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 drr
Registered: 05/20/09
Posts: 8,444
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 Nicotine as a stimulant 
#27121896 - 01/02/21 01:37 PM (1 month, 26 days ago) |
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I get that nicotine is addictive, I get that smoking tobacco is terrible for you. But as a person who gets anxiety easily, stimulants are a class of drugs that I wish I could enjoy sometimes, but I just can’t. There are times when I’d love to be able to get a caffeine buzz and get some work done. I totally get why the world uses it, in fact I do enjoy the buzz from caffeine, but the problem is, if I drink enough caffeine to get a buzz, I have a terrible anxiety ridden crash a few hours later. So I stopped caffeine. It just causes too much anxiety for me. And I won’t touch anything stronger than that.
But nicotine has always been a stimulant that worked well for me. It gives me clarity and alertness without anxiety, somehow it’s actually sort of calming at the same time. It does not cause anxiety for me, like caffeine does.
The thought just occurred to me to use nicotine gum like people use caffeine. Not regularly, but say I want to do some housework or cleaning and I could use a little pep. Why not chew a piece of nicotine gum while I work?
Part of me says no, terrible idea to get involved with nicotine again, I quit smoking cigarettes years ago and haven’t looked back. But at the same time, I have always thought it would be nice to get a nicotine buzz without destroying my lungs and heart. It’s basically the only stimulant I have ever really got along with, it’s legal and widely available, and without inhaling smoke it’s probably no more dangerous than caffeine. I’m not a compulsive person when it comes to drugs and I think I could safely use it occasionally as a stimulant and not make it a daily habit. Am I being unrealistic?
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metalfaith
Moron
 
Registered: 03/31/11
Posts: 1,240
Loc: FL
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 Re: Nicotine as a stimulant [Re: drr]
#27121905 - 01/02/21 01:43 PM (1 month, 26 days ago) |
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Have heard of some using it that way. Have wanted to try it myself, as a never-smoker, but just haven't gotten around to it.
As a previous smoker however, seems like a terrible idea.
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 morrowasted
Registered: 10/30/09
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Re: Nicotine as a stimulant [Re: metalfaith] 1
#27121942 - 01/02/21 02:07 PM (1 month, 26 days ago) |
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Nicotine is possibly the most extensively studied cognitive enhancing drug in existence except caffeine.
It definitely improves your memory acutely if you are not a regular user.
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Lynnch
Strangerer
Registered: 04/29/09
Posts: 6,214
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I was under the impression that nicotine alone still causes blood pressure issues or something?
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morrowasted
Registered: 10/30/09
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Re: Nicotine as a stimulant [Re: Lynnch]
#27121984 - 01/02/21 02:25 PM (1 month, 26 days ago) |
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Yeah, it does. A lot of things that make you think more clearly increase your blood pressure somewhat.
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drr
Registered: 05/20/09
Posts: 8,444
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I wonder if many of the studies that have linked nicotine with heart problems have been misleading due to using smokers as the test subjects? I’m sure they account for that in testing, but it just seems as I read some of the negative stuff about nicotine that it is sort of vague when it comes to the method of consumption. I get the feeling they’re lumping cigarette smoking together with all other forms of consumption.
If a person just uses pure nicotine does it still cause as much vasoconstriction?
I don’t doubt that it has impacts on the cardiovascular system, just wondering if in a healthy non-smoker it is any worse than caffeine.
Edited by drr (01/02/21 04:04 PM)
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LogicaL Chaos
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 Re: Nicotine as a stimulant [Re: drr] 1
#27122159 - 01/02/21 04:00 PM (1 month, 26 days ago) |
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Its definitely a mild psycho-stimulant and does it well. Ive contemplated using nicotine patches for dream exploration. Havent done it yet.
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MorphinTime
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Re: Nicotine as a stimulant [Re: drr]
#27122172 - 01/02/21 04:10 PM (1 month, 26 days ago) |
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Enough nicotine can either induce anxiety or at least provide the conditions to having it, though the episode may be brief. Nicotine is mostly smoked or vaped, so an individual's dosage is typically subconsciously regulated by titration.
