Posted by Tony P on September 8, 2011, at 22:29:50
In reply to Typical quitting smoking symptoms.. ARGH!, posted by zonked on August 30, 2011, at 17:02:06
> ...I am cranky, anxious, and depressed (how ironic after starting a therapy that pulled me out of it!)
>
> Which leads me to an interesting idea: It can't be nicotine alone that's addictive in cigarettes. Because I am replacing it... so the additives must be addictive as well.
> -zAbsolutely right that it's not just the nicotine that's addictive and leads to withdrawal depression. I only found this out in one article & can't remember where (Wikipedia? Erowid?), but tobacco smoke contains at least one potent MAOI, harmaline, which hits your dopamine receptors like a snort of ... well, you know what I mean! Researchers actually had great trouble getting rats addicted to nicotine, unlike other substances. I am sure this is why Wellbutrin/Zyban helps many people - it's a dopamine agonist.
I'm currently slowly tapering my smoking. I've been trying all usual the nicotine replacement therapies, but there's definitely something missing. I don't tolerate Wellbutrin well, but I just started taking Modafinil (Alertec in Canada) and find it very helpful in getting past the morning blues & that need for a wake-up smoke. It's an off-label use for Modafinil, called an "alertness promoter" to avoid the stigma of "stimulant", but I find it's a wonder drug - promotes alertness, activity, positive mood with less anxiety or shakiness than caffeine or the various amphetamine derivatives -- and it doesn't cause insomnia! Almost too good to be true, which is probably why my medical plan won't pay for it ... arghhhh!!
Good luck,
Tony P
poster:Tony P
thread:995280
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110902/msgs/996222.html