war manageable.
• Secondly, use spies (probably after dec 6 1938) to infiltrate the German army. This will help you see where their troops are behind the front lines, which will be important to our military strategy.

Army Setup Before the War
You want 6 armies of 18 width infantry, with engineers, artillery, and anti-air support companies. Remember to train them to regulars - this makes a huge difference in their combat effectiveness! You also really want the 1939 engineer technology for the +50% entrenchment. This, plus grand battleplan, will make it so you can hardly be pushed.
2 armies go on the main German boarder, between Slovakia and the Baltic coast. 1 army goes on the Konigsburg pocket border. 1 army goes on the Slovakian border. 2 armies can be held in reserve around the capital to provide additional support where needed and plug gaps, and they will go to the USSR to latvia border a few months befure the USSSR declares war.
So you will need to produce: lots of guns, support equipment, anti-air, artillery, trains, and trucks, before the war.
After the war starts, you will want to focus on winning the air war. Swap to producing fighters (as many as it takes), getting 200 transport planes, getting an army of 10w paratroopers with support artillery, and getting an army of 10w port guards with support artillery to stop soviet navel invasions
Technology and Doctrines
Focus on industrial tech, of course. Here are the strategically important technologies for our strategy

• Fighters. You want Improved Small Airframe as fast as possible, and you want to make sure that the moment you unlock it you already have survivability studies, heavy MG, range improvements, and engines 3.
• Radar. Make sure your radar is at least up to date, and ideally ahead of time! Coordination helps on the defence a fair bit, but more importantly, radar helps you win the air war in a huge way, and having overlapping radar helps you see where your enemies are behind the front line. This is very very helpful for paradropping. I like to have maxed out radar stations in Warszawa, and Plock.
• Paratroopers. You really only just need the first paratrooper tech. But don’t forget it!
• Grand Battleplan. Go for infiltration. The main reason we want grand battleplan is for the entrenchment. You need that early in the war. Once you survive Germany and the USSR banging their heads against your trenches for a while, you have won. Superior firepower, in my opinion in this scenario, will help you ‘win more’ if you would have already won, but Grand Battleplan helps you *not lose* on the day Germany declares war, which is the most important day of the playthrough.
• Paratrooper Special Forces Doctrine - Combat Insertion. This is critical to the strategy - make sure you have 100 air XP saved up to get the first two doctrines in this special forces doctrine before you win the air war.
• Operational Integrity - The best doctrine for fighters, and you will be focusing hard on fighters.

Political Power Priorities
You will need political power to crush resistance in Danzig, so save up initially for that. Aside from that I would prioritize as follows:

1. Partial Mobilization
2. Limited Conscription
3. Defence expert army chief (start building that XP early!)
4. Air reformer airforce chief (you need air XP for those paratroopers!)
5. Improved working conditions. Get that stability! Using this earlier hurts less than using it later.
6. Illusive Gentleman! You need to keep Hungary from going Fascist!
7. Wallery the political advisor for +10% stability.
8. The Leftist Legionary. Extra democracy support is nice, and +15% attack and defence for paratroopers will come in handy when you start going on the offensive.
9. PKP industrial concern. +15% industrial research is nice!
10. Infantry expert & air superiority expert. You don’t need these before the war, of course.

NOTE: Make sure that you have enough political power saved up for the start of the war! You want to instantly switch to total mobilization, and activate women in the workforce). Activating extensive conscription is nice but there is no need to do it instantly.
NOTE: Get a military theorist before you start buying land doctrines, but remember that you don’t need them before the start of the war, so put off the military theorist as long as possible and just bank the xp.
Focus Order Phase 1: Danzig & Agrarian Reforms
(the first number in brackets is whether it is a 35 day focus (0.5) or a 70 day focus (1), the second number is the total number of 70 day focuses done to that point)

1. Clamp down on Danzig (0.5-0.5)
2. The Four Year Plan (0.5-1)
3. Central Region Strategy (0.5-1.5)
4. New Polish Industry (0.5-2)
5. Ban the Nazi Party (0.5-2.5)
6. Integrate Gdansk (1-3.5)
7. Invest in the Old Polish Region (0.5-4)
8. Fill the Railway Gaps (1-5)
9. Agrarian Reform (1-6)

Note: After you clamp down on Danzig, switch your garrison law to “local police force”, make sure you prioritize equipment and manpower to garrisons, switch your garrison template to the horse one, and then delete all your starting cavalry divisions to make sure there is enough equipment for the garrisons. Then, spend political power on “unification propaganda”, and unpause. Right before you are ready to ban the nazi party, take the “raid nazi resistance” decision. This should ensure that you have enough compliance on time, and that the focus will not cancel when you are half way through it (which otherwise can happen and is very annoying)
These focuses give you all of Danzig’s factories, 3 civs and 4 mills, gets you off embargoed economy, and takes care of the peasant’s strike just in the nick of time.
Focus Order Phase 2: Industrial Development

1. Expand the university of warsaw (1-7)
2. Invest in eastern poland (1-8)
3. Modernize congressional factories (1-9)
4. Expand Krakow industries (1-10)
5. Modernize Galician industry (1-11)
6. National Defence fund (1-12)

These focuses give you an extra research slot at a time when you will need it, 8 civs and 5 mils, and a big improvement to partial mobilization through the -35% consumer goods factor that will last two years. This also gives you just enough time to do your political branches before the German invasion.
Focus Order Phase 3: Political Tree

1. Complete the april constitution (1-13)
2. Polish Militarism (0.5-13.5)
3. Consolidate the Sanation Government (0.5-14)
4. The Sanation Left (0.5-14.5)
5. The Sanation Right (0.5-15)
6. Support Right-Wing Paramilitarism (0.5-15.5)
7. Department of Home Defence (0.5-16)
8. The Left Chairman (1-17)
9. Common Organization of Society (0.5-17.5)
10. A New King in the Castle (0.5-18)
11. Prepare for the Next War (0.5-18.5)

This gets you all the benefits of the sanation path, including the massive boost to recruitable population and a lot of stability. You also get the equivalent of 170 military experience.
Military Strategy when Germany Invades

• Keep the air contested and try to win the air war with the Nazis. They will bang their heads against your position, and that’s great. If you've followed this guide and you actively manage your defence (moving adjacent troops to reinforce weak tiles under attack) they shouldn't be able to push you a single tile.
• In my experience, the germans (and eventually Italians) are so busy trying to overcome your defence that they aren’t able to make it through Belgium to capitulate france. This is a huge win.
• The first thing you should do, when you are ready to advance, is to close the Konigsburg pocket. Ideally, try your best to do that before the soviets invade. Try to push here even in yellow air, using the huge planning bonuses from grand battle plan doctrine. It may be costly, but it is necessary.
• When you close the Konigsburg pocket, send that army to the border with Lithuania so that you won’t get a nasty surprise when the soviets annex them. If you like, set them up with an order to advance to Riga and execute it, so that they rush in when the Soviets annex lithuania.
• Try to build up level 2 forts on the entirety of the border with the Soviets. You will be taking focuses that upgrade these fort levels, so getting them to level 2 before these focuses fire off will help immensely. These forts allow you to basically ignore the soviets until the Germans are defeated.

How to take land from Germany:

• After you can get green Air, put out your transport planes and get ready for some paradrops. Find opportunities for paradrop-encirclements. Start by looking at the baltic coast: find a weak tile, and while paused order your adjacent units to attack it, and order a paradrop on that tile to help it break.
• Don’t forget to attack adjacent tiles if they are trying to reinforce the weak one, to slow down their reinforcement.
• When it looks like your units are about to win the battle, pause the game because it is time to order a lot more paradrops. You want to order a single unit to drop on a continuous stretch of tiles between the breech you are about to create and the baltic coast.
• Then order some redundant paradrops on tiles next to your line of tiles, just in case any of them are secretly occupied. It will take time for your paratroopers to lose, and if any of the adjacent tiles are occupied by you, the unit will retreat there instead of being deleted, so make sure that even if the encounter resistance, they will have a title to retreat into!
• Feel free to leave ports inside of the encirclement. Thanks to the royal navy, those ports won’t be of much use in getting supply to the enemy. But you can also, sometimes, feel comfy paradropping on ports that seem lightly guarded, as long as you paradrop many adjacent tiles as well to further de-org the port and ensure that even if you lose your paratroopers have somewhere to retreat to.
• Then, unpause, and watch the chaos. Order your regular units to attack the pocket. Manually order around your dropped paratroopers to hog as many tiles as possible before the enemy is able to reorganize itself.
• Eventually the lines will re-solidify (but with many encircled units destroyed) and you can repeat the paradrop on a new weak spot. I would focus on advancing along the baltic coast. It is easier here thanks to the royal navy, robs germany of important industry, is much nicer than trying to go through the Sudaten forts, and when you do link up with the French/UK lines, you will be in great shape (though don’t expect to do this before the soviets invade).
• I find that by the time that take the baltic coast and link up with France, Germany is so weakened that you can just mass paradrop on their victory points to capitulate them. But it is a very risky maneuver.

Focus order Phase 5: Preparing for the Soviet Invasion

1. Central Defence of Poland (1- 19.5)
2. Plan East (1-20.5)
3. Fortify Ukraine (1-21.5)
4. Fortification of the North (1-22.5)
5. (After this: whatever. Consider ‘local western plans’, polish school of mathematics, air production)

Make sure that before you get ‘fortify ukraine’, you have completed level 2 forts in the entire affected area. Same goes for the fortification of the north focus. Central defence + plan east should speed up your construction by 55%.
Military Strategy When the Soviets Invade
Hopefully when the soviets invade, you have level 3 forts along the whole border. This should make it easy to hold with 2 armies.

• Don’t be caught off guard by Romania invading! Make sure to send a few divisions with a fallback line by the Romanian border, and ensure that the rail network is good enough that division there won’t starve.
• Don’t be caught off guard by the soviets suddenly annexing Lithuania! Gets some kind of army there before they do - ideally the army that took down the Konigsburg pocket.
• Don’t be caught off guard by soviet naval invasions! They will straight up invade places as far afield as Stettin if you don’t guard your ports! Use an army of 10w infantry with artillery - that should be good enough.
• I would not try to advance against the Soviets until Germany and Italy have capitulated. Make good use of those level 3 forts.
• After the axis capitulates, try to make big encirclements, but it won’t be as effective on them as it was on Germany. You can also use paratroopers to capture and camp out along the railway lines. Paratroopers can act like ultra-fast motorized divisions, instantly exploiting a gap in the line to rush forward and capture supply hubs. Make sure to keep building airports and radar stations as you advance.
• It will be slow, but by the time the axis capitulates victory is certain.

Ok! I hope you enjoyed the guide! Now get out there, and help Poland save the world from tyranny!

(TLDR at the bottom)
I’m almost convinced methylphenidate just doesn’t really work for me tbh, but I have no other option if it doesn’t, every other type of meds (even non stims like strattera) is unauthorized here, so I’m still trying to hold onto some sort of hope lol.
These past few weeks have felt like NOTHING is working, neither my at the time prescribed 30x2 Medikinet XR, nor the leftover 10-30s mg Ritalin XR I had, nor the leftover 10s Quasym (30/70% release) a (also dx) friend had lent me to test at the beginning when I had only tried Ritalin IR and I was having side effects…
Last appt I told my doc I felt like it wasn’t doing much again, and he put me on concerta because I told him about the early crashes, and being bored out of my mind and falling asleep at my desk at 3pm. He was/is hoping the longer acting will help, but I haven’t found much improvement.
It’s kinda weird and hard to explain, but I feel like, until I upped my doses of medikinet (I went from 15x2, to 20x2, to 30x2) it was working then! like it wasn’t perfect and I never had the amazing obvious focus but I could see looking at things I’d done the past days/weeks/months give a hint about it "actually working a bit". But when I went onto medikinet 30x2 I started feeling nothing anymore. So eventually I decided to try just 30 (as I knew too high of a dose could be worse) and I feel like it worked again? So I tried another day, and it did too! But then on the 3rd day it was back to nothing.
Summary of meds I tried: Ritalin IR (10mg, upped to 2-3 per day I believe) — because of jitters and agitation/anxiety I went to Ritalin XR, 10 and 30s (I was taking 30 or 40 depending on how jittery I felt) — then the jitter wasn’t getting better, so I went onto Medikinet (twice a day, totaling 30, then gradually 40 and 60), and the jitters had lessened but that’s when I started realizing it almost felt like I took nothing. Sure the jitters were gone but any effect whatsoever was as well, I was maybe lucky to, 1 day out of 3?? feel somewhat focus 1h after taking it, and for maybe 1h, but it didn’t help anything because it was short and unpredictable. — So now recently I went onto concerta, easing with 36mg first for side effects, and we’re planning to try 54 next (probably). I feel like it helped a bit the first day but the next days I wasn’t feeling much again.
It’s been really hard because I’ve been doing this for 7 months now and I get so easily obsessed with "if it works or not" and I KNOW it’s not the way to go, and I’m also wondering if that isn’t playing a part in me thinking I feel nothing but… yeah, I can’t help it. I feel stupid and impatient/like a brat, and also when I try with leftover meds, like I’m not doing it the way prescribed and it’s eh and I’m "playing around" with it (and kind of a « well of course you feel it doesn’t work you keep switching duh!! »), but I’m just so desperate to find something that just. works. and doesn’t feel too much like a sugar pill 🙁
Before thinking about this (what I’m asking about below), I was almost thinking of asking to go back to IR multiples times a day, even if it caused me jitters, because even if the anxiety was annoying I feel like I could at least tell when it helped me focus despite that. But I also felt bad obviously because what if the jitters are stronger than I remember and it’s unliveable so I have to switch back to ????god knows what and my doc is at its wits ends annoyed with me.
TLDR: my issue is, since concerta is releasing slowly at first, I’m having trouble initiating anything and end up still pacing around for 3+ hours before managing to get my body to my desk (and cross fingers I don’t get up in 2 min again). Would it be logical to take an IR booster WITH the concerta? So that it would help me until the concerta does its (more peak) job? Does anyone else do that? Decided by yourself or also approved by your docs?
I’ll ask my doc what he thinks next time, but tbh I’m asking for your experiences first as I’m afraid of his reaction, like thinking I’m doing too much or asking for too much or IDK (plus it’s hard since the prescription is very strict, he can’t just be like @ pharmacy "so X pills and oh uh yeah 5 or 10 or idk 23 of the IR ones! maybe they’ll need em maybe not. huh? overdosing/abusing risks? oh yeah not my problem. yep, thanks!"
I hope someone can relate… (also sorry about this being so long help)