If you are considering nicotine gum, you may be already addicted. Especially since you seem to think it will help you at work
If you've been addicted to nicotine before, you are being especially unrealistic
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drr
Registered: 05/20/09
Posts: 8,444
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I haven’t smoked in years, so I’m not addicted to nicotine
I’m genuinely interested in the cognitive effects
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morrowasted
Registered: 10/30/09
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Quote:
LogicaL Chaos said:
Its definitely a mild psycho-stimulant and does it well. Ive contemplated using nicotine patches for dream exploration. Havent done it yet.
This might actually work
Unfortunately i vape nicotine constantly when not working so i dont benefit much from it. My BP is still very good though. I know a 61 year old dude at the gym who smokes like 3 packs a week and has a straight bodybuilder 5%bf physique with no hormone supplements. He must have some crazy genetics going on. Two y chromosomes or some shit. Hell probably be one of those people that has a stroke/heart attack despite being apparently very athletic though. Hope not. Love you Walt
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badchad
Mad Scientist
Registered: 03/02/05
Posts: 13,063
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Re: Nicotine as a stimulant [Re: drr]
#27122248 - 01/02/21 05:01 PM (1 month, 26 days ago) |
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Measuring cognition is kind of pain in the ass. There are a variety of outcome measures and its super challenging to correlate them with real world outcomes. With that said, most of nicotine's cognitive effects are pretty mild, but if you feel it works going with gum or a vape is probably the way to go.
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...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did.
Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27.
...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely.
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Amanita86
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Re: Nicotine as a stimulant [Re: drr]
#27122250 - 01/02/21 05:03 PM (1 month, 26 days ago) |
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The gum will soon not be enough of a hit. They don’t make those things with any intention of them being successful at what they’re intended for..
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ShroomedOcean
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if smoking cigarettes causes anxietyy it could be a mind or brain function maybe. smoking weed to drain those cigarettes can be risky at times...
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drr
Registered: 05/20/09
Posts: 8,444
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Re: Nicotine as a stimulant [Re: Amanita86]
#27122263 - 01/02/21 05:08 PM (1 month, 26 days ago) |
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Quote:
Amanita86 said:
The gum will soon not be enough of a hit. They don’t make those things with any intention of them being successful at what they’re intended for..
That’s assuming I start taking it regularly though. I’m talking about occasional use. I have no intention of starting a daily habit. More like, I’m going to do some yard work today, I’ll chew a piece of nicotine gum for a boost. Or, I’m about to fall asleep at the wheel and I’ve got two more hours to drive. That sort of thing. I can see that it’s a slippery slope though.
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feevers
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Re: Nicotine as a stimulant [Re: drr]
#27122380 - 01/02/21 06:13 PM (1 month, 26 days ago) |
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If you have great self control it’d work. I used to use dip to get stuff done or for boosts when working overnights. Of course it feels great so I started using it to have fun, then out of boredom, etc. Once I started using it regularly the benefits got way less and were overshadowed by the foggyness and anxiety/depression/crankiness when the cravings kicked in a few hours after each dose.
I’m the same way with caffeine, it feels like my body just doesn’t process it right. I feel great for an hour or so then I’m barely human for the rest of day, super tired with a dissociated anxiety. I’ve given up on stimulants entirely, even recreationally the crash from them is too much for it to be worth it for me at this point
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Seriously_trippin
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Re: Nicotine as a stimulant [Re: feevers]
#27122468 - 01/02/21 07:02 PM (1 month, 26 days ago) |
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If you can't afford it, the anxiety of not having it seems worse then quitting tbh. I get it though man, anxiety management is hard. When they changed my meds in 2017 I felt like I had to smoke. Now I do something that limits use by taking unfiltered American spirits and putting up to a half cig in a pipe to ration and give me something to smoke for the calming ritual effect.
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drr
Registered: 05/20/09
Posts: 8,444
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I think you missed that I’m not a nicotine addict
But anyway I bought a 20 pack of nicotine gum for $7 and chewed a piece before doing some house cleaning the other day. It worked great. With no tolerance nicotine is a mildly euphoric drug. It was enjoyable and it made me focused and productive. I didn’t feel the urge to eat it again later or the next day.
I’m going to keep it around for when I need a pick me up. I like it much more than caffeine for sure.
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