Opinions - Nicotine.. Stim or Relaxant for swiy?

[pankreeas]

It is stated that Nicotine is a stimulant, however it has stimulant and relaxant properties depending on the users. So the question is what effect does nicotine have on you? Can you have a smoke before bed or does it stimulate you too much? I know I need a smoke before bed to help me sleep, and most of the time I get tired after I have one regardless.

[Jatelka]

Sleep is impossible without a cigarette before hand. Similarly, if SWIJ wakes in the night she has to go and smoke before sleep will be possible again.

[snapper]

Nicotine is initially a stimulant, but then becomes a "sedative" (in a loose sense of the term - more accurately not-stimulating) after it blocks nicotinic receptors. In other words, it starts as a receptor agonist, then becomes an antagonist once bound to enough receptors. It is therefore both.

[pankreeas]

Originally Posted by snapper

Nicotine is initially a stimulant, but then becomes a "sedative" (in a loose sense of the term - more accurately not-stimulating) after it blocks nicotinic receptors. In other words, it starts as a receptor agonist, then becomes an antagonist once bound to enough receptors. It is therefore both.

Yes it does, thats why I asked the question, "what effect does it have on you". I guess I should have made the topic title read "do you need a smoke before bed?" *assuming you are a smoker heh*

[snapper]

When SWIM used to smoke, yes but not because it was sedating. Rather, SWIM would crave nicotine and it would wake SWIM up, so SWIM was loading the receptors for the night. No overt sedation (or stimulation) was felt once habituated. Nicotine used to enhance SWIMs dreams somewhat too.

[Jatelka]

^^^ SWIJ also noticed effects on dreaming. Not so much with smoked nicotine, but last time she used nicotine patches (the 24 hour ones) dreams were much more vivid and involved

[pankreeas]

With nicotine use, as with any drug come tolerance. After a while you get used to the effects just to maintain. I know when I take a week or so break, that first smoke causes light-headedness and a definite lift in mood. Even going without for a whole day, then having one at night gives nice effect.

*Btw are cigarettes illegal in swiy's part of the world? :P*

[snapper]

At the rate things are going, they will be soon..

[rodent]

Not that I smoke a lot, but I have smoked for many years.... and prolly justify it by only smoking a few cigs per day.

I find it both a slight stimulant, when heading to work I smoke one or two and, if I get very stressed out (usually at work) I go outside and have a smoke to relax.

When it comes to quitting I find the hardest times to fight the cravings are when I get stressed and need a few quick drags to relax...

[darkglobe]

Oh... that old chestnut... "just a few quick drags"...

Right. I'm a heavy smoker, so I shan't argue with that.

BUT....

It's psychological. You don't NEED any Nicotine to relax.

I performed a not-so-scientific experiment one day. I chain-smoked 10 cigarettes to see what effects I would perceive.

Aside from puking, I was extremely on edge. Got the shakes and the crappy energy-buzz I get from taking 12 ProPlus caffeine pills.

Not good. It's most definitely a stimulant

[Riconoen {UGC}]

definatly a stimulant, i always feel more awake after smoking a cig. and dark_globe, I tried chain smoking a bunch of cigarettes once to see if I could get high off of them as well and also puked my guts out and felt like dogshit for a half an hour.

[Nicaine]

Ditto on the stimulant tip... SWIM's favorite substance combo used to be nicotine & cola (thus the username Nicaine).

[Jiggles]

hey hate to bump a 3+month old post but its still on the front page so i figured it was kosher lol sorry if its not..

On to the topic tho, SWIM is prescribed Dexedrine (which is amphetamine a.k.a. speed to those not savvy to pills) to treat his occasional ADD as needed, and he noticed that a SMALL amount of Dex in his system (5-10mg) in fact makes him on the sleepy/more relaxed side. He sleeps marvelously if he tries, and wakes up much earlier than usual feeling more energized than a normal nights sleep (this feeling lasts the entire day too, not just a temporary thing). I think that is the intended pharmaceutical effect for stimulants in the treatment for people with actual ADD, but even people without ADD may share this same effect at low doses. While nicotine doesn't use exactly the same mechanics as amphetamines, its a stimulant nonetheless.

In first time/occasional/social smokers, probably the ones who have attention problems or even ADD are the more likely to experience this same "relaxation through stimulation". In chronic smokers the relaxing effect is more of a proven effect regardless of attention span because it's bringing the smoker back to baseline, thereby reducing anxiety etc.

SWIM is very sorry if he is just restating obvious information or if it sounds like he is lecturing, he took his Dexedrine and smoked a clove cigarette for the first time very shortly before writing this and is very stimulated .

[blinkKDX]

swim has been smoking for only 4 weeks now.. started cuz of stress, and has enjoyed it for a while.. swim used to dip so he does not think quitting will be as hard as some make it out to be.. he plans on quitting in 3 weeks. but as of now, its more for de-stressing.

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