Nicotine – self-medication

[Anonymous]

Nicotine: there is lots of info on the internet about the health hazards, but here is a bit of info:

1. At least 60 chemicals in tobacco smoke, including aromatic amines, are known to cause, initiate or promote cancer.
2. The exposure to these chemicals is capable of triggering the conversion of normal cells into cancer cells (mutation).
3. Aromatic amines present in tobacco smoke have a high potential to develop mutations that can cause cancer.

Here’s a Health Canada webpage about the effects of nicotine on the body: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hc-ps/tobac-tabac/body-corps/index-eng.php

And another on nicotine addiction: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hc-ps/tobac-tabac/res/news-nouvelles/nicotine-eng.php

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[Anonymous]

Effects of nicotine ?

–> no ! Effects of smoking cigarettes, which is indeed very bad for health.

There is a big difference!

Cigarette smoking is indeed a disaster in terms of public health : because of >60 toxic chemicals, not only nicotine.

Nicotine alone is linked to addiction, raise in blood pressure and heart rythm (like amphetamines and methylphenidate)

But is it linked to cancer, pulmonary diseases?

Maybe? But not sure.

I don’t know… But I know that many of the 60 other chemicals are carcinogens!

Addiction is linked to the fast release of nicotine in smoking.

What about a slow release ? (nicotine patch or else)

I used to smoke a lot and i decided to quit 6yrs ago. I have not smoked a single cigarette since then.

But I have tried a nicotine patch just to understand the effect. It does calm me down, helps me focus and helps me socially (better ability to communicate). I had better effects with a half patch of 15mg nicotine than with 20mg ritalin or 54mg concerta.

But then, I also had side effect : bad nausea after 3-4 hours.

My problem with nicotine patch :

– nicotine concentration increases until the dosage is too high, causing nausea after 3-4hours

– I don t know much of the long term effects of nicotine alone ( not smoking)

It would be interesting to know about scientific knowledge with nicotine alone.

Are pharmas and scientists working on it ?

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[Anonymous]

Thought I would update this

As a recently diagnosed adhd adult I started researching, finding out about stimulants what they are etc. I have smoked for 20 years more than a pack a day, I would not get out of bed unless I had a cigarette in my hand no less than 2 mins later, I quit smoking 8 days ago with the patch, this is the first time I have done so while being medicated for adhd.

This time compared to the other 20 odd times I have tried to quit, I do not feel as on edge, my cravings are way less pronounced and I am not as irritable. I did call my Psychiatrist before I quit and he prescribed a bit of a higher dose of meds than I was on if I needed it, I did up my dose on the second day because I was struggling and it totally helped!!!

Here are some links to some of the info I found interesting:

http://www.schizophrenia.com/nicotine.benefits.htm

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00573248

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12478880

women and adhd/ smoking http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22341778

http://newideas.net/smoking-adhd-research

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[Anonymous]

I was a pack a day smoker until 8 years ago when I finally quit. I’ve always wondered why I felt like something had changed after that but it didn’t become apparent until I was diagnosed with ADD 2 years ago. Now I know why my golf game was so good. (I usually smoke a cigar or two during golfing). I chewed nicotine gum when I quit smoking and still do occasionally at work to help me stay focused and it does help. I don’t do meds very well as I have a Mitral Valve Prolapse which makes me very sensitive to stimulants but exercise seems to help when I stay on it. Life is fun isn’t it?

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