![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 28, 2003, at 9:19:59
I'm using the Nicotrol Inhaler and I absolutely love it. I never have a craving for a cigarette as long as I have my Inhaler. But anyway, here's my thought: Say I have an extremely difficult time tapering down on the Inhaler and end up finding it impossible to quit using it. What harm would there be in using it as a substitute for cigarettes indefinitely? I believe I've read somewhere that nicotine is actually beneficial to the brain, somehow, and smokers have a reduced risk of developing Parkinson's disease (though I realize this doesn't necessarily mean nicotine is the chemical in tobacco that inhibits MAO-B). Plus, once a smoker, always a smoker -- even if you quit. What I mean by that is the majority of former smokers have to battle the urge to light one up occasionally for the rest of their life. I definitely don't want to have to deal with that... opinions?
Posted by Caleb462 on August 28, 2003, at 9:36:29
In reply to Just a (probably) crazy thought..., posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 28, 2003, at 9:19:59
> I'm using the Nicotrol Inhaler and I absolutely love it. I never have a craving for a cigarette as long as I have my Inhaler. But anyway, here's my thought: Say I have an extremely difficult time tapering down on the Inhaler and end up finding it impossible to quit using it. What harm would there be in using it as a substitute for cigarettes indefinitely? I believe I've read somewhere that nicotine is actually beneficial to the brain, somehow, and smokers have a reduced risk of developing Parkinson's disease (though I realize this doesn't necessarily mean nicotine is the chemical in tobacco that inhibits MAO-B).
Nicotine definitely is not tobacco's MAOI - and you probably wouldn't get the brain-beneficial effects of tobacco from a nicotrol inhaler alone.From what I understand, nicotine is harmful to the heart. So, using an inhaler regularly certainly would be better than smoking, but it wouldn't be COMPLETELY harmless.
Posted by fallsfall on August 28, 2003, at 11:22:13
In reply to Just a (probably) crazy thought..., posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 28, 2003, at 9:19:59
>>What I mean by that is the majority of former smokers have to battle the urge to light one up occasionally for the rest of their life.
I quit smoking 21 years ago and I certainly don't want a cigarette now. Maybe for the first year or two.
If you have a good reason to quit (I wanted to have a baby) it is much easier. I would think that the reason would impact whether you would want cigarettes later, too.
(I smoked 1 - 2 packs a day for 8 years.)
Good Luck! It is really nice to be cigarette free.
Posted by Nanter1 on August 28, 2003, at 12:14:59
In reply to Just a (probably) crazy thought..., posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 28, 2003, at 9:19:59
The main impact of staying on a nicotine replacement therapy would be to your wallet! :)
I would suggest you try to wean off the replacement completely. You may find that it's entirely doable, once you break the psychological association. I used the patch method to quit, and during the step down period I didn't even notice the reduction.
Nicotine is not harmless, but it certainly is far better to have pure nicotine than the carcinogens in a cigarette. Nicotine itself raises blood pressure and pulse, and if you are susceptible to high blood pressure, will end up putting more strain on your heart over time. Nicotine itself is not carcinogenic.
If you want to experience brain protection, get yourself off the nicotine completely and start a rigorous exercise program. That'd be far more effective (with other systemic benefits as well) than staying on a nicotine inhaler to protect your faculties as you age.
Good luck!
-Luke
Posted by Janelle on August 28, 2003, at 14:28:19
In reply to Just a (probably) crazy thought..., posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 28, 2003, at 9:19:59
I can't speak for the inhaler - perhaps you could ask a *regular* medical doctor your question.
However, I read somewhere in an Internet search that smoking has an effect on SEROTONIN - I think it lowers it; not sure.
With all the problems I have with depression, the last thing I would do is smoke, but that's just me!
Good luck!
Posted by Caleb462 on August 28, 2003, at 15:13:53
In reply to Re: Just a (probably) crazy thought..., posted by Janelle on August 28, 2003, at 14:28:19
> I can't speak for the inhaler - perhaps you could ask a *regular* medical doctor your question.
>
> However, I read somewhere in an Internet search that smoking has an effect on SEROTONIN - I think it lowers it; not sure.Nicotine induces serotonin release - though not to any large extent.
