Posted by Caleb462 on August 16, 2003, at 13:23:01
In reply to Smoking...effect on dopamine, posted by jlo820 on August 13, 2003, at 0:22:39
> I enjoy a pipe of my favorite English-blend tobacco every evening (Squadron Leader from Samuel Gawith, for my fellow pipe smokers).
>
> What effects does this have on neuro-transmitters, especially dopamine? It is my understanding that smoking releases dopamine, which in turn gives that relaxed, satisfied, feeling that I enjoy oh so much. Is this accurate?Nicotine certainly does induce dopamine release (as well as release of the other monoanimes, cortisol, and I forget what else), but probably around the same degree as something like caffeine does. That is to say, nothing like the dopamine release from say, methamphetamine. The MAO-inhibition from tobacco boosts some of the rewarding effects I'm sure.
poster:Caleb462
thread:250452
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030812/msgs/251322.html