Hey guys so just some background. I'm 19 years old (boy) and I've constantly been in and out of the hospital my entire life due to pain crisis. I have sickle cell beta thalassemia (I think that's it? Basically the one with the really long name)and I've noticed it's getting alot harder to manage my pain without having to go to the hospital and get admitted. Now the good news is I still go to a children's hospital (Nemours if there's any fellow warriors in Delaware like me or flordia which also has nemours I'm pretty sure) so unlike most people I do have the luxury of having nurses and doctors who are very understanding and helpful whenever I do get admitted. But recently when I turned 18 i did get a new hematologist who's been trying to prep me for 21 when I get transferred to adult care. And she's basically been telling me i should try my best if I can help it to manage pain at home. I don't blame her at all, I do kinda suck with pain management like rn (upper leg). All I do is take my pain medications which are ibuprofen (600 mg) and another one (hydromorphone) 2 mg which I honestly think I've slowly built a tolerance to due to so many trips to the hospital. I also regularly use my heating pad and hot packs and take epison salt bath. Now as for how much pain I can tolerate. Any thing from. A 1-5 I can handle pretty good, 6 I will take the stronger meds. 7 I'll try and still manage with my mom helping. And any pain level 8 or higher I will go to the hospital. So anyone have any other ideas to manage pain crisis?

LOOKING FOR THE ABSOLUTE BEST, NO NONSENSE, SCIENCE-BASED ARTICLE ON PROPER DIETING?
LEARN THE MOST SPECIALIZED INFORMATION IN YOUR HOME, AT YOUR LEISURE, FOR FREE!
USE MY 2 DECADES OF ACADEMIC STUDY, IN THE TRENCHES EXPERIENCES, AND EMPIRICAL ADVICE WHEN IT COMES TO BOOSTING MUSCLE MASS, INCREASING STAMINA, HEALTH, AND WELLNESS, LOSING FAT, REDUCING OR ELIMINATING TYPE 2 DIABETES, INCREASING LONGEVITY, PROTECTING AND REGENERATING ORGAN TISSUES, AND DECREASING IMMOBILITY, STIFFNESS, ARTHRITIS,WHILE REBUILDING CARTILIGENOUS TISSUE.
Old-Scool Diet 2.O
"A comprehensive article on bodybuilding diet minutiae - and SO MUCH MORE
What follows is my version of an old school (mid-80s to early 90s) bodybuilding fat-loss diet/regimen, with an updated (2020's) dietary supplementation plan. This type of diet was very popular when I was a child and produced results for many who used it. I was reminded of such diets by bodybuilding writers such as John Romano, who wrote about the basic bodybuilding diet in an issue of Muscular Development sometime around 2008.
Although renowned for its simplicity, it can become somewhat monotonous. The key tenets of this type of fat loss diet are 1) being in a slightly negative caloric balance, 2) using a simplified shopping list of 15 or fewer items, and 3) taking in large amounts of protein, a moderately large amount of carbohydrates, and a small/modest amount of dietary fat.
You will consume 3-4 "whole-food" meals per day along with 1-3 protein shakes (more on workout days and less on off days). You should drink at least 1 gallon worth of calorie-free liquids per day.... the closer you get to 1.5 gal and even 2 gal (if you're really big) the better.
The Shopping List
So, you're at the grocery store and you're in and out within 10 minutes. You don't care about the weekly sales (unless they involve one of your "weekly 15" items). Thus, grocery shopping becomes a snap.
As for the items themselves, a basic "old school" bodybuilding diet would likely contain:

1. Eggs
2. Milk (skim or 2% or UF/CFM)
3. Chicken Breast (boneless and skinless)
4. Tuna chunk light, canned
5. Cottage Cheese (2-4%) & red-fat cheese
6. Lean Gr Beef or Sirloin, NY strip, etc Steak
7. Rice
8. Oatmeal
9. Whole wheat (or white) Bread
10. Apples
11. Oranges
12. Pasta
13. Frozen Berries
14. Bananas
15. Broccoli

