It does seem to help with focus, but my attempts to curb adhd and brain fog happily didn’t stop at nicotine. Niacinamide (B3) seems to do much better job for me, without the smell, nausea, and it works longer.
How much do you take?
What nicotine does to your brain
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Re: What nicotine does to your brain
#12I can't read the article unfortunately. However nicotine also seems somewhat palliative to a range of mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar, anxiety, etc. I once read a paper that said something like 90% of schizophrenics were chain smokers who were self-medicating. By that lens the widespread amount smoking in the past makes sense in eras before other pharmaceuticals.
You’d be chasing dopamine hits too if the system forced you to take antidopaminergic medication.
Re: What nicotine does to your brain
#13There's also this short video from Kurzgesagt about smoking (nicotine) about this topic
Re: What nicotine does to your brain
#14[flagged]
Re: What nicotine does to your brain
#15I take 2mg gum 0 to perhaps 8 times a day. Usually 2-3.
When box empties, I take a week or two off.
Slightly sharpens thought and suppresses appetite in combination with caffeine. Helpful for getting reducing body fat and getting abs in my advanced age. Supposedly neuroprotective effects as well.
Re: What nicotine does to your brain
#16There's also this short video from Kurzgesagt about smoking (nicotine) about this topic https://youtu.be/_rBPwu2uS-w?si=VPqKyty7I96jtKj4
That's a bad propaganda channel.
Re: What nicotine does to your brain
#17Re: What nicotine does to your brain
#18I am diagnosed ADHD. I have used dexamphetamine as prescribed which worked pretty well, in moderate dosages because I am sensitive, but I came to dislike the effect it had on me: I felt like I was attached to a horse that kept pulling me around even when I just wanted to stop and take a break. And the fact that I would crash 5 hours later. In 2020, before even knowing I had ADHD, let alone being medicated, I managed…
That pet theory might have legs. I like it.
Re: What nicotine does to your brain
#19I can't read the article unfortunately. However nicotine also seems somewhat palliative to a range of mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar, anxiety, etc. I once read a paper that said something like 90% of schizophrenics were chain smokers who were self-medicating. By that lens the widespread amount smoking in the past makes sense in eras before other pharmaceuticals.
Interesting, I remember sometimes actually 'getting' anxiety after a cig when I used to smoke.
Re: What nicotine does to your brain
#20Compare and contrast https://gwern.net/nicotine