uppers/downers: effect on various alters

I think I know the general answer to the question: do your alters have widely varying responses to various uppers or downers? I'm trying to determine what our issue is here so some confirmation would be helpful.

I take Provigil, which is for narcolepsy. I probably should wean myself off of it but I started taking it a couple years ago or so when I was so depressed and had little energy. My shrink perhaps conveniently "diagnosed" me as narcoleptic, which is usually not the suddenly falling asleep thing but inordinate tiredness. If I don't take it on a weekend, I cannot avoid taking a nap. However, I suspect what I really need is exercise to build up my stamina.

I also drink coffee, 2 small cups/day. Jonathan has been out for me at work. My alters almost had me in lockdown this morning for very good reason, as some of my crap is starting to leak over into my alters and they want to put a stop to it NOW. So Jonathan was out but by this afternoon, he was so uncomfortable, nervous, jittery, almost jumping out of his skin, the opposite of him normally, and we just thought, well, he's not used to hosting for so long, is afraid of having to do this all the time, doesn't know the job or like it so much, other stresses are happening, stressed trying to be me, etc.

But now we suspect it may be physiological also? He's a calm fellow, doesn't need the extra boost maybe, and can't cope with all the useless energy? I took over because I guess I'm used to feeling hyper, though today I'm more conscious that's it's hyper because I was aware of what Jonathan was going through in the body. I can't stand downers of any sort and would probably be a cocaine or speed addict if I didn't know the dangers. Actually, I went through periods where I did them.

Do you have any wide differences like this, particularly for stimulants (uppers) or downers? Thanks!

I'm pretty phobic of taking anything at all, though I do drink caffeine. I haven't noticed whether it seems to effect anyone more, but I know for a fact that Poet is always tired no matter what. She is run down all the time and caffeine won't affect that at all, but I always chalked that up to depression, rather than anything physiologically significant. The littler ones don't get all the way up front at a time when I would be having caffeine, so I don't know how it would affect them. I think it does make the Big Brother part kind of tense, though, jittery, like you're describing with Jonathan, I suppose.

Hi Jonathan - I'm sorry it was a stressful day. Thanks for managing so much for JJ. I hope you are getting the rest and quiet time you need. I relate to you a lot, as you know, and even though I'm host, I feel like I definitely need my go-inside time without the outside world to maintain sanity. Thinking of you.

I am very sensitive to medication. One paracetamol has always been enough for me. And my low dose of anti psychotic is enough to send me to sleep within half an hour - unless Poppi is hosting, in which case we'll be up for hours and hours and she'll only go to bed because I ask her to!