Of course, you can rotate in other vegetables such as corn on the cob, salad greens, and lettuces (with light balsamic or low-carb vinaigrette dressing if a salad) etc etc.
Eating a variety of wholesome foods that are (by and large) as unprocessed (aside from rice and oatmeal which must be processed as well as some dairy items) as possible typically means you'll be getting a wide spectrum of nutrients, including both macro and micronutrients. A daily multivitamin/mineral tablet can ensure you're filling any gaps in micronutrient needs (vitamins and minerals). As for macronutrients, this diet provides the bulk of its calories as protein and carbohydrate with only about 10% of the daily calorie allotment being reserved for fats.
What is the logic behind the macronutrient breakdown?
You'll be eating about 45-50 percent of your calories as carbohydrates and 40-45 percent as protein with only 10-15% as fat.
Why 45-50% as carbohydrate? Carbohydrate is stored in the liver and muscles as a substance called glycogen. For every gram of glycogen stored within the body, there are 2.7 grams of water attached. This gives the muscles a pumped appearance and feeling. This also means the muscles are well stocked with stored energy. The majority of your weight training sessions will involve anaerobic exercise. This type of exercise utilizes the glycolytic energy pathway to generate ATP or Adenosine Tri Phosphate.
(Note: The amino-acid-based dietary supplement Creatine also supports ATP synthesis by donating Phosphate to ADP).
Having adequate amounts of both calories and carbohydrates helps prevent dietary-induced drops in TSH.... or Thyroid Stimulating Hormone. This, in theory (and empirical practice) keeps one's metabolism humming and prevents one from "drying out." Simply put, you'll get great pumps in the gym thanks to all that stored water (remember 2.7 grams of water is stored per gram of glycogen).
Energy-rich carbohydrates (grains and fruits) differ from fiber-rich vegetables. Not only do energy-rich carbohydrates provide far more calories but the calories they supply raise blood glucose levels markedly and rapidly. These types of carbohydrates are more easily broken down into simple sugars (glucose etc). Simple sugars and carbohydrates such as rice and white bread are termed high-glycemic (they spike serum blood sugar and insulin levels) while whole wheat or rye bread and things like oatmeal and non-starchy vegetables are deemed low-glycemic.
To be completely forthright and technical all carbohydrates and macronutrients provide energy. The phytonutrients, micronutrients, and fiber aside, carbohydrates simply provide a "higher octane" energy (than protein or fat). ATP is regenerated via the glycolytic energy pathway; carbohydrates stoke the glycolytic energy pathway most efficiently. Despite this, carbohydrates are technically unessential.
Fat and in particular protein can both be used to create carbohydrates. And both fat and protein can supply energy. But fat and protein contain essential nutrients the body cannot manufacture. These essential nutrients are essential fatty acids (EFAs) and essential amino acids (EAAs).
What about Protein?
Because you're getting roughly half of your calories from carbohydrates the protein you take in will likely be spared from providing energy - at least that's what we're hoping for. You're going to shoot for 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight. The actual range of values would be between 0.8g/lb to 1.4g/lb (grams of protein per pound).
You're going to want to consume high-quality, complete protein from sources such as meat, poultry, fish, and dairy. If you have 4 meals and a shake and are taking in let's say 225 grams of protein per day that works out to 45 grams per "feeding." To be more realistic we'll simply say take in between 40-50 grams of protein per feeding.
Protein supplies nitrogen and the "building blocks" of skeletal muscle tissue (amino acids). Protein is essential because 8-10 amino acids are considered essential (other amino acids can become essential in certain situations or circumstances, they are called conditionally essential amino acids).
If you're 200 lbs taking in 1.25 grams protein per pound of bodyweight you're consuming 250 grams of protein per day. Protein contains 4 calories per gram. Thus you'd be consuming 1,000 calories of protein. At 45-50% of total daily calories, carbohydrates would comprise app 1.25x worth of calories as compared to protein. Thus, carbohydrates would come to 1,250 calories. Total daily calories would thus far be 2,250.
2,250 divided by 0.9 yields 250 calories, and at 9 calories per gram that would afford us a mere (roughly) 25 grams of fat. I would at least double this figure (not counting supplemental fats). 50 grams of fat adds 450 calories. 450 plus 2,250 yields 2,700 calories total. Thus, your diet breakdown will be closer to 16-20% fat (20% when including supplemental EFAs), 40% protein, and 40-45% carbohydrate).
Note: If need be, you can cut down carbohydrates by a few hundred calories and increase your protein consumption. This would change the dietary breakdown to roughly 40/40/20 (popularized by Barry Sears as the Zone diet).
You'll want to stay on this diet for a week and record how you felt, what you ate, and how well you slept. Every other day weigh yourself after your morning shit, shower and shave. If you maintain your weight the 2,700 calorie mark is your body's "set-point target." To reduce excess weight (fat) reduce your total daily calories by roughly 10-15 percent and exercise 3-5 days per week. Include cardiovascular training in addition to your weight lifting to further speed up your fat loss efforts. You can do LISS (low-intensity steady state) cardio (walking) or you can do HIIT (High-intensity interval training) cardio 2-5 times per week. Personally, I would choose 5 45-minute leisurely walks over other forms of cardio.
What about "fat burners?"
When people say "fat burners" they're referring to thermogenic agents which speed up the body's metabolism by some 5% or so (5-8% for an hour or two). In the 90s both Phentermine and the ECA stack were popular. These catecholamine-based compounds were potent appetite suppressants, particularly phentermine. The ECA stack was/is also a beta-adrenergic agonist. Since then a host of other supposedly "thermogenic" compounds and preparations have come into the limelight. Yerba Mate comes to mind, as do the popular OTC products Xenadrine and Hydroxycut. Even plain old caffeine is sometimes considered a first-rate "fat burner."
The truth is these products barely increase metabolic rate enough to make much of a difference. Most of their worth comes from their appetite-suppressant effects. Now, I'm not saying if you're suddenly prescribed Adderall or start smoking ice you won't lose weight - you will. It's simply that most weight loss, even from strong stimulants, comes from their appetite-suppressant effects.
The only "fat burners" that truly increase fat burning without the need for appetite suppression are L Carnitine and Cardarine. Cardarine is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-delta agonist. Cardarine enhances lipolysis during exercise. Training increases energy availability by promoting catabolism of proteins, and gluconeogenesis, whereas GW501516 enhances specific consumption of fatty acids and reduces glucose utilization. L Carnitine can be beneficial to exercise performance and fat loss; paradoxically it also suppresses T3, or active thyroid hormone.
T3 or Cytomel can be used to markedly increase resting metabolic rate, but "T3 burns through muscle and fat indiscriminately." You can reduce the amount of muscle tissue being burned and attenuate the reductions in "muscle pump" experienced when supplementing with extra T3.
To do so you'll need to drink water like a camel and supplement your diet with beetroot crystals and citrulline malate. You'll also want to utilize Tadalafil or Cialis. Surprisingly, aside from increasing the pump one experiences from lifting weights Cialis also increases fat burning and creates more BAT (Brown adipose Tissue as compared to WAT... white adipose tissue), relatively speaking. BAT is metabolically active and behaves more like muscle in this respect.
To reduce muscle loss while on higher doses of T3 nothing short of AAS (@ least 200-300 mg/wk, if not 400mg + per week) will truly help. SARMS such as RAD-140 may be of some (yet limited) value. To be honest I would avoid T3 supplementation unless also using Testosterone (Enanthate 400mg/wk) or other AAS.
As for fats, their consumption is largely incidental on this diet and comes from the dairy, red meat, poultry, occasional salad, or handful of mixed nuts one might expect to consume if adhering to the aforementioned dietary principles .
This means the amount of saturated fat as compared to MUFAs or PUFAs will be somewhat high. To remedy this one can consume tuna packed in soybean oil as well as by supplementing 3x per day with triple concentrated, enteric-coated, fish oil capsules. These fish oil capsules break down in the small intestine and there are no fishy burps with them thanks to that enteric coating. They are extremely rich in the special fatty acids EPA and DHA, Eicosapentaenoic acid and Docosohexanoic acid.
One might also supplement with an Udo's Omega 3:6:9 blend of daily supplemental oil.
As for specialty fats, one must purchase the next two in supplement form. CLA is conjugated linoleic acid and it helps improve body composition over time by increasing muscle mass and decreasing fat mass. Sesamin has a host of potential health benefits. Together these two designer fats can markedly improve physical aesthetics, health, and overall well-being.
Finally, there is GLA or gamma linoleic acid. Unless you eat a lot of cashews you'll want to get this fatty acid in supplement form as well.
Note: You needn't supplement every specialty fatty acid mentioned to reap benefits from each fatty acid you choose to use.
The GOLDEN RULE of DIETING: CICO
Calories in vs. calories out. It's so simple yet so misunderstood. When you reduce dieting down to its least common denominator it's CICO you're left with. If you aren't gaining or losing weight you're at an established set-point. You're at current equilibrium. It also means you're essentially burning just about every calorie you take in (burning every single calorie to be more precise, it's just the body's ebbs and flows and an equilibrium setpoint is usually somewhat elastic ).
If you begin to regularly consume more calories than your BMTMR allot (and than you burn via daily movement and exercise), you will put on additional body mass (including both fat and skeletal muscle). If you begin to consume less than your BMTMR allot, and/or begin exercising yourself into a negative caloric balance, you will lose weight, typically a combination of fat and muscle (but usually far more fat than muscle, particularly if one lifts weights throughout).
Note: BMTMR = Basal & Total Metabolic Rate
So are all macronutrients equal then? I mean, do all macronutrients convert into ATP at the same efficiency rate?
Technically no they do not. Protein is far less efficient in its conversion to ATP as compared to fat or carbohydrate. Thus, it takes MORE protein to create "x" amount of ATP. Remember, ATP stands for adenosine triphosphate. It is the body's preferred cellular fuel for high-intensity, high-octane activities. In this sense, protein's inefficiency in converting to ATP means a calorie really isn't a calorie after all. (Because) It takes more protein calories to create "x" amount of ATP than if one were creating that same "x" amount of ATP from carbohydrate or fat calories.
Now that that anomaly is out of the way it's best to simply memorize CICO, calories in vs. calories out, irrespective of macronutrient source. This is the most practical, tried and true way to diet scientifically.
So you've established your caloric allotment for metabolic equilibrium and lowered that figure by 10-15%. You've added in 3-4 30-minute LISS cardio sessions per week in addition to 4 weight-lifting workouts. You're beginning to lose weight week in and week out and then your progress slows and eventually stalls. Your body has become accustomed to the lower calories and the extra workload. Unfortunately, aside from supplementing your diet with substances such as Cardarine or Clenbuterol, there is little more you can do outside of dropping calories once more.... (or adding even more cardio).
Over time these successive reductions in calorie allotment lead to a reduction in TSH, or thyroid stimulating hormone. It's the body's way of slowing things down in an effort to maintain homeostasis. To continue improving body composition one mustn't merely lose as much fat as possible, but also must maintain the muscle mass one has - or even build a bit. Now I'll come right out and say it, if you're 6-10 weeks into a strict fat loss diet you're not going to be concerned with building additional muscle unless you're using Testosterone and/or other AAS and PEDs. Even then, if juicing quite a bit, at some point building muscle transitions into preserving muscle. No matter how much you're pinning if you aren't eating enough calories you simply cannot (physiologically) add appreciable lean fat-free body mass.
To boost the body's T3 levels one can supplement directly with T3 (Cytomel) or with pro-active-thyroid T4 (converts to T3 in body; Synthroid). There is supplemental T2 but I advise readers to steer clear of this thyroid analogue. Another way of boosting T3 levels, and a legal, natural way to boot, is by having periodic carbohydrate-rich refeeds and higher calorie days. Have a carbohydrate-rich meal every 3 days if on a lower carbohydrate diet as well as a higher calorie day once every seven to ten days whether on a mixed macronutrient or a lower carbohydrate type diet.
How many meals do you need to eat per day?
While there is potentially some slight advantage to eating several smaller to moderately sized meals spaced evenly throughout the day the science says "when you eat the bulk of your calories makes little to no difference." So if you'd rather have two larger-sized 1,350 calorie meals and then intermittently fast for the rest of your wake-sleep cycle (or "day" whether a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd shifter etc) go ahead. That said, I would personally recommend at least 2-3 whole food-based meals and 1-3 protein shakes per day for best results in the gym. As for weight loss, remember it boils down to CICO: whether you have 10 270-calorie mini-meals or one 2,700-calorie smorgasbord makes practically no difference.
What about enhancing insulin sensitivity and improving glucose metabolism while imparting a nutrient-partitioning effect?
I first learned of the term Glucose Disposal Agent while reading Dan Duchaine's Underground BodyOpus. Dan was recommending an isocaloric diet at one point but I believe he'd moved onto cyclical ketogenic-type dieting by the early to mid-90s - and obviously by the time he wrote Underground BodyOpus. Because catecholamines work better in low (serum) insulin environments and because high levels of insulin in the blood render fat-burning enzymes such as HSL largely inert, it is a good idea to release as little insulin as is necessary/possible. Postprandial serum insulin concentrations share a direct correlation with postprandial (after a meal) blood glucose levels. To help optimize glucose metabolism and loweoptimize postprandial glucose numbers far more efficiently - while also driving nutrient partitioning by enhancing the selective expression of GLUT 4 (on muscle cells and not fat cells), one should consider the use of glucose disposal agents such as Na R ALA and Berberine HCL.
Over time the use of GDAs improves insulin sensitivity markedly, assisting in the significant attenuation of metabolic syndrome. Berberine alone has been shown in some clinical trials to perform as good or better than the popular diabetic medication Metformin. Na R ALA is the most bioavailable form of alpha lipoic acid and you need only 250mg 2-3x/day to reap major benefits. If you use the cheaper form of alpha lipoic acid use 400-700 mg 2-3x/day.
To these two GDAs I would recommend a form of Vanadium, Vanadyl Sulfate. I would also add a form of chromium, either chromium picolinate or chromium polynicotinate. There are scores of various GDA or GDA-like compounds to choose from. For the most bang for your buck start and stick with this 4 part GDA stack before adding additional GDA compounds into the mix.
Note: If you combine the regular use of GDAs with a modified lower or low-carb diet one can literally reverse Type 2 Diabetes, particularly if the disease is in its early onset stage(s).
Maintaining Energy (to train intensely) while on a reduced-calorie diet
When you lift weights getting that all too familiar "pump" feels amazing. Arnold Schwarzenegger once compared it to sexual release - even going so far as to claim the "pump was better than cumming." I would have to disagree with Mr. Schwarzenegger on that, but I will concede that getting a vein-bursting, skin-splitting pump (obviously I'm embellishing: no pump bursts veins or splits the skin) gives one a major short-term motivational boost as well as an endorphin rush. It also feels great and makes one look more muscular and vascular. But getting a great pump while in a major caloric deficit, particularly if one is restricting carbohydrates, becomes difficult to say the least. So how does one boost the body's high-octane "energy" source, ATP, without taking in extra calories?
If you were unaware that ATP can be supplemented directly (orally), now you know. PEAK ATP is a well-known ATP supplement. In addition to supplementing directly with ATP one can also utilize Creatine Monohydrate (or other forms of creatine) to behave as a Phosphate donor. Creatine is stored within the body as creatine phosphate. Creatine phosphate donates its phosphate ring to ADP, or Adenosine Di-Phosphate, creating ATP, or Adenosine Tri-Phosphate. As you know ATP is the body's preferred "high-octane" cellular-energy-medium. Creatine and ATP are both important to high-intensity anaerobic exercise. But what about boosting the glycolytic energy pathway?
The body utilizes glucose and stored glycogen to replenish ATP. When glucose/glycogen is in low supply the body will utilize glycogenic amino acids (in a process called gluconeogenesis) to boost serum glucose concentrations, especially while involved in intense exercise such as weight lifting (bodybuilding). Supplementing (pre-workout) with whey protein isolate and/or EAA/BCAA+Glutamine can help prevent the body from utilizing its muscle tissue as a donor source for gluconeogenically-derived "energy."
Note: Glutamine can increase both hepatic and skeletal muscle glycogen stores (without carbohydrates).
Another thing you can do to enhance fat burning is to increase the proportion of fuel burned as fat during exercise. To achieve this supplement with the PPAR delta agonist Cardarine. Cardarine markedly increases cardiovasculaendurance capacity as well as muscular endurance. You'll be getting a few more reps per set on your higher rep sets and increasing the amount of fat (instead of blood sugar) your body is using while doing so.
Note: Stacking Cardarine with the infamous lipotropic L Carnitine may further enhance each supplement's effects.
Note: I have a separate article written on L Carnitine. See this article to learn everything you would ever want to know about L Carnitine in less than 5 minutes.
What about maintaining the muscle mass you built while in a caloric surplus after you diet your way into a significant negative caloric balance?
The supplement HMB, Beta Hydroxy Methyl Butyrate was over-hyped in the 90s. Everybody was looking for the "next creatine." And HMB showed promise. Then the research trickled in. Initially, HMB appeared to be of little value. Then more and more research poured in. Today we know HMB is most effective as an anticatabolic supplement.
HMB helps ensure the body remains in a positive nitrogen balance, but not by increasing protein synthesis. Rather, HMB reduces the breakdown of muscle mass (protein), and is particularly useful in lower-calorie settings, and/or high-stress situations (including recovery post-surgery and healing from serious burns).
You'll want to use a minimum of 3 grams of HMB per day. Amounts as high as 10 grams or more daily can be costly but are safe (and more effective than lower dosages, which does not necessarily hold true for other dietary supplements).
A second anticatabolic supplement you might consider is Phosphatidylserine or PS. The use of PS is reportedly effective in reducing excessive serum cortisol concentrations. Cortisol, a glucocorticoid, increases protein catabolism. This supplement can be costly to use, however.
Some trainees, gurus and gym pundits firmly believe the conditionally essential amino acid Glutamine is a potent anti-catabolic substance. The research on Glutamine's efficacy for athletes isn't clear; some studies show benefit(s) while others clearly do not.
If you're using appreciable amounts of protein powder (Whey Protein Isolate, Pea Protein Isolate, Caseinate, Milk Protein Isolate) you'll be getting about 4-5 grams of Glutamine (and precursors) per scoop (app 25 grams of protein. Most protein rich whole foods are also rich in Glutamine.
If you're in a caloric surplus (off season mode) then additional Glutamine is essentially a waste of money. Glutamine is best utilized while in the throes of strict dieting, when muscle mass losses are most likely. Glutamine can contribute to the Amino Acid Pool and act as a gluconeogenic donor if need be. Glutamine can also help restock both hepatic and skeletal muscle glycogen stores INDEPENDENTLY of carbohydrates (Glucose). To enhance glycogen replenishment, particularly in the peri-workout period, Glutamine must be taken in very large doses (up to 15-20 grams pre/intra workout & post workout).
Another thing you can do to reduce the loss of muscle mass while dieting is to raise your protein consumption to as high as 1.5 grams per pound of body weight. Of course, you'll have to have a commensurate reduction in calories from carbohydrates and/or fat.
And remember, while dieting to maximize fat-loss your goal isn't to build muscle, but instead to maintain that muscle which you've already built. This means you must take care to avoid overtraining. Not only is overtraining unnecessary at this stage, but it can be extremely damaging to one's physique. You run the risk of injury anytime you step foot in a gym but the probability of injury is geometrically increased if one is overtraining, particularly while on a low-calorie diet. Limit your weekly lifting sessions to no more than 5. Don't go crazy on the volume (# of sets) and stay in the 8-12 rep range most of the time (you can do more or fewer reps but 8-12 is a great rep range for most). You aren't going to be setting any PRs here.
Can you tell us what a sample day of eating might look like?
Let's say you decide on 3 whole-food meals, 2 shakes, and a snack every day. Let's assume your shakes are composed of ultrafiltered skim milk (12 g protein and 8 grams carbohydrate w/ 0g fat per 8oz), 2 scoops whey isolate (40 g protein), a small banana, and 1/2-1 cup frozen strawberries. By themselves, the two protein shakes will supply 130 grams of protein. And remember, at the beginning of this article we said our hypothetical dieter was 200 pounds. Thus your total daily protein goal in grams was 250 grams per day. Hence, you need only consume 120 more grams of protein, divided between 3 whole food meals and your optional snack.
Your total daily calorie and macronutrient allotment breakdown:
Calories: 2,700 Protein: 250 grams, 1,000 Cal Carbohydrate: 310 grams, 1250 Cal Fat: 50 grams, 450 Cal
Note: the caloric/macro breakdown above yields appx 37% protein, 46% carbohydrate, and 17% fat. This differs slightly from the 40/50/10 breakdown we began with but the actual percentages are simply a guide post. If you're more endomorphic you should probably drop the carbohydrates to 37% and raise the fat to make up the difference (or add protein for the same reason). If you're an ectomorph or mesomorph you can handle the 46% carbohydrate level without missing a beat.
Note: Supplemental fats do add additional fat grams (and calories to your daily totals). Thus, your total fat intake will likely be closer to 80 grams per day. You may also take a shot glass or two of extra virgin, cold-pressed organic olive oil 3-5 times per week to increase MUFAs in your diet.
Removing the protein shakes' nutritional values (130 grams protein, 0 grams fat, and roughly 60-120 grams of carbohydrates: one protein shake may be simply protein powder with milk or water and ice) leaves 120 grams of protein, 50 grams of meal-derived fats (excluding supplemental fats) and approximately 190-250 grams of carbohydrates for the remainder of the day. These figures will be spread (evenly or unevenly) over 3 whole-food meals and one snack. This works out to 40 grams of protein, 80 grams of carbohydrates, and about 15-20 grams of fat per meal. Under this scenario, your snack would have to be something like sugar-free jello which has practically no calories whatsoever.
As for how you put together your meals....
Because your list of foods was basic and limited to 15 items you'll have an easy time putting potential menus together. Choose foods from your list and match up their nutritional values to fit the macronutrient and caloric allotment for each of your 3 whole-food meals.
Note: If you need more variety go ahead. The number of different foods you eat has no intrinsic bearing on the results you'll achieve from dieting. I give the 15-item limit to reflect the authenticity of old-school bodybuilding dieting as told by John Romano, the famous bodybuilding author, and for simplicity's sake.
Look up the nutritional value of the various 15 (or more) foods you chose for your diet and write them down on the front page of your diet journal. You're going to want to make use of nutrition labels anytime you deviate from your list of foods. And if you're not accurately eyeing up proper portion sizes you'll want to invest in a food scale. Studies have shown that people who didn't record what they ate often overate far more than what they self-reported they'd eaten. The same goes for people commonly overestimating portion sizes. That's why you're going to record everything you eat and weigh out or measure proper portion sizes.
So how do you know how many calories you should begin the diet with?
There are many useful diet and macro calculators available online. One figure I've come across quite a bit is 15-17 calories per pound of body weight as a good, "average" starting point. For a 200 lb person, this works out to between 3,000 and 3,400 calories per day, which might be a bit high. If consuming even 1.25 grams of protein per pound of body weight that 15-17 cal/lb figure leaves 2,400 "energy" calories to come from carbohydrates and/or fats. Our hypothetical diet above was 2,700 calories with 250 grams of protein for a 200-lb individual.
So the two figures (2,700 cal and 3,000- 3,400 cal are close enough to be compatible and would likely fit any 200 lb hard training individual quite well - but we can't be certain. The only way to do that is to keep a diet journal for a minimum of 7 days where you record every morsel of every foodstuff you consume, each and every day and night. You also tally up your macronutrient totals for each of the seven days. At the end of those seven days, if your weight has remained the same, you have found your homeostatic caloric setpoint.
Add up the total amount of calories consumed over the seven days and then divide the resultant figure by seven. You now have your starting caloric allowance. If you want to gain quality mass you would increase your calories by 10-15%. But, we want to lose fat, so we will cut out starting caloric allowance (homeostatic-setpoint) by 10-15%.
If you simply don't have the discipline to keep a food journal you'll also have trouble keeping track of calories later on in the diet and end up overeating, even if unintentionally. That said, 15-17 cal/lb of body weight is a good average starting range for most lifters.
If you'd like, I'm open for consultations.
Contact me for nutritional, dietary supplementation, and exercise regimen consulting.
Mike Renteria BigMikeRenteria@gmail.com BPVA Summer 2024
Photo: Gunter Schlierkamp, IFBB LEGEND, 2002 GNC SOS CHAMPION (Defeated Reigning Mr Olympia Ronnie Coleman)

