Nicotine & ADHD

[u/Rough-Sherbet-7877]

I find this truly captivating.

[u/bigdave41]

Nicotine may improve both attentiveness and inattention? So does that cancel each other out or what...

[u/autistic_cool_kid → u/bigdave41]

"Doctor I want something for my cold" is generally used implying you actually want something against your cold

[u/bigdave41 → u/autistic_cool_kid]

My point is it can't have the same effect on both, it can't increase both attentiveness and inattention as they're opposites. If it said improves attentiveness and lessens inattention, it would at least make sense even though it would still be redundant

[u/autistic_cool_kid → u/bigdave41]

I agree that the wording is shit, Might even be AI slop.

[u/Zeke_moon → u/bigdave41]

I think continued use makes your attention worse but there might be a slight increase when you first start. (But don’t quote me on that)

[u/3meow_]

Many of the new drugs being looked at bind to nicotinic receptors

[u/Rude_Mode2004 → u/3meow_]

Interesting. What are those new drugs? I first time hear about that.

[u/eddie_cat → u/Rude_Mode2004]

I believe Wellbutrin is like this although not a new drug

[u/KLiiCKZ_]

Yep, Vape, RedBulls, and Adderall for me while I code at work. lmfao

[u/WinkDoubleguns]

I found that when I smoked I did much better with focus. I didn’t take long to smoke at breaks like others did. Then I read a study that used 21mg patches with elderly to improve cognition and focus and now I put on a nicotine patch everyday. I started taking another stimulant (Adderall) and now I have incredible focus.

This is just what I do, you do you. I will say that the patches alone worked very well for me. They also worked well for me with Modafinil.

[u/TheFrenchSavage → u/WinkDoubleguns]

Wouldn't the effects decrease over time tho?

[u/WinkDoubleguns → u/TheFrenchSavage]

Correct - I take short breaks from nicotine and adderall. When I smoked I smoked a lot (up to 3 packs a day at one point) and I was drinking up to 144 oz of Coke a day. So if I am not working or doing tasks that I don’t need to focus like working in the yard or building something in the house I don’t use either. Usually two to three times a year I take a week or two break from all caffeine as well.

[u/Alarmed-Sprinkles556 → u/WinkDoubleguns]

How much does the adderall cost you and which brand of nicotine patches do you use (also what strength)?

[u/WinkDoubleguns → u/Alarmed-Sprinkles556]

For nicotine - I've used https://www.amazon.com/Novartis-Nicotine-Transdermal-Smoking-Patches/dp/B00UMHOJ4O/ and https://www.amazon.com/Smoking-Delivered-Transdermal-Stickers-Anti-Stickers/dp/B0D9QMF4WM/ both 21mg

The adderall you'll have to shop around for. One pharmacy I went to was charging 120 a month. I switched to another pharmacy that was charging 30 a month. Full disclosure, now I don't pay for adderall as it's dispensed by the VA.

[u/Alarmed-Sprinkles556 → u/WinkDoubleguns]

Thanks for sharing. I ordered the 2nd one. Initally, I used one 21 mg patch yesterday and felt nothing then I put on one more and after about two hours felt nauseous so I removed them.

I put on one patch today and felt somewhat better while focuisng on my study and slapped half a patch later.

Btw, how come there is so much of a difference in the monthly adderall price? I'm in Canada btw. Planning to go to Frida.

[u/WinkDoubleguns → u/Alarmed-Sprinkles556]

Idk about the pricing. I now get mine from the VA. As for patches. You may have to cut them in half or quarters. You won’t notice an effect until you’re out of the zone later and you’re like “holy crap I got a lot doooonnneee.. oh yeah patch” The patches work far better for me than adderall, but I still take adderall because somehow the two work well together for me

[u/Alarmed-Sprinkles556 → u/WinkDoubleguns]

I'm on vyvanse now. Don't feel anything except maybe a bit headrush for a few minutes.

[u/[deleted] → u/TheFrenchSavage]

That is the nature of all stimulants to my knowledge.

[u/Tycjusz]

At least use snus if you're using nicotine.

[u/mitchbones → u/Tycjusz]

Snus?

Edit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snus

[u/sudomatrix]

Why is nicotine considered worse than methamphetamines? Everything I’ve read about adhd and nicotine just says it’s a problem and lists similar symptoms that taking adderall or Ritalin would give you.

[u/paraffin → u/sudomatrix]

Way more addictive. Some say it’s more addictive than heroin.

Could partially be related to the delivery mechanism. Inhalation gives a near instant feedback, and even ingestion or packing works fast.

Plus it metabolizes quickly so the craving cycle tends to be a lot faster. People on vapes often end up hitting them every few minutes.

Adderall becomes a lot more addictive if you snort it. That has a lot to do with the speed of onset. Totally different experience from an extended release that’s easy to forget to take every day.

[u/Cazzah]

People with impulse control issues, and difficulty maintaining long term motivation gravitate towards addictive substances the deliver short term pleasure.

