Posted by Caleb462 on August 28, 2003, at 9:36:29
In reply to Just a (probably) crazy thought..., posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 28, 2003, at 9:19:59
> I'm using the Nicotrol Inhaler and I absolutely love it. I never have a craving for a cigarette as long as I have my Inhaler. But anyway, here's my thought: Say I have an extremely difficult time tapering down on the Inhaler and end up finding it impossible to quit using it. What harm would there be in using it as a substitute for cigarettes indefinitely? I believe I've read somewhere that nicotine is actually beneficial to the brain, somehow, and smokers have a reduced risk of developing Parkinson's disease (though I realize this doesn't necessarily mean nicotine is the chemical in tobacco that inhibits MAO-B).
Nicotine definitely is not tobacco's MAOI - and you probably wouldn't get the brain-beneficial effects of tobacco from a nicotrol inhaler alone.From what I understand, nicotine is harmful to the heart. So, using an inhaler regularly certainly would be better than smoking, but it wouldn't be COMPLETELY harmless.
poster:Caleb462
thread:255014
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030828/msgs/255021.html