Smoking and ADHD

[ConnS]

Hi, I was hoping someone might have some more information for me on this fascinating topic. I have been diagnosed with Bipolar II with Adult ADHD (2007) and within the last 12 months also been smoking since I was taken off the Vyvanse® (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate). I took the Vyvanse in combination with Strattera but found more success with Concerta in addition to Strattera.

I am afraid my smoking may be a form of self-medication with less optimized untreated ADHD symptoms, which has specific reinforcing mechanisms that I have noticed such as improvement of ADHD core symptoms, enhancement of moods and arousal, or a combination of both on select days of the month. I have a lot of good-insight into the topic but I still smoke and have been trying hard to quit. I have been reading a bit and I see that many professionals believe that it appears one possible reason is that many of those diagnosed with ADHD smoke is that they are treating their attention problems in a very specific, pharmacological way.

I have noticed myself in the last year since I have been off my Vyvanse 50mg that using nicotine patches and smoking that these patches can increase my attention span and attention to detail and helps you concentrate. It also has helped with the side-affects of my anti-psychotic. Not just for smoking but I also read that most likely, the drug abuse rate is higher for untreated ADHD adults because these individuals tend to use both legal and illegal substances in an effort to self-medicate (i.e., control their symptoms).

For my untreated ADHD I find the nicotine in cigarettes is a central nervous stimulant, so smoking I feel may reduce my ADHD symptoms by mimicking the effects of prescription stimulants which is why its hard to give it up in absence of Vyvanse® (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate).

I have tried wellbutrin a century ago and it did nothing for my ADHD symptoms and substance abuse at the time and its the worst drug I ever experienced.

-Stephen

Rx Strattera 80MG, Olanzapean (zyprexa)10mg

[sarahsweets]

Originally Posted by ConnS

Hi, I was hoping someone might have some more information for me on this fascinating topic. I have been diagnosed with Bipolar II with Adult ADHD (2007) and within the last 12 months also been smoking since I was taken off the Vyvanse® (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate). I took the Vyvanse in combination with Strattera but found more success with Concerta in addition to Strattera.

I am afraid my smoking may be a form of self-medication with less optimized untreated ADHD symptoms, which has specific reinforcing mechanisms that I have noticed such as improvement of ADHD core symptoms, enhancement of moods and arousal, or a combination of both on select days of the month. I have a lot of good-insight into the topic but I still smoke and have been trying hard to quit. I have been reading a bit and I see that many professionals believe that it appears one possible reason is that many of those diagnosed with ADHD smoke is that they are treating their attention problems in a very specific, pharmacological way.

I have noticed myself in the last year since I have been off my Vyvanse 50mg that using nicotine patches and smoking that these patches can increase my attention span and attention to detail and helps you concentrate. It also has helped with the side-affects of my anti-psychotic. Not just for smoking but I also read that most likely, the drug abuse rate is higher for untreated ADHD adults because these individuals tend to use both legal and illegal substances in an effort to self-medicate (i.e., control their symptoms).

For my untreated ADHD I find the nicotine in cigarettes is a central nervous stimulant, so smoking I feel may reduce my ADHD symptoms by mimicking the effects of prescription stimulants which is why its hard to give it up in absence of Vyvanse® (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate).

I have tried wellbutrin a century ago and it did nothing for my ADHD symptoms and substance abuse at the time and its the worst drug I ever experienced.

-Stephen

Rx Strattera 80MG, Olanzapean (zyprexa)10mg

I found these articles:

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/...ntid=100144050

and this: ahttp://www.dnaindia.com/scitech/report_brain-s-nicotine-receptors-may-help-treat-adhd-schizophrenia-depression_1561161nd

They arent perfect but Ive also read that they are in clinical trials using nicotine to treat some symptoms of adhd. Of course smoking to get your nicotine isnt the best way to get it. I smoke and i know it helps me, but I would like to quit before I end up with cancer. It is a form of self meedication for me. It seems to work well with my adderall and due to my BPII it definately addresses my anxiety and moddiness. Its terrible of course but I get where you are coming from.

