I’m still not sure in all what honesty compelled me to do this but I’ve begun using those nicotine lozenges that are supposed to help you quit smoking even though not only do I not smoke but I have never smoked cigarettes. Maybe I just wanted to get an idea of why people smoked without having to actually start smoking. I’ll admit the nicotine does do something for my mood and definitely does suppress appetite. I womder if I am the only who has ever done this.
Just out of curiousity, are you a man or a woman?
Do you have weight-related issues? Perhaps this was a (not very) sub-conscious move to try to lose weight?
Sounds like you may be self-medicating an anxiety disorder. Nicotine is a stellar anxiolytic.
Not that stellar. It has a horrible rebound effect, increasing anxiety enormously when one stops it.
Thanks to nicotine gum, lozenges, patches and nasal spray, many folks who would never have smoked tobacco now get to enjoy nicotine addiction. :smack:
Well, true. But the same could be said for most other anxiolytics as well—benzos, EtOH, etc. And both of those are astonishingly effective at quelling anxiety.
I bought one of those electronic vapor cigarettes today. I actually quit 2 years ago but I’ve been craving them so badly lately. I don’t know why I bothered with the vapor cig since it has nicotine. As far as I’m aware, it’s no safer than regular cigs but I could be wrong. It certainly smells better.
Medical and pharmaceutical anecdotes go in IMHO, so let me move this thither for you.
twickster, MPSIMS moderator
I tried a nicorette tablet for fun one time. It burned and then I got lightheaded. It was an unusual experience for me, something similar to smoking a good cigar, but not something I’d be apt to repeat.
I haven’t had a cigaret in three weeks, I’ve been using an electronic cigaret as a substitute. It’s not the same. It’s sort of like being used to taking morphine for pain and then getting Tylenol. Yeah, it’s something, but it isn’t a substitute.
My doctor is somewhat happier that I’m using an e-cigaret, although he made it clear he approves of it only as a crutch until I can get past the urge to smoke.
You understand you aren’t supposed to light Nicorette, right?
Like most drugs, people do it because it feels good, but the addiction is the same. I have chewed Copenhagen for 12 years and I don’t smoke.
Burned my mouth when I chewed it.
NO! Nicotine actually increases anxiety. What is perceived as anxiety reduction is just the body responding to getting its “fix’ of the drug it is addicted to.