re-opening the medication issue: dopamine? and the WONDERS of vicodin!!!

[Guest guest]

Greetings Everyone-

I haven't posted in a very long time, but have lurked here and there. I always

appreciate

the insights from both sides of the aisle. (;

I witnessed and amazing, nay, miraculous transformation in my AS husband in the

most

unusual of circumstances.

He unfortunately had 2 incidents over the past few months which brought him much

physical pain--root canals/tooth issues and back pain. He is not a very good

patient, but

hates taking any medication. However, his doctors pushed him to take vicodin

when he

needed it, and he did ultimately succumb.

However, upon taking the medication, for those few hours I could not believe the

man

before me. There was empathy. There was a sincere response to my needs. A new

ability

that did not exist before for sure. He even interacted and cared for the

children

appropriately (albeit a bit sleepily (.

Now I know many NT's differ in their feelings about their AS spouses. I do not

wish to

fundamentally change my spouse--after all, many of the qualities of AS I find

attractive

(the geeky parts: single focus, success, shyness, naivtee....).

However, the aspects which are often vented here (lack of empathy, bluntness,

withdraw,

lack of affection, and in my case, crass outbursts) have truly taken a toll on

our marriage

and I have more than once entertained leaving.

But this incredible situation has given me an odd sense of hope. After a

horrible night last

night of complete miscommunication (and what I call an extreme Aspie episode--he

acknowledges that as well...), one vicodin tonight, and an hour later he came to

me,

hugged me, led me to his computer room, sat me down on the couch and hugged and

massaged me. No words. Just extreme snuggles. And complete giving on his part.

This has

NEVER happened in our marriage!! It felt SO strange I almost felt like it was

another man

and felt oddly guilty about it, but loved it nonetheless...

Of course, with my science/biochemistry background I madly googled after that. I

found

that vicodin, in addition to its pain-killing abilities, upregulates dopamine

(that is why

people get addicted to it....). Then, I saw that Asperger's can also be linked

to the

dopamine system. What intrigued me though was some conflicting information. They

tend

to prescribe drugs that REDUCE dopamine function, which counters my experience

with

vicodin helping. I wonder if any AS here tried such meds with luck/no luck.

BUT counter to that (and reassuring from my vicodin standpoint) I also found

data that

said asperger's has increased dopamine beta hydroxylase, which means that their

dopamine is being converted to norepinephrine. Ergo, reducing their pools of

dopamine.

Ergo, getting more dopamine (like from vicodin ( would HELP!!! And the meds

they are

currently using to curb dopamine would NOT help! A better approach would be from

the

antidepressant family which targets dopamine reuptake...To keep more dopamine

out

there.....

Any insight/experience is appreciated.

Also, I am thinking of revealing this data to him so that he may be convinced to

seek

professional help/maybe get meds. To the other AS' out there: would this tactic

work?

Should I ask him while he is on the vicodin?? (:

(By the way, vicodin is addictive, so do not get your AS person on it...my

husband takes it

only for 2 days then months go by, etc...But he has taken it enough times for me

to see

this incredible result!!!!).

Thanks so much...maybe there is help after all without sacrificing any AS

qualities that are

not harmful to our marriage...the best of all possible worlds...

Best wishes-

xo Heidi