an arginine metabolite acting primarily as an NMDA receptor antagonist and imidazoline receptor agonist, with secondary NOS inhibition and broad neurotransmitter modulation. The subjective effect is a small but real buffer between external events and emotional reactivity
- things still happen, their impact is just slightly muted.
That emotional distance is useful for managing day to day stress without sedation or cognitive impairment. It also functions as a mild antidepressant booster and is well-documented for preventing opioid tolerance via the NMDA antagonism mechanism; while opioid tolerance prevention isn’t personally relevant, the same mechanism likely helps maintain stimulant efficacy long-term.