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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Basia on January 17, 2004, at 4:56:17
Hi,
I am planning to give up smoking pretty soon and was wondering whether anyone had noticed any difference in the way meds affected them after quitting.
Thanks,Lyn
Posted by Asian Girl on January 17, 2004, at 6:19:41
In reply to Giving up cigarettes and effect on meds, posted by Basia on January 17, 2004, at 4:56:17
After I took Addrall ( ADD meds), I was naturally loose the desire of cigaretts, second day on my addrall, I only have 2, and third day, I only have 1 cigarette, today is third day. I havn't have any yet. Hopefully I can quit.
Posted by dragonfly25 on January 17, 2004, at 7:40:25
In reply to Giving up cigarettes and effect on meds, posted by Basia on January 17, 2004, at 4:56:17
i haven't noticed any difference in the way i respond to drugs now. but i do feel much healthier and better overall
Posted by Jackd on January 17, 2004, at 15:20:36
In reply to Giving up cigarettes and effect on meds, posted by Basia on January 17, 2004, at 4:56:17
Your med levels should rise slightly, but you probably won't even notice (cigarettes are diaretic and speed up metabolism).
Posted by Metalblade on January 17, 2004, at 18:34:13
In reply to Re: Giving up cigarettes and effect on meds, posted by Jackd on January 17, 2004, at 15:20:36
I noticed a difference. When I smoke SSRI's do not have any affect on my depression. When I don't smoke the SSRI's make me manic. Strange, Must be some weird bipolar thing I guess.
Posted by ann72 on January 18, 2004, at 12:15:24
In reply to Re: Giving up cigarettes and effect on meds, posted by Metalblade on January 17, 2004, at 18:34:13
hi, I tried quitting and went into major depression. (crying everyday) it seemed like my anti-dep just died once i stopped smoking....pdoc had no clue why. I am smoking again....good luck to you though
Ann
Posted by Basia on January 19, 2004, at 2:51:18
In reply to Giving up cigarettes and effect on meds, posted by Basia on January 17, 2004, at 4:56:17
Thanks for all your replies - D day is the 2nd of Feb so I am preparing in advance by cutting down . I don't imagine a particularly easy ride as I smoke up to 25 a day.
Cheers,
Lyn
Posted by MARKED on January 20, 2004, at 4:35:52
In reply to Re: Giving up cigarettes and effect on meds, posted by ann72 on January 18, 2004, at 12:15:24
The nicotine in smoking has been related to affecting of mono-amine B in the brain, reducing it by up to 40%. Thus, smoking actually causes that calming affect. Anti-depressants (not sure which one you're on) acts to stimulate particular chemical levels by usually depleting them first. So what you may be doing by quitting while on medication is decreasing the actual prescribed level of anti-depressant you were on to begine with that your body/brain became familiar with.
The best thing to do (most psychdocs I know of will not agree for their patients to quite smoking while starting medication, or rather not until they feel 60-80% better). Also re-evaluating your medication dosage would be the best way to see if the decrease in nicotine (and other chemicals in cigarettes) has had that effect on your anti-depressants, or what you were used to previously.
> hi, I tried quitting and went into major depression. (crying everyday) it seemed like my anti-dep just died once i stopped smoking....pdoc had no clue why. I am smoking again....good luck to you though
>
> Ann
Posted by MARKED on January 20, 2004, at 4:41:07
In reply to Re: Giving up cigarettes and effect on meds, posted by Metalblade on January 17, 2004, at 18:34:13
Yes, definately (I have found that too) read my post previously explaining why (taken from medical journals). Although SSRI's may not derectly relate to what i've outlined, they certainly can be affected by other chemicals in the cigarette other than nicotine (cigarette manufacturers count on them to activate and suppress particular brain chemicals).
> I noticed a difference. When I smoke SSRI's do not have any affect on my depression. When I don't smoke the SSRI's make me manic. Strange, Must be some weird bipolar thing I guess.
This is the end of the thread.
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