Posted by Toby on November 25, 1998, at 15:36:44
In reply to Nicotine gum, posted by Paul on November 24, 1998, at 8:37:35
Nicotine is a stimulant and is the addictive component of tobacco. Since it is a stimulant, that is why it is helping your attention deficit disorder. However, please be aware that the nicotine in nicorette gum is very short acting and your brain will quickly get used to it and it won't really help with the ADD after awhile. There have been some studies that show that early on nicotine improves concentration somewhat, but once a person is addicted, that they perform worse on tests of concentration, even right after getting a dose of nicotine. You would be better off going to your doctor (even a family doctor) and getting regular treatment for the ADD with something less addictive than nicotine.
Nicotine is not the carcinogen in cigarettes, it's the tar and carbon monoxide that do the damage there. Side effects of nicotine gum or patches would be headace, nausea, dizziness, possibly high blood pressure. Over the long haul, nicotine might contribute to coronary artery disease due to the increased blood pressure.
poster:Toby
thread:1334
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19981101/msgs/1349.html