[ConnS]

Originally Posted by sarahsweets

I found these articles:

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/...ntid=100144050

and this: ahttp://www.dnaindia.com/scitech/report_brain-s-nicotine-receptors-may-help-treat-adhd-schizophrenia-depression_1561161nd

They arent perfect but Ive also read that they are in clinical trials using nicotine to treat some symptoms of adhd. Of course smoking to get your nicotine isnt the best way to get it. I smoke and i know it helps me, but I would like to quit before I end up with cancer. It is a form of self meedication for me. It seems to work well with my adderall and due to my BPII it definately addresses my anxiety and moddiness. Its terrible of course but I get where you are coming from.

Thank you for your input. That article is very interesting. I also read that adults with ADD/ADHD are twice as likely to smoke than people without the disorder. The reasoning is not known, but professional believe smoking seems to suppress certain ADD/ADHD symptoms. For me its all psychological. I know I would not feel like smoking or have the cravings If I was put back on a stimulant. I want to quit before I get lung cancer but its hard with some of the restlessness, hyperactivity and impulsive behaviors not being 100% reduced.

-Stephen

Dx (2007): Bipolar II, ADHD-Inattentive Type (depression)
Meds: Strattera 80mg, Zyprexa (Olanzapine) 10-15mg

[crystal8080]

I quit smoking a little over 3 years ago. Its hard to say if that is what brought on a lot of my problems because I quit when I was pregnant with my second and never started back up again. But I smoked a crazy amount, and my body was telling me. I don't regret one minute of quitting. I am a million times happier since I quit in that regard. I smoked for 16 years.

That being said, its around that time that the sh*t started to hit the fan. And since I've been on stimulants, I don't get ANY cravings at all. Not even the once and a while ones I was getting before.

[Fuzzy12]

Smoking is the only thing that helps me with ADHD symptoms. Nicotine is supposed to affect dopamine uptake so that is probably why.

When I'm smoking, I can feel my head clear up and after smoking, I can focus and concentrate much better. Besides, it calms me down.

I've just started smoking again after many, many years. I know, I need to quit but at the moment the short term benefits just outweigh the long term adverse health risks. Not sure if it's worth it, but I'd struggle to quit right now, anyway.

I think, nicotine patches might be a good compromise. In the study on dopamine and nicotine they used nicotine patches. At least that way, you won't take in all the other crap that is in cigarettes (though even nicotine isn't too great..but still...)

[ConnS]

Originally Posted by crystal8080

I quit smoking a little over 3 years ago. Its hard to say if that is what brought on a lot of my problems because I quit when I was pregnant with my second and never started back up again. But I smoked a crazy amount, and my body was telling me. I don't regret one minute of quitting. I am a million times happier since I quit in that regard. I smoked for 16 years.

That being said, its around that time that the sh*t started to hit the fan. And since I've been on stimulants, I don't get ANY cravings at all. Not even the once and a while ones I was getting before.

I am hearing the same story with people over and over. When I was on stimulant therapy for about 4 years I also did not have ANY cravings at all. I also did not abuse other substances as much. This abuse became zero-tolerance at more optimized doses.

like you are, I know I would be a million times happier if I could just quit.

-Stephen

Dx (2007): Bipolar II, ADHD-Inattentive Type (depression)
Meds: Strattera 80mg, Zyprexa (Olanzapine) 10-15mg

[crystal8080]

I used Champix, and I used Quitnet. (I'm also crystal8080 on quitnet)
I could not quit using nicotine replacement. It just made me want it more, or made me insane when I would step down on the patch. It went so much smoother to just get off the nicotine and deal with it....with some help.


Sometimes I think I wonder if I should start up again just to get the focus and calmness...but I really do think that has MORE to do with feeding the addiction and getting the relief from the craving.

Personally, I don't think smoking is good therapy. It may have some benefits, but the risks faaaar outweigh them.

There is a book called Allen Carr's Easy Way to Quit Smoking...I have a free link to it. I know a lot of people who quit by that book alone.

[plank80]

I keep trying to give up but havent made it more than half a day. I just end up saying **** it.

[itsanADHDthing]

I started dipping after I went off adderall for ~1 year. After I went back on it I continued to do the habit. Bad, bad habit.

Edit: Actually, I was before hand, but not in the prevalance like I did after the fact. Some here and there when I could in private. But not the constant nicotine flow.