Hello! I am a 22-year-old man, not overweight. This is my first post on this, I apologize if it is too long and extensive. I used a translator, also apologies for the wording.
i started taking accutane in 2017 when I was 15 because of my severe acne that I had as a teenager, I had pimples on my face and back, it was definitely horrible for a teenager. On top of that, my skin was extremely oily. As an example: I used to shower every day at 7am to go to school, at 9am my skin was already very oily again. During 2017 I went to the dermatologist and was prescribed accutane 20 mg per day. I don't have much to explain, accutane saved my life, my acne disappeared completely and my oily skin was no longer oily, it was dry but without being excessively dry. I took 20mg per day from 2017 until June 2020.
The problem comes here. For some reason during June 2020, accutane stopped working. I was literally taking my daily pill and it didn't work at all. They will know that by taking accutane your skin stops producing sebum/grease/oil. But at that time in June 2020, the pill was not working for me, I could notice it immediately because my skin became oily again despite me taking accutane every day. I must clarify that absolutely nothing worked. It wasn't even that it had little effect, no! It did absolutely nothing!
Throughout the rest of 2020, as well as throughout 2021 and 2022, I went to my dermatologist to see solutions. First in 2020 he raised the dose to 40mg and then to 60mg per day since I explained that the 20mg was not working for me. Do you know what happened? Neither 40mg nor 60mg worked. My skin was still oily without any improvement. I clarify again that I literally felt nothing when taking 20, 40 or 60 mg. Not a bit of improvement. It should dry and it didn't dry my skin. There I realized that it was not a dosage problem, it was a problem of accutane in my body. For some reason the pill stopped working on my body. Until today I never knew why that happened, my hypothesis is that by taking it for so long (2017-2020) my body generated resistance to the drug, that's what I believe. I must say that my liver controls were always stable, without any problems. Because it did nothing for me despite increasing the dose, I decided to abandon accutane at the end of 2020.
Months passed and years passed. In 2021, 2022 and 2023 I did everything possible to try to solve my extremely oily skin problem. My dermatologist prescribed me everything from mild creams to stronger creams (tretinoin, adapalene), to hormonal issues (finasteride, dutasteride), I changed my diet strictly so as not to generate glucose spikes and although sebum/oil decreased, it was not too much.
In mid-2023, reading on the internet and in forums, I found a lot of information about accutane and its absorption together with a fatty medication (peanut butter, chocolate, etc.). In June 2023 my dermatologist again prescribed accutane in 20 mg. I used it along with a fatty food and to my surprise, accutane “worked”. I wrote it in “quotes” because there were two problems: 1. The combination of accutane + fatty food worked, but in my case, despite taking 20mg, it seemed like I was taking less than 10mg per pill. Evidently my absorption was low, very low, too low to be honest. 2. For some reason accutane along with fatty food was irregular. There were days it worked and days it didn't. I explain; a Monday it could work, a Tuesday too, a Wednesday it didn't work, a Thursday it didn't, a Friday it did, a Saturday it didn't, a Sunday it did. Do you understand it? I have no idea why, but there were days that it did and others that it didn't work, despite eating fatty foods.
As you can see, I tried several fatty foods and it was unstable and irregular. It is of no use that the drug is poorly absorbed and that there are days when it works and others when it doesn't. It is evident that the drug does not work as it should in my body, my theory is the same, that by taking it for so long (2017-2020) that generated resistance to the drug in my body.
During December 2023, reading in forums and on the internet, I found that Micronized Accutane was sold in the United States, India, and several other countries. Basically it is accutane but with larger particles in each pill, which allows greater absorption of the medication, without having to consume a fatty food. I am not from the United States. The only option I had to purchase micronized Accutane was in India (Sotret NF). The pharmaceutical company is big and is in several countries, it is definitely safe in that regard. I explained this to my dermatologist and she prescribed me 20 mg of micronized accutane, obviously it is more expensive but it was not a problem for me to pay for it, plus I was emotionally and physically tired due to my extremely oily skin problem. The medicine finally arrived at my house after a month. Taking the medicine for two months I can draw conclusions: 1. The medicine works. I don't have to resort to a fatty food for it to work. I literally drink water with the medicine and it works. 2. The only problem is the same as “conventional” Accutane. Although I was taking 20 mg, it seemed like it was less than 10 mg. I say this with complete confidence because there was a time (2019) when I was prescribed 10 mg and I know perfectly well what that dose felt like on my skin.
It's 2024, it's been 4 years since this problem occurred to me. Basically “conventional” accutane stopped working in June 2020. My skin became oily again and my mood declined to the point of dropping out of university in 2021 and being literally locked up at home all these 4 years. I have felt like I was in a coma, on autopilot while everyone around me grows and becomes independent. I'm not lying that my emotional and physical state plummeted, I had no social interaction in all these 4 years, the friends I had simply disappeared for them. I was locked up for 4 years because I didn't want to live "half machine" that is, I want to be me. I don't want to go to university and not be able to look my classmates in the face, I don't want to have to be full of grease/oil whether at university or in a conventional job, I don't want to have to reject friends or girls just for the sake of it. that I feel too oily to spend hours with friends or girls, you know, I don't want to wake up in a girl's bed and in the morning be a pan of oil on my face/body. Those types of thoughts were definitely what made me “abandon” social interaction. And don't get me wrong, I never thought about negative things, I have always fought to reverse this situation and regain my confidence to once and for all get back to the routine, the micronized accutane pill truly made me trust again that everything was going well to improve, I am definitely a different person now.
The point is this; In one more week I will have an appointment with a new dermatologist because, as I told you, 20 mg micronized accutane works but it is very ineffective, I practically do not notice that I am taking 20 mg, it feels as if the 20 mg were less than 10 mg. I explained that last month to my usual dermatologist. My idea was to increase the dose to obtain those 20 mg that I felt in 2017-2020, I don't know if I understand myself. My dermatologist did not agree because she said that increasing the dose is dangerous, believe me, I am clear about that, but I wonder why she did not want to agree or at least try to increase the dose slowly if she knew that I had literally been going to her medical center since 2017. According to me, She minimized my situation, believing that it wasn't that serious for me to have extremely oily skin. That's why I changed dermatologists and will have an appointment in another week.
Basically I'm going to go and explain all this stuff I wrote for you and tell you that if I go up doses of micronized accutane, I'll get the same effects/efficacy when I took accutane in 2017-2020, just when it was working properly in my body. I am confident that if I take 4-6 pills a day, I will get the same feeling as if I were taking 20 mg. That would be taking 80-120 per day. I say this with complete certainty because one day I took 60 mg of micronized accutane to see how it went. It definitely improved but my skin became oily after 8-10 hrs after bathing. I assume that if I take more than 3, I will feel the sensation of taking 20mg from 2017-2020 or at least be as close to that effectiveness/feeling.
That's my worry, that my new dermatologist won't believe what I'm going to tell him. 20 mg definitely does very little (practically nothing) for my oily skin. Today I have been taking this dose for 3 months and although I have improved, my skin feels oily after 4-5 hours after bathing to give you an idea.
What do you think? Thanks to those who took the time to read the entire text and comment or share their opinion. I insist that my problem at the beginning was acne and oily skin, I solved it but the drug stopped working in June 2020. My skin no longer has severe acne but oily skin causes me to have some pimples on my face from time to time. when, but my need is to control that oily skin that is internal, you have already seen all the products that I have tried without success.
I plan to solve this this year so that next year (2025) I can return to reality and feel part of society. Do you think I'm right about increasing the dose? Do you think it is dangerous to take 4-6 pills a day? Has anyone had a similar situation in which the medication stopped working completely? I don't mean purging, I mean not drying out their skin. I will read them. Thanks for your time.

I’m doing bulk rna-seq library prep and I accidentally added 10x A-tail buffer rather than 1x A-tail buffer. I freaked out and quickly added the solution + bead bound DNA onto the magnet to wash off the 10x buffer and replace with 1x without realizing that this buffer has tris and salts..
10x KAPA A-Tailing Buffer - contains dATP 100 mM Tris-HCl 100 mM MgCl2 500 mM NaCl 10 mM DTT 2 mM dATP pH 7.9 @ 25 °C
Am I screwed/ should I just re-start my library prep rather than continue wasting materials? Or is the tris-Hcl and salt concentrations too high to elute the DNA?
Thanks !!

Reviews look very promising with very low sides. What am I missing? Looking mainly to repair damage done from long term stimulant use for ADD, likely long covid and possible neuro lyme damage.
Mexidol / Emoxypine:

• Mental Clarity and Focus: Users report significant improvements in brain fog, ability to concentrate, and mental endurance.
• Mood and Anxiety: Effective in reducing anxiety, improving mood, and alleviating symptoms of depression.
• Addiction and Recovery: Helps in recovering from alcohol and substance abuse by repairing brain damage and alleviating withdrawal symptoms.
• Physical Health Benefits: Improves circulation, reduces inflammation, and has positive effects on lipid balance by lowering triglycerides and LDL cholesterol while raising HDL cholesterol.
• Neuroprotection: Acts as a powerful antioxidant and is beneficial for nerve regeneration and protection against future neurological damage.
• Synergistic Effects: Enhances the effects of other supplements and medications, such as caffeine, l-theanine, and modafinil, and reduces side effects of alcohol consumption.
• Non-addictive: Described as non-addictive with no euphoric effects, making it a safer alternative to other GABA agonists.
• Overall Quality of Life: Users report a sense of well-being, increased motivation, and better quality of life while taking Mexidol.

