Could nicotine have positive effects?
There are a number of methods available to the public to assist them in quitting smoking. From pills and gum to patches and electronic devices, consumers definitely have a few choices when it comes to breaking the vicious chain smoking and addiction cycle. The true demon that we’re fighting is nicotine - the addictive drug found in cigarettes. We often hear about the damaging effects of nicotine – but could it be that it also has it’s good points?
Nicotine has many effects on the body and psyche including inducing a sense of calm, hunger suppression, and raising alertness. In most cases, it has the ability to change one’s mood – for those who are agitated, consuming nicotine decreases the feeling of agitation.
Researchers have been looking into the benefits of nicotine and creating medications for decades. None of these medicines are on the market yet. The biggest reason for this is the reputation of nicotine. Chances are, if you hear that something has nicotine in it, you assume it to be very addictive and cancer-causing. There’s no knowing how the public and doctors would react to a nicotine medication release and how it would be received.
Several studies have been conducted surrounding the nicotine patch. The patch itself resembles a band-aid and it is applied to the body and allows nicotine to be absorbed through the skin and has proven beneficial in aiding people in quitting smoking. However, one study conducted in 2004 found that the nicotine patch improved cognitive function for patients suffering from schizophrenia. In 2003 a study was conducted focusing on the effectiveness of the patch in non-smoking patients diagnosed with depression. There was also a study with promising results that combined the nicotine patch and the the antipsychotic drug haloperidol (Haldol).
Other studies have focused on patients, both adults and adolescents who have been diagnosed with ADHD. It has been said that 19% of people with ADD are smokers. This number is undoubtedly higher now. The reason? Nicotine has the ability to treat the symptoms of ADHD – especially improving the cognitive function and overall alertness.
Should you hand your child with ADHD, Autism, or other cognitive disabilities a cigarette and encourage them to light up? Of course not. It’s worth noting the investigations and studies occurring, and not to be completely blown away if a nicotine-based medication is released and prescribed to help with general symptoms of cognitive impairment disorders.
7 Comments
hi dr,
hope you are fine and enjoy good health.read the aforesaid mail about nicotine. please mention the various ways in which the nicotine is transfered apart from cigrette.can it be transmitted by way of oral medication or in form of injection.please reply
The usual, good for something and side effects the worst. What about natural remedies?
Hi Mr. Aziz, The trick here is the nicotine not the actual cigarette which contains lots of chemicals. There is actually a protocol to use the patches in different dose and titrating up to the desirable effects to treat ADD/ADHD.
Hi Connie, I agreed with you to try the natural remedies first but it is good to always have options as backup to buy us time.
I am curious about the chemical similarity or dissimilarity of nicotine vs nicotinamide(with zinc – obvious difference). Also have any studies been done with niacinicmide or b3 and autism?
Hi Abby, Nicotine and nicotinamide are two different chemicals with different mechanism or reaction. There is a lots of studies on B3 and autism which I could blog about next time.
autistics with challenging behaviors that are rooted in severe agitation might benefit from nicotine patches. After all, it’s no secret anti-psychotics and SSRI’s and SSNIs are largely ineffective in controlling intracable self-injurious and aggressive behaviors in autism. Thus, it is certainly worth considering nicotine patches as a possible safer alternative to coventional failed medications.