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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by helpme on July 4, 2006, at 18:56:28
For those most desperate of times, when exhaustion and despair srike and there is work to be done, can a cigarette help? I am not too worried about addiction since I managed to kick benzos and amphetamines and other things--but for just once in awhile, a little legal help, perhaps? A guy once gave me one of his- normal, out of a box, and I swear it gave me a short burst of mild euphoria and energy. So I bought a box of American Spirits since I heard they were so natural- but no such kick. Blah-ville, no appeal. In fact, it put me to sleep. Any cigarrette out there that anyone knows for that rare boost? I feel so guilty to ask such a question, but...
Posted by nolvas on July 4, 2006, at 19:58:43
In reply to bad question- cigs, posted by helpme on July 4, 2006, at 18:56:28
I'm going to answer the question... however I strongly suggest you don't use smoking to try and gain a positive effect to your mood. Smoking is absolutely and definitely a menace to your health. The disadvantages of smoking far far outweigh any possible benefits from ingesting nicotine by smoking.
Nicotine may stimulate the release of Dopamine within the Brain and may inhibit the breakdown of Dopamine by the Monoamine Oxidase Type B (MAO-B) enzyme.
Colgan, M. Dopamine: The controller. Muscular Development Fitness Health. 34(1):44, 1997.
The author provides evidence that nicotine ingestion causes a very rapid increase in dopamine activity.
Nicotine may stimulate the release of Endorphins within the Brain.
Nicotine may stimulate the release of Vasopressin from the Hypothalamus.Nicotine may inhibit Monoamine Oxidase Type B (MAO-B) (by up to 40%)
Fowler, J. S., et al. Inhibition of monoamine oxidase B in the brains of smokers. Nature. 379(6567):733-736, 1996.
Posted by helpme on July 4, 2006, at 20:10:30
In reply to Re: bad question- cigs, posted by nolvas on July 4, 2006, at 19:58:43
I was sort of wondering what brand. I already threw the other pack away by the way. And I still think one cig here or there, while not ideal, is better than a multi-hour hysterical crying spell/drinking heavily/overusing benzos, etc. No doctor has managed to find an antidepressent that works for me yet, and I endure an extreme amount of suffering regularly. Once in awhile I JUST WANT A BREAK.> I'm going to answer the question... however I strongly suggest you don't use smoking to try and gain a positive effect to your mood. Smoking is absolutely and definitely a menace to your health. The disadvantages of smoking far far outweigh any possible benefits from ingesting nicotine by smoking.
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> Nicotine may stimulate the release of Dopamine within the Brain and may inhibit the breakdown of Dopamine by the Monoamine Oxidase Type B (MAO-B) enzyme.
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> Colgan, M. Dopamine: The controller. Muscular Development Fitness Health. 34(1):44, 1997.
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> The author provides evidence that nicotine ingestion causes a very rapid increase in dopamine activity.
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> Nicotine may stimulate the release of Endorphins within the Brain.
> Nicotine may stimulate the release of Vasopressin from the Hypothalamus.
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> Nicotine may inhibit Monoamine Oxidase Type B (MAO-B) (by up to 40%)
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> Fowler, J. S., et al. Inhibition of monoamine oxidase B in the brains of smokers. Nature. 379(6567):733-736, 1996.
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Posted by nolvas on July 5, 2006, at 18:21:21
In reply to Re: bad question- cigs, posted by helpme on July 4, 2006, at 20:10:30
Well I'm sorry to say smoking cigarettes regularly will give you an extreme amount of suffering in the future as well :(
Maybe try Nicotine patches or one of the other forms of Nicotine supplementation. I presume it's the Nicotine that's giving you the effect so you could try that. However again I'm not recommending it because I dunno the safety issues etc.
I hope some one with some expertise can help you here.
Posted by helpme on July 5, 2006, at 18:30:15
In reply to Re: bad question- cigs, posted by nolvas on July 5, 2006, at 18:21:21
well, you'll be glad to know I've already thought against the idea. pretty obvious.
Posted by nolvas on July 5, 2006, at 22:51:48
In reply to Re: bad question- cigs, posted by helpme on July 5, 2006, at 18:30:15
Ok well I wish you well in finding something that works for you and isn't ultimately detrimental to your health.
Posted by linkadge on July 10, 2006, at 20:14:48
In reply to Re: bad question- cigs, posted by nolvas on July 5, 2006, at 22:51:48
Low doses of nicotine may actually be neuroprotective. Simply type in nicotine + neuroprotection in any search engine. It seems to reduce neural inflammation, nicotine also lowers cortisol.
Apparently cigarette smokers have a significantly lower incidence of parkinsons and alzheimer's.
The flinder's rats, are a breed that is often used to test the antidepressant effects of certain compounds. They respond to the TCA's, but according to this study they acutally seem to gain a significant antidepressant effect from nicotine.
http://biopsychiatry.com/nicotine.htm
Nicotine may also reduce anxiety through its supression of serotonergic firing in the dorsal raphai neucleus via 5-ht1a receptors.
I think it has been disputed whether nicotine acutally inhibits MAO-B. I think it has been suggested that it is other compounds in cigarette smoke which confer this effect.
The beta carbolines in cigarette smoke inhibit both MAO-A and MAO-B.You may do well to combine nicotine with a MAO inhibitor, either prescription or herbal (turmeric, fo-ti, ginsing, cats claw)
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on July 10, 2006, at 20:18:04
In reply to Re: bad question- cigs, posted by linkadge on July 10, 2006, at 20:14:48
http://whyfiles.org/024nicotine/brainscan.html
Suggests combining nicotine replacement with a MAO-B inhibitor.
Linkadge
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