BEST MEXIDOL REDDIT COMPLILATION POSTS: If you're somebody who's been trying to take your mishaped brain, whether that be from natural processes, addictions, both, and hire a hand to squeeze that brain of yours into a normal shape as much as possible, if you're someone who's been trying to just..stop it all and become sober, not rely on an endless experiment of 20 pills of supplements a day, here's a VERY potential foundation, more powerful than any common brain Nootropic and I can tell my life story here,
I'm still under a treatment with Mexidol, and it's doing its job tremendously. I feel like it took my brain even this far, which isn't the longest, and it time traveled into the past at a time where I felt as normal as I can recall and placed me down. If you consider ever trying this, just go all out and quit all of your bad habits, seriously, don't use a fire extinguisher on an endless fire. This is an amazing substance to realign your planets, and protect it from future damage, as from my own addictions to dread, anxiety, brain fog, self esteem, (some) physical pain, ADHD issues.
do it for an extended cycle and lay off and see how you feel. I can crave thinking about a task now, and observe it clearly, and when I start I can't stop in a robotic fashion, I can't explain it anymore
__
Emoxypine was crucial in repairing lasting damage from alcohol abuse. I'm talking just one week of use and I felt at least 25% better. It was unreal.
Emoxypine was in a long line of stuff that had helped but the benefits were almost instant. I took like 120mg for a week and stopped because I felt tired and out of it. Another week goes by and I realize my awful brain fog I get in the afternoons had seriously decreased. I started taking it again and took it at night only. I never really got any additional benefits past that first week but it helped me get to sleep and shit.
Bpc-157 - first thing I tried that gave permanent improvements / cortexin - gave me bad brain fog while taking it, but there have been clear permanent improvements.
Semax / selank - these two in combination give me energy and seem to help me piece things back together. I don't them Bromantane - taking this recently and it's helping a ton.
__
I get the name brand mexidol off Amazon and have also had the regular emxoypine— both are amazing substances
__
It’s fine for a mild anxiolytic, but it’s real power is with balancing lipids. Lowering triglycerides, ldl, and increasing hdl. I’ve been taking it for years for this purpose.
__
It really helped my brain fog from long-Covid. I had a bunch of other symptoms going on too, but the brain fog was the one that didn't seem to be getting any better with time. I mixed it with Mildronate as part of my self-experimentation in recovery.
__
Etifoxine improves peripheral nerve regeneration and functional recovery
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2629330/
__
I've been taking the name brand Mexidol for about six months and I don't think I will ever stop. It is truly excellent at what it says it does: powerful antioxidant, clears brain fog, reduces chronic pain, and heals old nerve injuries. It even keeps me from getting chronically cold because of the excellent circulation benefits. I have no idea why it isn't more popular.
__
brand name did better for them than generic
__
I've been really impressed at the subtle but persistent good effects, such as not getting cramps in muscles where I had nerve damage, and healing pretty rapidly from a bad stomach infection, as well as peculiar things I've noticed like my (very bad, possible TBI-related) executive dysfunction recovering to the point of passing a few milestones I haven't been able to overcome for years.
__
I started taking Low Dose Naltrexone around the same time, so I believe they are both doing various things and possibly behaving synergistically
__
I find it fantastic. It works great either on its own as an anxiolytic, or combined with caffeine, it seems to both enhance the mental stimulation while reducing the jitters and anxiety. I have had no withdrawl after a month period of using 3x250mg daily.
__
when combined with caffeine and l-theanine as well it becomes even more powerful, they all work together superbly well.
__
helps endurance and helps with a lack of sleep.
__
I’ve been taking Mexidol for one week, and I’ve never felt so good in my entire life. The social anxiety I’ve been dealing with since I was abused as a teenager is at like 1%, I feel like I have zero mental or physical fatigue until I’m ready to wind down at the end of the day, and then I have beautiful restful sleep like I haven’t experienced since I was a teenager. I
__
Mexidol is the succinate salt.
emoxypine = 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine hydrochloridemexidol = 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine succinate
__
I started out taking 250mg 3x/day, I’m going to back down to 125 though because the increased dopamine, despite making me feel great, is giving me some ADHD like symptoms. I feel more interested in everything, and even more focused and attentive, but my focus is more easily diverted.
__
I've noticed it helps with anxiety on various levels. Also stops you getting sloppy drunk and reduces hangovers/hangxiety
__
Anxiolytic, cell membrane protection, free radical scavenger, lowers prolactin, and crazy synergy with modafinil.
CONS/NEGATIVES SIDES:
had to stop that and re-evaluate after it seemed to really slow me down mentally and make me tired. It was so bad it was like being pretty heavily inebriated. I couldn't concentrate, was kind of slurring my speech, etc.
_
only taken the ND one twice, but it seemed to have far less of an effect
__
Same here it literally knocked me out.
__
Day 4 into Mexidol (Emoxypine) super depressed mood?
__
Seems to be cholinergic. if you're sensitive to choline it can cause low mood/depression. Have you had this experience with other cholinergics like alpha gpc or citocholine? Stop taking it a few days (takes me about 3 days to recover from anything cholinergic) and retry to be sure.
__
I've been taking Mexidol for about two weeks now, and it's been utterly transformative. I'm having an almost complete remission of trauma induced social anxiety for the first time in almost 20 years, I feel vibrant and alive, it's awakened passion and motivation that I haven't felt in probably fifteen years, and I'm super excited about its other benefits as well.
__
I used it daily for close to a year and nothing bad seemed to happen. That said, I didn't get any tests done to confirm that.
I will vouch for its power, though. It healed some long term damage from severe alcoholism. I would not be the man I am today without it.
__
The biggest thing seemed to be chemical sensitivity. My theory is that my cell membranes were trashed and this helped restore them (I think I read in a study somewhere that it actually does this).
There are some other general improvements over the years such as improved concentration and anxiety levels however I've been dicking around with other nootropics that could be affecting all that.
__
Anxiolytic, cell membrane protection, free radical scavenger, lowers prolactin, and crazy synergy with modafinil.
Makes it smoother, more stimulatory simultaneously, and gives a better mood.
Some people take 200mg everyday and claim it's the best cognitive enhancer they've taken.
but memory is relatively unchanged if i don't combine it with my favorite acute onset cholinergics (nicotine, phenylpiracetam, piracetam).

1. it's an analog of vitamin b6, which is proven to lower prolactin.
   
2. it's proven that it raises dopamine concentrations in the brain.
   
3. 3) proven it with blood tests in myself. It's not like a maaaajor fuckin difference in prolactin concentrations like with amphetamines, cabergoline, pramipexole etc. But it lowered it more than vitamin b6.
   

__
I figured anything that increases dopamine will inhibit prolactin production. I currently take 300 mg P5P daily and my prolactin was at 18 last time I did bloods in November. I just ordered some Mexidol today, am really interested in seeing what positivity this brings in regard to anxiety and over all quality of life!
__
I find it helps my mood on days when I take it. Like if I had a rough night of sleep or drinking it restores a sense of motivation. I like it quite a bit.
__
it feels like something between phenibut and theanine
__
Cancels out, as in prevents you from suffering the negative effcts .
___
Lots of reasons, solid mood boost, anxiolytic, negates hangovers, and who knows what else. Completely safe and nonaddictive too iirc
__
I f’ing love it! Use if for work and if have a lot to do. Calms me just enough to be focused and a gentle sense of well being. Pairs great with all stimulants, Rhodiola, or picamillon.
Great preworkout too! It’s my new favorite daily go to. 250-300 mgs. Second dose in a day hits harder 3 hours after first. Taking more beyond that can extend but not as pronounced. 2x a day is the sweet spot…
__
I take it every time before starting to drink alcohol. Helps to negate hangover and to remove alcohol side effects
__
Mexidol has a healing effect on your brain and does not produce any euphoria. If you're not getting euphoria, you won't feel shitty coming off. It's not even close to being addictive as the usual GABA agonists. Coming off an antioxidant won't fuck you up at all. But don't get me wrong, this stuff is more potent than 80% of Noots I've tried. Not in a good or bad way. I just use it to heal.
__
I feel it stronger than other noots. I feel it after dosing, and the anxiolytic effects for me is pronounced. When doing my operator job at a computer, it feels like I'm doing my job on autopilot. Never felt that way with other nootropics, and I've been taking Noopept on and off for 2 years now
__
The point of Mexidol is to normalize the process of dopamine and endorphin production, while taking Kratom disrupts the production of both chemicals.
__
Mexidol was the best for brain fog and inflammation but that's disappeared from everywhere now. Probably this study, found it was awesome then FDA shadowbanned it would be my guess. They no longer do press releases or even update any website when they ban stuff, just seize and destroy and maybe send you a letter if you're lucky...same with pretty much all 5eyes countries.
__
It’s an antihypoxic, works in the brain to improve cerebral bloodflow, it’s a powerful antioxidant very similar in structure to B6. It’s usually given to people after suffering ischemic strokes, hemorrhages, diabetes (helps improve bloodflow…). But in clinical studies on humans it’s also improved anxiety, mood, primarily motivation too. It can give you a sense of purpose again, kinda eradicates long-standing anhedonia I guess?
_
Mood, motivation, anxiety, helped tremendously with the neuropathy in my thighs too. But that was such a long-standing nerve damage condition that it would never return 100% to baseline anyway, but it was a pleasant side effect.

Benefits seem unlike any other compound with very little sides. Seems strange it's not more popular, first time I've heard about it was today in searching for something to help with verbal recall. What am I missing?
ALL NOTES FROM OTHER REDDIT POSTS:
The project so far has been a complete success in my case. Not only did it increase my IQ by 7 points, and my friend's by 6, I genuinely feel I am smarter being on this compound, and I've been making a lot of progressive, intuitive decisions. I've become more health focused, and it's almost as though it originates from a more introspective mindset. Sometimes I catch myself thinking more from a third person point of view, and my consciousness in general feels elevated.
A caveat here I'd like to mention is that I did not get any of these effects immediately, besides the increased IQ and working memory increase. It 100% works, but it's not acute. And normally with drugs you expect something to just kick in, but in my case there isn't a forward psychoactive effect like a "high" by any means. Others have reported the opposite, but this is my personal experience with the compound.
Some benefits were instant such as cognitive testing parameters of working memory and IQ, also dreaming. But mental benefits took a few days to manifest. In preclinical studies, antidepressant effects reached significance only 6 days after, which may also apply to some other properties of the drug.
Has went well with Pemoline in my case, Tropisetron it goes good with but I can tell they're both approaching from different angles.
2mg seems ideal, and it seems to compound day by day and reach an ideal state after 6 days. I don't think it needs to be cycled, Takeda has reported no AMPA down regulation.
Stack:
TAK-653, Tropisetron, phytoceramides, TUDCA, nutrient 950 A, coffee (because I'm dependent, not because I like it)
And often Bromantane spray and Pemoline
Sometimes citrulline DL malate + slow release arginine
__
I really like TAK-653 with a good dose of Tropisetron. Tropisetron stabilize my attention a lot and the TAK-653 makes it easier for me to hold onto and manipulate the information that comes in with the added focus.
__
It's reasonable for you to feel proud to have made this available to the community. I've been taking it for 5 days in a row now and it doesn't feel like anything else out there. No perceived side-effects.
I've been experiencing an increase in self-perceived thought quality, introspection capability, and ability to better discern and stand up for what is right for myself in situations where it is called for. I work in a high stress engineering position for a fortune 50 company and I just took a stance on a type of serious issue I usually tend to be more sheepish about. I would say that if your prone to be a bit disagreeable, it can push you farther in that direction rather tactfully. It increases your capacity for argumentation. I can also relate to your experience with dreaming. It's more weird/intense than Lion's Mane for me.
This thing does elevate BDNF production very significantly in cortical matter in rodent models.
___
Observations so far:

• This is something you notice rather than feel
  
• I laugh harder and more often
  
• I feel like I can articulate my thoughts better
  
• When attending math lectures, I can understand concepts more quickly and then go on to apply those concepts more quickly. Beforehand, I would need to become familiar with a concept before I could start abstract reasoning around it, but this process has been shortened.
  
• I'm more introspective. It shows itself as an ability to peer deeper. I just seem to be able to answer more introspective questions with a greater certainty that I was before. Paired with the previous point I made, it allows for a lot more introspective progress to be made in a shorter time.
  
• I've noticed a lot more that I simply remember certain things more easily. Before, I would need to recall the context of a fact before I could be certain of it. Like needing to remember where I read something. Now it's like, I can recall the name of a band, actor, or whatever, and I just know it's right. That knowledge appears out of nowhere and I don't even remember where I remember it from.
  