Even if it did lower serotonin, that wouldn't necceasrilly be a bad thing.
>
> With all the problems I have with depression, the last thing I would do is smoke, but that's just me!
>
> Good luck!
Posted by Liligoth on August 28, 2003, at 21:40:35
In reply to Just a (probably) crazy thought..., posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 28, 2003, at 9:19:59
> Plus, once a smoker, always a smoker -- even if you quit. What I mean by that is the majority of former smokers have to battle the urge to light one up occasionally for the rest of their life. I definitely don't want to have to deal with that... opinions?
hi Ame, Im a former smoker - quit about 5 yrs ago & I do get the occasional hankering for a ciggy but it is no drama at all. Im not in any way wracked with yearning or anything like that so dont worry about spending your whole life craving a cigarette! I am sooo glad I quit!! Good luck
Posted by linkadge on August 29, 2003, at 11:45:17
In reply to Re: Just a (probably) crazy thought... » Ame Sans Vie, posted by Liligoth on August 28, 2003, at 21:40:35
Basically what you need is a non-cigarette replacement for smoking that is not harmful
in the long run. If you can find this there
is no reason you can't take this for the rest
of your life.Newer studies are showing that there are
smoking genes. THese people tend to
have chronically lower levels of dopamine metabolites than other individuals.I've heard that St. Johns wort is very
similar to cigarettes in their action.
Cigarettes raise dopamine (mainly) and
norephinephrine and serotonin (to a lesser
extent) (if I remember correctly)
There are a few studies that show it is
effective in keeping the habbit gone.Other things you might consider asking your
doctor about areWellbutrin,
Deprenyl
Parnate, NardilFish oil can consistantly improve dopamine
function.St Johns wort I mentioned
Ginkgo has effects on raising norepineprine
and dopamine.
Good LuckLinkadge
in there system.
Posted by DSCH on August 30, 2003, at 10:20:17
In reply to know what you are trying to say, posted by linkadge on August 29, 2003, at 11:45:17
http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/neuromuscular/mother/acetylcholine.htm
http://www.ontarioprofessionals.com/organic.htm
http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/chemical/nicotine.htm
Nictoine is produced by plants such as tobacco for the evolutionary purpose of being a nerve agent pesticide. The CNS of insects is admittedly set up somewhat differently than ours, but a large dose of nicotine has potent human toxic effects (adult human LD50 estimated at 0.5-1.0 mg/kg).
I'm not sure if anybody has taken a hard look at the chronic effects of long term low level injestion/inhalation of nicotine sans smoking or chewing.
That said what is highly toxic in "large" doses may not necessarily be harmful and of no benefit to some people in "small" regular doses. (Remember SSRI popularity kicked off because you can't suicide OD on them like the tricyclics, but there are people who still prefer the TCs).
Does nicotine help with your other symptoms ASV?
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 30, 2003, at 14:10:56
In reply to Nicotine is a potent acetylcholine agonist, posted by DSCH on August 30, 2003, at 10:20:17
Thanks for all the input, everybody. Still not quite sure what I'm going to do, but I have quite a bit of time to think about it anyway.
>DSCH: Does nicotine help with your other symptoms ASV?
Being a nicotine addict, it's kind of hard to be objective about that. :-) Certainly nicotine reduces stress and is comforting to me, but that's surely due to the physiological dependence. The only reason I ask about indefinite use of the Inhaler is not really because I believe I'll have a difficult time tapering off (in fact, I'm now using one cartridge [4mg] per day, down from three cartridges a couple weeks ago), but rather because I fear being drawn into the nicotine trap -- all my friends smoke, so being around them will surely make me want to light up. Maybe I could remedy this situation by *only* using the Inhaler on those occasions when I have cravings, once I've tapered off... hmmm...
Posted by Sebastian on August 30, 2003, at 14:32:49
In reply to Just a (probably) crazy thought..., posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 28, 2003, at 9:19:59
They say its much better than ciggarette, health wise. The only thing you would watch out for is blood presure and heart problems, no cancer though. Nicotine produces Dopamine.
Sebastian
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.