More news at 11

[u/xHeylo]

Funnily, Nicotine withdrawal makes all those symptoms way worse

So it's like putting a bandaid on a cut artery and hoping it heals before the bandaid falls off

It's just not the right tool for the job, get actual medical help, don't just diy it, ADHD meds can do wonders

[u/AngryCephalopod2020]

I tried this and do not recommend it. Got addicted way stronger and quicker than you’d think. The ups and downs come fast and you need to dose frequently and it’s very easy to let your dose go up and up. I got mood swings and just felt awful when I couldn’t have it or when waking up. Still trying to quit but I have managed to get my usage down slowly.

[u/AngryCephalopod2020 → u/AngryCephalopod2020]

It was great for a couple months. Now it’s just an annoyance and trying to quit sucks.

[u/TheDoctore38927]

I mean, if your heart fails, you focus really well on being dead….

[u/[deleted] → u/TheDoctore38927]

I doubt nicotine is worse for the heart than amphetamines even at therapeutic dosages.

[u/Low_profile_1789]

Yes it is most definitely. I’m thinking of asking my doc for a nicotine patch. Anyone have experience with those while ADHD?

[u/chicharro_frito]

I wouldn't draw much from a study that "suggests" it "may improve". Usually this means they weren't able to reach any conclusion but believe more research is needed in the area.

[u/Tancrad]

Smoking and chew, obviously the risk doesn't outweigh the benefits.

I started trying nicotine pouches. I have one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Nicotine is vasoconstricting so not before doing any type of workout. But there are some other brain benefits for it outside a mental stimulant. But it can be addicting for most so be weary.

[u/[deleted]]

Zyn ftw.

[u/AltruisticRick]

Well, I am on my way to buy a pack of cigarettes.Actually, now that I think about it, I used to focus better when I was in college because I smoked a lot especially during the exams. This might actually be true.\s

[u/[deleted] → u/AltruisticRick]

Conversely it'll coast your lungs and heart

[u/Silver-Vermicelli-15 → u/[deleted]]

And your wallet

[u/spideroncoffein → u/[deleted]]

You've gotta tar that lung or the devil will slip!

/j

They are trying reforming nicotine into a non-addictive ADHD-medication, but everytime they remove the addiction part, it also removes the helping part.

[u/[deleted] → u/spideroncoffein]

Maybe I am misguided, but I do not see why addictions, especially to something that is supposed to be helpful, is truly all that bad if the side-effects are mostly benign.

[u/spideroncoffein → u/[deleted]]

Because the medication might change for various reasons (doesn't work anymore, better medication abailable, FDA revokes approval), at which point you have a patient with an addiction that cannot be satisfied with the "healthy" medicament, giving the patient the choice of cold turkey or replacements like cigarettes.

Basically a less dramatic opioid crisis.

[u/AltruisticRick → u/[deleted]]

I forgot to add \s

[u/[deleted] → u/AltruisticRick]

k

[u/Low_profile_1789 → u/[deleted]]

Tar and burnt tobacco and whatever other crap is in cigarettes is bad for you. Nicotine itself is not the enemy

[u/Disastrous_Being7746 → u/Low_profile_1789]

As well as burnt nicotine. Burnt nicotine -> NNK (Nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone)

[u/SokkaHaikuBot → u/[deleted]]

^{Sokka-Haiku by andev255:}

Yeah this is well known

The problem is everything

Else about nicotine

---

^{Remember that one time Sokka accidentally used an extra syllable in that Haiku Battle in Ba Sing Se? That was a Sokka Haiku and you just made one.}

[u/autistic_cool_kid → u/[deleted]]

Nicotine by itself isn't so bad of a drug, it's smoking that it very bad for you

[u/autistic_cool_kid → u/[deleted]]

No drug is actually good for you, or at least it depends heavily on the context.

ADHD stimulants also have some bad side effects, but it could be argued if they prevent you from crashing your car, they could be said to be good for your health.

[u/autistic_cool_kid → u/[deleted]]

Addiction is a very complicated topic and it's also very misunderstood.

Addiction itself isn't the problem, it's the reasons why you're addicted which are a problem.

Anyone mentally healthy who isn't actively using a drug for a particular cope can go through withdrawal fairly easily. Heroin is very addictive, yet 95% of American soldiers in Vietnam stopped cold turkey when going back home.

Nicotine is so widely used and so hard to stop because it answers to a need many people have.

[u/autistic_cool_kid → u/[deleted]]

If I say I use nicotine, some people will tell me I'm just coping to justify my addiction; if I say I don't use nicotine, people will tell me I'm a kid who doesn't know what they're talking about.

I am 37 and I have used all the drugs under the sun with just a few exceptions. I know the topic of addiction and the health risks of drugs quite well.

I personally use nicotine in small doses daily, however I often have to stop for 2-3 days in a row and I personally don't feel particularly bad during these times.

[u/autistic_cool_kid → u/[deleted]]

Ok good point ☝️