That's what I've noticed so far. The experience has been positive overall and I'll probably by more just from the boost to introspection.
__
I noticed an uptick in creativity, both divergent and convergent, subtle but definite. I have not noticed anything else.
The effects are hard to notice, but I felt a ramp down of effects after discontinuation. After two weeks, I restarted and found the effects returned.
__
It has been great. My IQ went up 6 points. I experienced improved reaction time and informational processing which led in to thoughts regarding time perception. I also feel increased mindfulness and introspection, which led to questioning some of the actions throughout my life and understanding myself as a person more clearly. My mood has been great, colors appear a bit more vibrant, and my workouts have been great. I feel more aggressive and explosive at the weights. The effects peak in about 2 hours and last all day. It tends to become a bit overstimulating, and I experience a bit of hypomania if I go to 3mg or above. Therefore my favorite dose is 2mg as it avoids those sides. Overall I would definitely recommend it and plan to continue taking it indefinitely every morning.
__
It kinda gets rid of my brain fog in the morning, while im not sure if it makes me any smarter, it does help me connect my thought bette thoughts flow better ig if that makes sense
__
I've settled on 1 mg as being the best dosage.
On 2 mg it's similar but less intense. I found myself thinking more about existential issues, death, impermanence and the passage of time.
1 mg seems to be a sweet spot in that I get the introspection without the existential dread. I'm still thinking about the above issues but they aren't affecting me as strongly. Today I cried watching my children eat breakfast because I was so appreciative that I have this time with them and the preciousness of the moment. That type of magnification is typical of what I'm sensing. It can be quite intense but much less so than a psychedelic trip. It's a softer intensity that gently pushes me toward these feelings rather than shoving me into them.
Overall, I'm going to continue at 1 mg for another week or maybe two. Not sure if I will continue. I believe the reflections have been beneficial and I can meditate on the experience without subjecting myself to the actual experience again.
I continued and noticed memory improvement with recall and short term. The introspection continued. I finished the bottle about 1.5 weeks ago and haven't had any nootropics since. Memory seems back to baseline. I don't plan on using tak again anytime soon.
__
you'll also get used to it over a few weeks. I didn't like Tak at first for many of the reasons you described. I finally settled on 1.5mgs and it worked great. Now I take 2mgs which is the suggested dose and I love it. It takes time to adapt to it.
__
I truly believe my sleep improves with TAK. I do take in the mornings.
__
I’m sure this is because of the mechanism of action of tak. I think it improves the connectivity of the synapses in your brain which makes them process information faster. Although I don’t think this would affect general intelligence, this should help people reach their intellectual potential especially in cases were someone is smart but their processing speed is holding them back.
__
I’ve been observing my bodily movements passively since starting TAK. I also have the sensation that I am listening to my thoughts and can respond to them if that makes sense. I’ve now kind of snapped myself out of an hour long discussion within myself debating if free will really exists. In past use of TAK I have thought about the multiverse theory, and the extensive possibilities of my life choices.
Reading this back makes me sound like a pseudo- intellectual stoner. But my experience on TAK has been quite distracting yet I see and experience the benefits.
__
It works like this: cognitive enhancement -> higher self-awareness -> existential contemplation.
AMPA receptor function and cognitive enhancement: Lynch (2004) showed that AMPA receptor PAMs, such as TAK-653, can improve cognitive functions like learning and memory by enhancing long-term potentiation (LTP), a key cellular mechanism underlying synaptic plasticity.
Cognitive enhancement and self-awareness: Grant et al. (2010) found that cognitive enhancement can lead to increased self-awareness and introspective experiences. In their study, individuals who underwent cognitive training exhibited greater self-awareness and understanding of their cognitive processes.
Self-awareness and existential contemplation: Silvia & Philips (2013) discovered that higher self-awareness can lead to existential contemplation. They found that individuals with higher self-awareness were more likely to engage in existential thinking and philosophical inquiry.
TAK-653, as an AMPA receptor PAM, enhances cognitive function and synaptic plasticity, leading to increased self-awareness. This heightened self-awareness, in turn, may promote existential contemplation and introspective experiences.
__
When I took TAK-653 I did notice greater introspection and a deeper penetration of insight into the causation of certain behaviors, emotions, mindsets and other phenomenon pertaining to personality.
I can't say I experienced an undeniable increase in existential, metaphysical, or philosophical thinking. But to be honest, those kinds of thoughts are always swirling around in my head anyways. Keep up the contemplating. You DO make sense of it/stop feeling crazy or doubtful if you keep developing it.
__
It may be because of the enhanced cognitive function and increased neuronal activity resulting from TAK-653's action on AMPA receptors.
__
With TAK I noticed more mindfulness/critical thinking when I'd normally be on autopilot - e.g. when I'd mindlessly reach for a cookie and chow down before, with TAK sometimes I'd get a little nudge like "hey, you had told yourself you wanted to eat healthier. you're being impulsive". And sure, sometimes I'd still eat the cookie. But not always.
As an aside, does TAK cause GI issues for anyone else? Gives me horrendous bloating and gas. Unless it's just the PEG it's suspended in, but I'd be surprised if half a ml of that stuff per day could do me in like that.
__
Sounds like greatemore constant activation of some parts of the brain associated with consciousness and self-awareness. That's speculated and supported to be some of the effects of TAK-653. I certainly noticed similar things myself.
__
I have memory improvement in almost every aspect and better fluid intelligence and it improves my depression but on the other hand i cant use it continuosly at any dose because it makes me dream all night or i cant sleep at all. Also it makes me cry on things more easily.I like it but i cant figure out that what could i do to be able to use it daily .One other thing that when i use it at 1mg thoughts seem to just stuck in my head an i just repeat them too many times. It definitely improves my IQ after all . If anyone could advice me an other nootropic to make me sleep like baby then i think I would use TAK every day.
__
rivotril seems to reduce the insomnia but i still dream all night when im using TAK.Its such a good noot cause ive never had tolerance to it.
__
Anxiety, feelings of tightness in the chest and a bit of impending doom, not severe though, just a bit on edge. Slightly faster reading speed and verbal comprehension maybe, but it's hard to test that. Reaction time to complex stuff like FPS games was better, but simple human benchmark reaction time did not improve. More rigid behavior patterns. Tradeoff was not worth it for me, but ymmv. I'm on the spectrum and take stimulant medication, so that may be the reason for my less than ideal experience.
__
One of the best nootropic antidepressants out there with no side effects.
2mg/day. Yes, I can see subtle cognitive enhancement from taking it.,
__
Tak has an antidepressant effect and is a real good nootropic, even if it's something you won't feel acutely (like you can feel something like Phenylpiracetam or Modafinil). Tak is comparable to something like Noopept, but...just better in my opinion.
It's something you'll only really notice when you work/learn and get more efficient. (Same thing with PRL-8-53 with memory: you don't notice until you are in a demanding task)
__
Haha yeah I had some wild introspection like: "Oh, why did I get angry right there?"
and my subconscious would say
"Well, when you were five years old your older sister gave you an insecurity complex that's permeated into an unconscious defense strategy which you have a fear reaction to that turned into frustration at the thought of unearthing an old wound you didn't want to confront."
I'd be like: "Oh... Huh. That's....good to know. Thanks."
___
I thoroughly enjoy(ed) TAK-653. I've experimented with a large number of nootropics - both conventional and unconventional - and TAK is my favorite so far.
I began noticing the effects after a few days of use. Also, I used 8mg split up into two doses of 4mg.
Here are the primary positive effects I've had:
Complexity Tolerance
TAK has increased my ability to *remain* focused on a complex problem and reason through it. Before TAK, there were some topic areas that I could only think about in brief periods before I felt cognitively fatigued. There seem to be two distinct effects contributing to this:

1. Reducing the burden itself: I notice that TAK results in significantly *more* connections being made to unfamiliar material. My ability to understand novel (to me) concepts by analogizing them to concepts I already understand is improved, which reduces how "foreign" some new concept feels.
   
2. Secondly, it seems that I can hold a larger number of disjoint concepts in my mind at once. I guess this would suggest some sort of improvement on working memory, though I hesitate to conjecture that working memory improvements are the mechanism of action here.
   

Memory
I've also found that my memory has improved; the frequency that I have to refer back to notes or re-read papers in the course of doing research is absolutely less than it was before starting TAK.
Ease of Deduction
It is easier for me to perform "just in time" inference and first-principle based reasoning. Even my spouse has noticed my improved reasoning & planning; my improved ability to optimize my own time; my improved performance during a debate (spouse and I often discuss some topic of mutual interest at length, which usually involves debate. She has noted my arguments are stronger and terser).
Responsibility
This is, I believe, a second-order effect that results from the direct effect TAK has had on the process of introspection.
Specifically, I am more reflective about my own behaviors, thought patterns, and macro-level direction. Introspection is also more dispassionate. A corollary to that is that I find I'm more able to be "honest with myself" without experiencing the stress that comes when you realize - for example - you've been avoiding some set of unpleasant responsibilities for too long and now you're absolutely screwed. Instead of feeling like that, it feels more like "ok, another problem to solve. Here are my initial ideas. Let's create a decision tree".
Gaming
Another interesting phenomenon I've observed is that my performance in competitive video games is a lot better. In fact, for some games that I've played for years now, I have found myself ranked multiple tiers higher than I've ever been ranked before.
Aggression
I would say it has increased my aggression a bit, as well. It isn't "anger", nor is it the sort of aggression you might experience from testosterone-related treatments. It is more that I've found myself less patient with people who aren't "keeping up" in one area or another. Whether it be stupid mistakes a person would make while driving, or listening to the redundant and useless questions the person in front of you in the checkout line is asking the cashier, I've found these sorts of incidents more aggravating than I had found them prior to starting TAK.
Spelling
This one is kind of weird. While I am certainly more articulate on TAK, my spelling has gotten worse. It is not that I don't *remember* how to spell the words that I knew how to spell prior to starting TAK; it is that I make typos noticeably more frequently.
___
I received administered IQ test before and after taking TAK. Baseline was above average, but the results did show a net IQ increase.
Having said that, the results did show a decrease in certain categories of crystallized intelligence (general knowledge and word opposites) but did show an increase in areas of fluid intelligence and quantitative intelligence.
__
For me TAK is only great for solving problems, doing last minute projects,.. not for studying. It increases my processing speed drastically which you don’t want when reading a new material but it’s best for a review. You can get 1000 flash cards on Anki in half day
___
I also used to lucid dream pretty regularly (3-4) times per week during college years (it took a while of training).
When I first started taking TAK-653 regularly, I would have extremely vivid dreams if i took it in late afternoon (and still do if I take it that late). About 40% of the time it resulted in lucid dreams with a high degree of contextual awareness.
Combine it with citicoline and tropisetron and I imagine lucid dreaming would come pretty easily.
__
CONS:
It can leave you a bit more wired than normal in case your in a high stress situation.
__
I went though a dropper of tak and personally didn’t like it. It strongly increased my introspective thinking which gave me a more analytical headspace throughout the day. However I’m naturally pretty introspective so tak took it over the edge and caused me to feel dissociative and a little autistic in social situations (really noticeable at 4mg and greater). Like someone would initiate small talk and instead of have a clique automatic response, it would make me consciously think of a response which causes a noticeable delay. Though if you’re alone and are contemplating a philosophical concept or any complex out of the box problem it’s very effective at bringing about good trains of thought and keeping them going (akin to cannabis imo). This thought amplification effect can be turned on itself tho cause if you’re in a negative headspace it will make the negative thoughts 10x louder and provide more reasons to reinforce them.
__
Ive been playing with TAK for a few months but i had to take breaks after 1-2 weeks even on 0,5 mg because i cant sleep from it at all after 1 week of use also when i try to sleep i have that horrible pressure like feeling behind my eyes plus i just cant stop thinking not for even a second.I like TAK cause it reduces my social anxiety a lot and i can chat more with people cause i have more memories but how could i get rid of this side effect ?cause if i cant sleep it is useless.I was thinking about taking phenibut in the evening or something like that.Its interesting that alcohol seems to reduce that side effect but i dont want to drink every day. Can anyone give me some advice?
__
I had an extremely confusing experience with this compound. When I took it, I was extremely tired throughout the day. However late at night this wore off and I started to do massive self-reflection on the current state of my life. I realized that if I were to die and my life were to flash before my eyes, I would probably be yelling at myself for always being so in my head. I'd be yelling to stop worrying so much about shit that doesn't matter, and to enjoy the present moments because they will not last forever. Not sure if this is a coincidence but this happened only after a single usage at 2mg.
__
Just because of using TAK I am now considering going on TRT just to feel more human.
__
Each time I try it works great for a few weeks at the cost of being overly objective. Then pros slowly dwindle and I start feeling more bogged down than anything. I don’t use it anymore but if you were to I’d recommend doing like a week on month off. This is just my opinion
___
Am I the only one who consistently gets a sense of overall dullness from TAK? It feels like it places a distance between me and whatever I'm trying to concentrate on and not in a good way; as if it makes things more nonsensical, which is basically the opposite of what I expected, and I wanted to like it. It makes meditation weird in the same way.

Welcome to the /Bitcoin Newcomers FAQ
You've probably been hearing a lot about Bitcoin recently and are wondering what's the big deal? Most of your questions should be answered by the resources below but if you have additional questions feel free to ask them in the comments.
First a foremost, You can run Bitcoin node software by downloading and installing Bitcoin Core or other node software.
It is a best practice to verify these Bitcoin node programs you download by checking their hashes and signatures.
Don't Trust, Verify.

• https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/releases
• https://bitcoincore.org

A verified Bitcoin node running on your own hardware is your sovereign gateway to the Bitcoin network. They can be used alongside open source software wallets to send and receive Bitcoin securely. If your Bitcoin wallet software is fully open source and Bitcoin-only, then it is probably a decent wallet. Some popular examples include sparrow wallet and electrum wallet, both of which you can connect to your own locally run Bitcoin node, and used with most Bitcoin Hardware Wallets.
But for more basic background on Bitcoin, it all started with the release of Satoshi Nakamoto's whitepaper however that will probably go over the head of most readers so we recommend the following articles/books/videos as a good starting point for understanding how Bitcoin works and a little about its long term potential:
It all started with the release of Satoshi Nakamoto's whitepaper however that will probably go over the head of most readers so we recommend the following articles/books/videos as a good starting point for understanding how Bitcoin works and a little about its long term potential:

• Article: The Bullish Case for Bitcoin
• Book: The Bitcoin Standard - or download a free copy here
• Video 1: An introduction to Bitcoin - Wences Casares
• Video 2: The Stories We Tell About Money - Andreas Antonopoulos
• Video 3: The Bitcoin Standard - Saifdean Ammous
• Video 4: Bitcoin 101 - Balaji Srinivasan

Some other great educational resources include;

• The Satoshi Nakamoto Institute (check them out!)
• Michael Saylor's Hope.com and "Bitcoin for Everybody"' course
• Jameson Lopp's resource page
• Gigi's resource page
• James D'Angelo's Bitcoin 101 Blackboard series
• Parker Lewis's Gradually Then Suddenly series
• Some Bitcoin statistics can be found here (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).
• A Curriculum Like Reading List of Advanced Bitcoin Books

If you are technically or academically inclined check out;
Developer resources Peer-reviewed research papers Course lectures from both MIT and Princeton Future protocol improvements and scaling resources. MicroStrategy's Bitcoin for Corporations is an excellent open source series on corporate legal and financial Bitcoin integration.
You can also see the number of times Bitcoin was declared dead by the media (LOL!)

Key properties of Bitcoin

• Limited Supply - There will only ever be a maximum of 21,000,000 bitcoins created and they are issued in a predictable fashion per the inflation schedule. Once they are all issued Bitcoin will be truly deflationary. The halving countdown tells you approximately how much time until the next block reward halving.
• Open source - Bitcoin code is fully auditable. You can read and contribute to the source code yourself.
• Accountable - The public ledger is transparent, all transactions are seen by everyone.
• Decentralized - Bitcoin is globally distributed across thousands of nodes with no single point of failure and as such can't be shut down similar to how Bittorrent works.
• Censorship resistant - No one can prevent you from interacting with the Bitcoin network and no one can censor, alter or block transactions that they disagree with, see Operation Chokepoint.
• Push system - There are no chargebacks in Bitcoin because only the person who owns the address where the bitcoin resides has the authority to move them.
• Borderless - No country can stop it from going in/out, even in areas currently unserved by traditional banking as the ledger is globally distributed.
• Trustless - Bitcoin solved the Byzantine's Generals Problem which means nobody needs to trust anybody for it to work.
• Pseudonymous - No need to expose personal information when purchasing with cash or transacting.
• Secure - Blocks and transactions are cryptographically secured (using hashes and signatures) and can’t be brute forced or confiscated with proper key management such as hardware wallets.
• Programmable - Individual units of bitcoin can be programmed to transfer based on certain criteria being met
• Divisible - Each bitcoin can be divided down to 8 decimals, which means you don't have to worry about buying an entire bitcoin.
• Nearly instant - From a few seconds on the Lightning Network to a few minutes on-chain depending on need for confirmations. Transactions are irreversible by normal users after one confirmation and irreversible by anyone (including miners) after 6 confirmations.
• Peer-to-peer - No intermediaries taking a cut, no need for trusted third parties.
• Designed Money - Bitcoin was created to fit all the fundamental properties of money better than gold or fiat.
• Portable - Bitcoin are digital so they are easier to move than cash or gold. They can be transported by simply carrying a seed (a string of 12 to 24 words) on a device or by memorizing it for wallet recovery (while cool, memorizing is generally not recommended due to potential for forgetting the seed and the potential for insecure key generation by inexperienced users. Hardware wallets are the preferred method for most users for their ease of use and additional security).
• Low fee scaling - Most wallets calculate on chain fees automatically but you can view fee estimates and mempool activity if you want to set your fee manually. On chain fees may rise occasionally due to network demand, however instant micropayments that do not require confirmations are happening via the Lightning Network, an open source second layer payment protocol built on top of the Bitcoin blockchain. The Lightning Network enables Bitcoin users to instantly send and receive bitcoin with fees so low that they are negligible.
• Scalable - While the protocol is still being optimized for increased transaction capacity, blockchains do not scale very well, so most transaction volume is expected to occur on Layer 2 networks built on top of Bitcoin.

