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What is the dopaminergenic agent in tobacco

Middleway

Middleway

Ex-Bluelighter
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Apr 10, 2007
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I have quit smoking for 4 years, previous to that I smoked for 10 years. Having just (foolishly) taken up the habit again I can say I have noticed it has the most benificial effect on my mood, my concentration (I have ADHD) and my anxiety.
I have stopped for periods of up to two weeks since taking it up again and have just found that even with nicatine replacement, I have felt like absolute shit, not stright away, but around the 2 week mark.
So I start smoking again, not even wanting to, not even craving a cig, and being full of nicatine from all the nicatine replacement products and find my mood lifts, my anxiety is improved, and my concentration is bang on.
Fact is, that without ciggerettes I feel just how I felt during my four year abstence, like absolute shit.
If you google around you will see there is much speculation as to whether nicatine is even the active ingredent in tobacco.
So if not, what is?
 
^ Tobacco contains (in addition to nicotine) harmala alkaloids, which as MAOIs, inhibit the breakdown of monoamines, including neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, etc).
 
nicotine certainly appears to be the main active as in most smokers nicotine gum will substitute fairly well, though of course that does not replace the pleasing effect most smokers gets from the hand to mouth occupation and feeling of the inhalation of smoke (and the whole ritual in general and things they surround it with or associate it with)

yes there are indeed other compounds that influence the overall feel but they appear to be largely marginal

taking other nicotine adminsitartion agents will not always have the same effect as they may have a different release profile that is not as suited to what works best for you as in the smoking delivery

straight nicotine can indeed help many with what you described below (concentration, mood, anxiety , ADHD)

what you have may be a placebo type of effect or again simply the act of smoking is setting your mood to a high degree

notably there are far worse toxicants in cig smoke than the nicotine itself which actually can have beneficial effects as shown in some studies
 
Yeah nicotine acts at the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which directly innervate the sympathetic N/S (dopamine & noradrenaline), hence it eventually has dopaminergic actions. Alkaloids like lobeline (from Lobelia species) act in the same way.
 
^ Tobacco contains (in addition to nicotine) harmala alkaloids, which as MAOIs, inhibit the breakdown of monoamines, including neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, etc).
Click to expand...

Thats the answer I was looking for. And no, in no way is what I am describing a placebo effect. Even with nicatine replacement I couldn't focus enough to jot down a few notes, after about 7 or 8 ciggerettes over a few hours a I was able to focus and get out of my own head. With ADHD the difference is so profound, you know when you are getting an extra something.

I don't want to keep smoking but I can't have this depression/scatteredness return. What would be an appropriate harmala alkaloid I could suppliment my diet with to help me stay together.
I used to be on dexies but they made me totally mental, I need something, any advice would be much appreciated
 
Deprenyl (at the right doses) is a MAOB inihibitor, works well for motivation etc.


& as far as I'm aware the 'racetams operate, in part, via the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (Piracetam, Aniracetam etc.).


If you talk to a knowledgable enough doctor, I'm sure he or she would be happy to prescribe you with deprenyl (pretty sure in scheduled in the US, assuming that's where you're from).
 
It is my understanding that the dopaminergic 'kick' happens as the 'reward' pathways are strengthened (ie as the addiction develops) -

eventually an addiction to the nicotine is replaced with an addiction to the dopamine 'reward' from smoking-

if you are simply interested in the nootropic properties nicotine possesses, then I would suggest looking at better nootropics - nicotine is rather poor with what is available elsewhere -

plus it will kill you eventually, friend! :!
 
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