Where can I buy bitcoin?

Bitcoin.org and BuyBitcoinWorldwide.com are helpful sites for beginners. You can buy or sell any amount of bitcoin (even just a few dollars worth) and there are several easy methods to purchase bitcoin with cash, credit card or bank transfer. Some of the more popular places to buy bitcoin are listed below

• List of peer-to-peer exchanges
• Bisq (decentralized & P2P)
• Hodlhodl.com
• RoboSats (P2P)
• Cashapp
• Coincorner
• LibertyX
• Strike
• Swan Bitcoin
• River financial,
• Xapo

You can also purchase in cash with local ATMs. Services such as CardCoins let you purchase bitcoin with prepaid gift cards. If you would like your paycheck automatically converted to bitcoin use Bitwage.
Note: Bitcoin are valued at whatever market price people are willing to pay for them in balancing act of supply vs demand. Unlike traditional markets, bitcoin markets operate 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

Securing your bitcoin

With Bitcoin you can "Be your own bank" and personally secure your bitcoin OR you can use third party companies aka "Bitcoin banks" which will hold your bitcoin for you.
If you prefer to "Be your own bank" and have direct control over your coins without having to use a trusted third party, then you will need to create your own wallet and keep it secure. If you want easy and secure storage without having to learn best computer security practices, then a hardware wallet such as a ColdCard, Trezor Wallet is recommended. You can even build your own open source hardware wallet called a SeedSigner or krux.
If you cannot afford a hardware wallet there are many software wallet options to choose from depending on your use case. Mobile wallets like BlueWallet are generally more secure than desktop wallets. Beware of fake mobile wallets and check reviews from reputable Bitcoin websites. Avoid paper wallets or brain wallets.
If you prefer to work with third party "Bitcoin banks" to set up a collaborative custody arrangement, try Unchained Capital but be aware that any third party you use exposes you to third party risk. There is a saying in the community, "Not your keys, not your coins".
Note: For increased security, use Two Factor Authentication (2FA) everywhere it is offered, including email!
2FA requires a second confirmation code or a physical security key to access your account making it much harder for thieves to gain access. Google Authenticator and Authy are the two most popular 2FA services, download links are below. Make sure you create backups of your 2FA codes.
Avoid using your cell number for 2FA. Hackers have been using a technique called "SIM swapping" to impersonate users and steal bitcoin off exchanges.

Google Auth	Authy	OTP Auth	and OTP
Android	Android	N/A	Android
iOS	iOS	iOS	N/A

Physical security keys (FIDO U2F) offer stronger security than Google Auth / Authy and other TOTP-based apps, because the secret code never leaves the device and it uses bi-directional authentication so it prevents phishing. If you lose the device though, you could lose access to your account, so always use 2 or more security keys with a given account so you have backups. See Yubikey or Titan to purchase security keys.
Both Coinbase and Gemini support physical security keys.

Watch out for scams

As mentioned above, Bitcoin is decentralized, which by definition means there is no official website or Twitter handle or spokesperson or CEO. However, all money attracts thieves. This combination unfortunately results in scammers running official sounding names or pretending to be an authority on YouTube or social media. Many scammers throughout the years have claimed to be the inventor of Bitcoin. Websites like bitcoin(dot)com and the r / btc subreddit are active scams. Almost all altcoins are marketed heavily with big promises but are really just designed to separate you from your bitcoin. So be careful: any resource, including all linked in this document, may in the future turn evil. As they say in our community, "Don't trust, verify".

• Avoid using ad-based search engines like Google or Yahoo: ads are shown based on how much the advertiser bids, and scammers can easily outbid legitimate providers for ad space, since immoral ways of earning money are far more lucrative than moral ways. Use DuckDuckGo instead, which has no ads, and never tracks you as well.
• Ignore private messages offering services.
• Never enter your seed words in a website of any kind. Hardware wallets will recover by displaying possible seed words on their own interface, never on a website.
• Always check addresses on your hardware wallet before sending or receiving. Some malware has been known to replace addresses in your web browser or that you copy-and-paste.
• Avoid clicking on links like that look like links, such as https://www.google.com/, without first hovering over it and actually checking where they go to. Just because a link is labelled with an HTTPS address does not mean it actually sends you to that address. It is trivial for someone to comment a link on Reddit that looks like it will send you to one website when it actually sends you to another, and you might not notice the difference until a scammer has gotten all your money, or you have downloaded and installed software that steals your money.

Common Bitcoin Myths

Often the same concerns arise about Bitcoin from newcomers. Questions such as:

• Will quantum computers break Bitcoin?
• Will governments ban Bitcoin?
• Is Bitcoin a Ponzi scheme?

All of these questions have been answered many times by a variety of people. Here are some resources where you can see if your concern has been answered:

• Common Bitcoin Myths
  
• Gradually, Then Suddenly
  
• Every Reason Bitcoin Will Not Fail
  
• The Best Articles Debunking Bitcoin FUD
  
• Why Bitcoin is Not a Ponzi Scheme: Point by Point
  

Where can I spend bitcoin?

Check out Spendabit, Bitcoin Directory, or Coinmap for a plethora of merchant options. You can also spend bitcoin anywhere Visa is accepted with bitcoin debit cards such as the CashApp card, Fold card or other bitcoin debit cards. Some other useful site are listed below.

Store	Product
Bitrefill, Gyft, and Fold App	Gift cards for thousands of retailers worldwide including Amazon, Target, Walmart, Starbucks, Whole Foods, CVS, Lowes, Home Depot, iTunes, Best Buy, Sears, Kohls, eBay, GameStop, etc.
Spendabit, Overstock, and The Bitcoin Directory	Retail shopping with millions of results
NewEgg and Dell	For all your electronics needs
Bitrefill, Bylls, LivingRoomofSatoshi, Swapin, Coins.ph, and more	Bill payment
Menufy and Takeaway	Takeout delivered to your door
Expedia, Cheapair, Destinia, SkyTours, the Travel category on Gyft and 9flats	For when you need to get away
Cryptostorm, Mullvad, and PIA	VPN services
Namecheap, Porkbun	Domain name registration
Stampnik	Discounted USPS Priority, Express, First-Class mail postage

There are also lots of charities which accept bitcoin donations.

Merchant Resources

There are several benefits to accepting bitcoin as a payment option if you are a merchant;

• 1-3% savings over credit cards or PayPal.
• No chargebacks (final settlement in 10 minutes as opposed to 3+ months).
• Accept business from a global customer base.
• Convert 100% of the sale to the currency of your choice for deposit to your account, or choose to keep a percentage of the sale in bitcoin if you wish to begin accumulating it.

If you are interested in accepting bitcoin as a payment method, there are several options available;

• BTCPay Server
• Zaprite
• Square cash
• Stripe
• Wyre
• Blockonomics (direct to your wallet)
• CoinCorner Checkout

Can I mine bitcoin?

Mining bitcoin can be a fun learning experience, but be aware that you will most likely operate at a loss. Newcomers are often advised to stay away from mining unless they are only interested in it as a hobby similar to folding at home. If you want to learn more about mining you can read the mining FAQ. Still have mining questions? The crew at /BitcoinMining would be happy to help you out.
If you want to contribute to the Bitcoin network by hosting the blockchain and propagating transactions there are many great resources you can use to run a full node. You can view the global distribution of reachable Bitcoin nodes on this webpage.

Earning bitcoin

Just like any other form of money, you can also earn bitcoin by being paid to do a job.

Site	Description
WorkingForBitcoins, Bitwage, Coinality, Bitgigs, /Jobs4Bitcoins, BitforTip, and Rein Project	Freelancing
Lolli	Earn bitcoin when you shop online!
Bitify, and /Bitmarket	Marketplaces
A-ads, Coinzilla.io	Advertising

You can also earn bitcoin by participating as a market maker on JoinMarket by allowing users to perform CoinJoin transactions with your bitcoin for a small fee (requires you to already have some bitcoin).

Bitcoin-Related Projects

The following is a short list of ongoing projects that might be worth taking a look at if you are interested in current development in the Bitcoin space.

Project	Description
Lightning Network	Second layer scaling
Liquid and Rootstock	Sidechains
Hivemind	Prediction markets
Tierion and Factom	Records & Titles on the blockchain
BitMarkets, and DropZone and Beaver	Decentralized markets
JoinMarket / JAM app	CoinJoin implementation
Peer-to-Peer Exchanges	Peer-to-peer exchanges
Keybase	Identity & Reputation management
Abra	Global P2P money transmitter network
Bitcore	Open source Bitcoin javascript library
Bitcoin Knots	A Within Consensus Fork of Bitcoin Core - For Running a Bitcoin Node

Bitcoin Units

One bitcoin is worth quite a lot (thousands of £/$/€), so people often deal in smaller units. The most common subunits are listed below:
Unit Symbol Value Info ------ bitcoin BTC 1 bitcoin one bitcoin is equal to 100 million satoshis millibitcoin mBTC 1,000 per bitcoin used as default unit in Electrum wallet bit μBTC 1,000,000 per bitcoin colloquial "slang" term for microbitcoin satoshi sat 100,000,000 per bitcoin smallest unit in bitcoin, named after the inventor
For example, assuming an arbitrary exchange rate of $10,000 for one bitcoin, a $10 meal would equal:

• 0.001 BTC
• 1 mBTC
• 1,000 bits
• 100,000 sats For more information check out the bitcoin units wiki.

Still have questions? Feel free to ask in the comments below or stick around for our weekly Mentor Monday thread. If you decide to post a question in /Bitcoin, please use the search bar to see if it has been answered before, and remember to follow the community rules outlined on the sidebar to receive a better response. The mods are busy helping manage our community, so please do not message them unless you notice problems with the functionality of the subreddit.
Note: This is a community created FAQ. If you notice anything missing from the FAQ or that requires clarification, you can edit it here and it will be included in the next revision pending approval.
Welcome to the Bitcoin community and the new decentralized economy!
Please note that this thread will be moderated and non-constructive comments will be removed.

Hi All,
Just felt like sharing my personal story as it’s been a life changing week as at 41 male 5,8” 166 lbs I was just diagnosed with UC a couple days ago.
Starting Saturday, April 27th, I starting having terrible stomach aches and pains, my poop was not solid (and looking back it probably wasn’t for weeks, or maybe months, but they always came at the same time 1-2 BM like clockwork and I thought my “toilet bowl plastering was impressive) and there seemed to be red tinge to the toilet bowl water. Didn’t think much about it, pain went off and ok throughout the day took pepto and UNFORTUNATELY ibuprofen. Next day was much of the same expect more frequent and stronger pains and more BM’s. Took more ibuprofen and started Imodium AD and that temporary paused the pain and BM enough that I could actually leave the house and go out for food. Monday morning thing took a turn for the worse, BM are every 30 mins, no poop is coming out, only wateblood, debilitating pain and the Imodium AD and ibuprofen weren’t helping (well I guess it appears the ibuprofen does exactly as expected with UC). After a chaotic couple of hours trying to seem by anybody except ER we decided to just go there. They quickly are concerned, I give a “stool” sample and eventually I’m emitted to hospital. CT scan indicates colitis and I’m scheduled for a colonoscopy for the following day (which turns into the day after that). They start me on IV’s of saline, antibiotics and lucky I get dilaudid every 4 hours, which was the only thing that gave me any relief from constant running to the bathroom to pee blood from my butt. Finally get the colonoscopy and get diagnosed with UC. I’m on 10 MG doses of Prednisone and 1,600 MG doses (4x400) of Mesalamine to hit it hard based on how bad I was. Low fiber diet for 2 weeks to let colon recover and relax (which is harder than I thought it would be) and then reintroduce other foods to see tolerances, but I really think food isn’t the issue and my unprofessional opinion is that stress was which PEAKED over the last 2 weeks that sent my spiraling. That all being said I have a few DUMB questions I was hoping I could get some answers here based on your personal experiences:

1. Is remission just not blood and pain in poop or is something that needs to be verified by doctor?
   
2. Can you manage this disease all the way through a normal expectancy or does this end up shortening life expectancy?
   
3. Are they any tips and tricks to managing UC when taking a long trip (I have a 6 hour flight to Hawaii in June I’m starting to get nervous about)?
   
4. Has anybody had success with more homeopathic approach’s or is that not really a thing?
   
5. Is anybody able to actually drink alcohol without worry of a flare or should I consider my drinking days over?
   

Thanks for any and all responses…still in the early days of research and new reality but glad to have could this group.

Hey all! First of all, a bit of info about me. I'm she/her and I've been on Mounjaro for approximately 4 months. I've dropped probably close to 40 pounds, (I don't weigh often because I become obsessed with it, so not sure of the exact amount). I'll soon be 49, on 7.5 mg and Mounjaro has done for me what two weigh loss surgeries didn't! It is the ONLY thing that has EVER worked! I have type 2 diabetes, as well as PCOS and I'm running headfirst into menopause! So with that out of the way, I'll get to the reason for this post.
I have very little appetite. I know that's common, that's why most of us take Mounjaro. Starting out, all I actually WANTED to eat was apples bananas and cheese. That's it. And the only apples I can tolerate are honey crisp. I don't know why. I do eat a sausage biscuit for breakfast, each morning. I know it isn't the healthiest thing to have, and to be honest, I only eat it because my boyfriend always has it ready for me when I wake up, in the morning. I'm close to telling him to stop making them for me. I'm tired of them, but, honestly, on most days that's the biggest amount of protein I get, all day. If we go out to eat, I'll get grilled shrimp, chicken or a steak, but we don't go out often. Every now and then, I'll snack on carrots or raw bell pepper, but that's about the only deviation from what I mentioned and I don't eat them often.
Anyway, as time went on, I started getting tired of bananas, so I've all but stopped eating then. I may have 2 or 3 a week. Now, I'm getting tired of cheese. At first, I started getting tired of certain types of cheeses, and now I'm down to only fresh mozzarella and Australian Old Croc sharp cheddar and I'm very rapidly getting absolutely sick of it. Sooo, that leaves me with apples, and I'm not tired of them, but I'm eating less and less of them, and I know I can't live on a few apples a day. I have never in my life been a picky eater, normally, I would try anything once. Now, food just tastes different to me. The taste of food is so much stronger on Mounjaro.
Before anyone suggests protein shakes, just know that I can't stand them. They are way too sweet and I can't stand anything sweeter than fresh fruit. I can't stand anything fried, other than that piece of sausage I eat each morning, that I'm getting tired of, and well... I just can't tolerate most things. This is unknown territory for me, because, pre-Mounjaro, I would eat a whole box of Little Debbie's, at one time. I would get up in the middle of the night and eat whatever I could find. I literally had a food addiction and couldn't get over it. I don't want to stop the Mounjaro, because it is changing my life in such a positive way, yet, I know I have to eat! I'm taking a variety of supplements so I should be getting at least most of my vitamins and minerals in. Not protein, though.
I'm mainly just posting to see if anyone else has experienced only wanting certain foods, then rapidly getting sick of them, lol. I'm going to talk to my doctor and see what he suggests. My food aversion is worse now than it was when I was pregnant and had hyperemesis! That's severe morning sickness that pretty much gets you hospitalized. It's like I have morning sickness without the sickness, lol. I only have the food aversion.
I am very fortunate that I have not experienced the horrible side effects that a lot of people have. No nausea, stomach pain or anything like that. Actually, Mounjaro has solved most of the stomach issues I had, previously.
Anyway, anyone else? Like I said, I'll talk to my doctor, he's on Mounjaro, too, so maybe he has a few tips, lol! I just wanted to share my experience and see if anyone else is in the same boat. Thanks for reading! And Viva Mounjaro! 😂

Drostanolone Propionate (Masteron) is an androgenic steroid based on dihydrotestosterone originally developed to improve conditions derived by breast cancer. It is considered a medium or mild strength steroid. There are two variants: Drostanolone Propionate and Enanthate. The first is universally regarded at Masteron. It was introduced in the early 70s and it is available only in injectable form. Drostanolone Enanthate was never released as a pharmaceutical human grade product and is not as popular as the Propionate version.
What is Masteron used for in bodybuilding? The basic benefits of both Propionate and Enanthate are a lean and harder-looking physique, but only after it has been built with other steroids. Many bodybuilders consider it a sort of cosmetic sterod to add the final touch to an already toned body. Also, being regarded as a mild anabolic steroid, Masteron has various positive effects and less side effects. Masteron delivers solid muscle mass combined with strength and at the same time helps the loss of water, but it does not actually help losing body fat. In facts, this steroid is useful only if the athlete’s body fat is already less than 10%. Masteron also accelerates metabolism and helps increasing energy and endurance. Drostanolone Propionate has a half-life of 2,5 days while Drostanolone Enanthate has a half-life of 10 days. Masteron is commonly used in cutting and pre-contest cycles. It is often stacked with Winstrol, Testosterone and Trenbolone. Masteron is not the first choice when bulking, as its effects will be rather weak. Bodybuilders anyway use it for bulking together with other steroids to add the benefits of losing fat. Masteron is of little to no use for those who do not have a stringent fitness routine aimed at cutting. Also, those who have substantial fat in their body will not benefit much from the steroid. The steroid does facilitate the loss of water but it does not help the loss of fat from the body. There may not be any impact on the weight of a person. The reduced water retention has a nominal impact on body weight. The effect is more aesthetic. It is best to achieve a low body fat percentage, at the most twelve to fifteen, before taking Masteron.
What are Masteron side effects? Even though Masteron is considered a mild steroid, its usage has side effects that may, or may not, affect the user. The most common is hair loss, especially to people already balding. Acne is another possible effect of a prolonged usage. Tendency to aggression and excessive rage has been reported. However, all side effects cease to appear as son as the cycle is over.
Masteron cycle for beginners A common Masteron cycle for beginners would last 8 weeks, with 100 mg per week injected every other day.
Masteron cycle for intermediate users Drostanolone Propionate needs to be injectied once in two days or on alternate days, with dosages ranging between 200 and 350 mg per week, for a cycle of 8 weeks.
Masteron cycle for experienced users A common cycle of Masteron for experienced bodybuileers involves Testosterone Propionate. Cycle will be longer, between 8 and 10 weeks, with dosages of 500 to 700 mg per week, combined with Testosterone Propionate at 350 mg per week. The Enanthate form needs less injections (2 injections per week), with dosages ranging between 400 and 600 mg per week, on a standard cycle between 6 and 10 weeks.
Masteron Cycle PCT Contrary to popular belief, the PCT phase should never start immediately after finishing a Masteron cycle, as the compound has to leave the system before starting any form of therapy. Therefore, the PCT cycle should start 3-4 days after last administration of the Propionate and 14 days after last administration of the Enanthate. Commonly used products are Nolvadex, Clomid and HCG. A Nolvadex cycle following a mild Masteron cycle will last 4 weeks. For the first 2 weeks the dosage will be 20 mg/day, while for the second 2 weeks dosage will be 10 mg/day. A stronger PCT will also last 4 weeks. On the first week, dosage will be 30 mg/day, on the second it will be 20 mg/day, and for the last 2 weeks dosage will decrease to 10 mg/day. With Clomid, a typical cycle following a mild Masteron cycle will last 4 weeks. For the first 2 weeks the dosage will be 50 mg/day, while for the second 2 weeks dosage will be 25 mg/day. A stronger PCT will also last 4 weeks. On the first week, dosage will be 75 mg/day, on the second and third week it will be 50 mg/day, and for the last week dosage will decrease to 25 mg/day. HCG is only used after a heavy Masteron cycle, therefore mainly by experienced bodybuilders. The common strategy is to use a short cycle of HCG before starting a longer one with Clomid or Nolvadex. In a 3 weeks cycle, HCG dosage will be 2000 IU every 3 days on first week, 2500 IU on second week and 3000 IU on the last week. Alternatively, one can run an intensive 10 days cycle injecting 1000 IU/day from day 1 to 4, then 750 IU/day from day 5 to 7, and 500 IU/day for the last 3 days of the cycle.

Nardil improved my anxiety and at lower dosage for depression, but nothing for Adhd and anhedonia. Plus on Nardil I have had terrible side effects.
Parnate is much SE friendly. But still none of them did not help with anhedonia, ADD, low energy, boredom every day, low energy, feeling like it helps but nothing makes me happy, I have no motivation to go anywhete and do anything. Everythyng is forced. Alcohol never helped so much ( I am clean 6 years, marijuana made me worse, LSD also, shrooms nothing, Modafinil has helped with Nardil tiredness, but most time makes me anxiouss, Kratom ( even 3-4 years ago when it was quality never make me doing something 3-4-5 hours and enjoying in that... I forgot my pain when take stimulants, I do not feel euphoric. I can walk with my dog without forcing myself to do it, i can be in my room talk with my mother, help her something about cleaning. I enjoy spending time with my family, I can go to shopping and only when i take stimulants i can really enjoy in that, I forgot about any "prpblems". I can also speak with my friends without fear and without feeling that i have to do that. I just relax myself and ifni want to watch movie or basketball game, i do it from the start to the end. That is so rarelly without stimulant.
So stimulants fix my impulsivity,attention negative hyperactivity, motivation, social anxiety, depression, ADHD. I can listen people, without interrupting them, my attention improve. I have feeling that Parnate and stimulant could help with all my conditions. I usually take 50 or 60 mg Parnate dailly. Now is bery late, 2 AM and i realized that i took only 30 mg Parnate, Kratom only once, benzos 50% less and Lyrica 150 instead of 225. This stimulant lasted 10 hours and i still feeling positive effects. Only thing is If i decide to reduce Parnate to 40 mg, reducing Kratom, benzos and then stop them completely will be hard to fell asleep. But there are melatonin/valerian root/chamomile tea. I dont want to taking nothing that could make me drowsy and interact with my medications. For 4-5 months i hope that this will be normal me without benzos and Kratom and reduced Parnate.I take Modafinil very often but i could without it without problems.
My plan: I will take 40 mg Parnate, 225 mg Lyrica and stimulant. Of corse i will continue taking dopamine supplements( Bromantane, vitamin D, gingko biloba, B6, B12, caffeine) but nothing every day, dopamine tolerance supplements ( NMDA antagonists) oxidative stress ( vitamin e, selenium, Nac), adaptogens( ashawangdha, bacopa moniery), neuroprotection( R-Ala, omega 3, curcumim, agmatine), mentat health and cognitive impairment ( coenzime q10, Lions Mane, phenylpiracetam, choline, Dhea). I have two big boxes of different medications, drugs, nootropics, supplements.
But unfortunatelly nothing works for me beside Maoi + stimulant and low dose of lyrica for fibro pain and chronic knee pain.
I think i wont have problems reducing benzos and Kratom. Modafinil i can stop now but I need some alternative because i plan to take stimulant max. 5 days a week. For other two days i will probably take caffeine pills and i must take dopamine vitamins and supplements. Without oxidative stress pills, dopamine booster, tolerance reduction, neuroprotections, mental health and antioxidants it wont last long. That is one of the reason why people become tolerance to dopamine releasers. This stimulant that I take it is less stronger than Adderall. There is very little euphoria in comparasion with dexedrine and adderall. But people cant realize that euphoria is only side effects that last one to two weeks and then people think they developed tolerance. This stimulant is last longer. It is best to avoid caffeine while taking it. Caffeine can make stimulant a little bit euphoric but then it last shorter. There is no much side effects.
Worst se is insomnia especially I take it with Parnate. But i will try melatonin and valerian root, even i have mirtazapine mainly at 7.5 it works as sedating antihistamines. I also have leftovers from seroquel and Elavil which in low doses works only as strong antihistamine. But I have experience with all 3 medications. They will make you very sleepy at 15-30 minutes, but the problem is that you sleep too much. If you get up earlier you will be drowsy all day and then my medications do not work as they should. I need around 6 hours of sleep. Wow, now i see how long this post is, lol. But I made decision and I wont stop until i reach my goal. And my goal reduce Parnate to 40 mg, stay on 225 lyrica and taking 25-30 mg stimulant powder in empty capsule.

1. Reduce Parnate from 50-60 to 40 but maybe is even betterr stay at 50 mg because i need less stimulant
   
2. Quit Kratom
   
3. Quit Benzos ( take it just PRN)
   
4. Quit Modafinil.
   I can quit it from today. For Kratom i think that i will quit it in 4-5 weeks. Even i could much quicker but i want to avoid withdrawal. Medications that do not work so well i can live without them. The longest I will need for Bromazolam because i can quit it in 10 days but i know how bad withdrawal are in such a short time. I have never had bad withdrawals unless from Nardil, which was horrible. My theory is that i cant get bad withdrawals from drugs that do not work like they should.
   

A Daily chronicle of AI Innovations May 02nd 2024: 👀 Sam Altman: "GPT-4 is the dumbest AI you'll ever have to use" 🎵 TikTok and UMG strike new licensing deal including AI protections 📲 Anthropic's ChatGPT rival Claude is now available on iOS 🤖 Atlassian launches Rovo, its new AI teammate 🤖 Better and faster LLMs via multi-token prediction: New research 💸 Google's AI advancements urged Microsoft's billion-dollar OpenAI investment 🤖 Sanctuary AI teams up with Microsoft to advance general-purpose robot AI 🗣️ Nvidia's ChatRTX now supports voice queries and Google's Gemma model 🤝 Atlassian launches Rovo: An AI assistant for enhanced teamwork 📊 MongoDB launches an AI app-building toolkit to help businesses use gen AI 🎨 Ideogram introduces Pro Tier: 12,000 fast AI image generations monthly AI Training: 🎨 Create infinite styles with Midjourney AI RESEARCH 💊 AI model predicts drug effectiveness Trending AI Tools 📱 Claude iOS App - The powerful AI assistant by Anthropic, now on your iPhone 🎵 Udio New Features - Generate AI music longer than 2 minutes and extend tracks up to 15 minutes ✨ Loom AI workflow - Turn any loom video into share-ready docs in a click 🧠 Atlassian Rovo - AI Teammate for data-driven business decisions 📊 Kratful - AI-driven feedback analysis for product optimization 🎨 Stability Matrix - Simplify Stable Diffusion UIs and models management New AI Job Opportunities 👩‍💻 Perplexity AI - Program Manager - Community 🏙️ Metropolis - Senior Director of Sales Engineering 💻 Luma AI - Senior Backend Software Engineer ✍️ Cohere - Copywriter / Copy Editor (part-time, contractor)