Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 51004

Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Zyban

Posted by Sef on January 5, 2001, at 20:58:25

Does anyone know if there is anything besides welbutrin (Zyban) for quitting smoking? It was the only thing that worked for me, but I had to stop taking it because I was having seizures. I've tried EVERYTHING else, the patch. nicorette gum. the nicotine inhaler, acupuncture (scary!), natural herbs and combinations there of, special diets, AND, cold turkey.
I am currently on 30mg of Prozac and 100mg 3XD Neurontin. While on Zyban, I had discontinued the Prozac and had not yet been on Neurontin.

 

Re: Zyban » Sef

Posted by ZippityDoDah on January 5, 2001, at 22:21:24

In reply to Zyban, posted by Sef on January 5, 2001, at 20:58:25

Smoking cessation is a tough one. I think there are only two options . A locked room in which you can be detained for weeks while undergoing aversive stimuli ( clockwork orange therapy)or a drug induced coma-- this will allow you to go through withdrawal while unconcious. Your journey into the smoke free world will be painful. You may alleviate some of the anxiety with xanax.

 

Re: Zyban

Posted by dennis on January 5, 2001, at 23:41:22

In reply to Zyban, posted by Sef on January 5, 2001, at 20:58:25

this is something I read a while ago on the internet, I dont know if it would be interesting to you or not?


SELEGILINE (l-deprenyl)
A recent New York study showed that smokers had on average 40% less of the enzyme, monoamine oxidase type-B, in their brains than non-smokers. Levels returned to normal on their giving up smoking. Not merely is the extra dopamine in the synapses rewarding. The level of MAO-b inhibition smokers enjoy apparently contributes to their reduced incidence of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. Unfortunately they are liable to die horribly and prematurely of other diseases first.

One option which the dopamine-craving nicotine addict might wish to explore is switching to the (relatively) selective MAO-b inhibitor selegiline, better known as l-deprenyl. Normally the brain's irreplaceable complement of 30-40 thousand odd dopaminergic cells tends to die off at around 13% per decade in adult life. This diminishes the quality and intensity of experience. It also saps what in more ontologically innocent times might have been called one's life-force. Eighty percent loss of dopamine neurons results in Parkinson's disease, often prefigured by depression. Deprenyl has an anti-oxidant , immune-system-boosting and dopamine-cell-sparing effect. It boosts levels of tyrosine hydroxylase, growth hormone, superoxide dismutase and the production of key interleukins. It offers protection against DNA damage and oxidative stress by hydroxyl and peroxyl radical trapping; and against excitotoxic damage from glutamate.


Whatever the full explanation, deprenyl-driven MAOI-users, unlike cigarette smokers, are likely to be around to enjoy its distinctive benefits for a long time to come, possibly longer than their drug-naïve contemporaries. For in low doses, deprenyl enhances life-expectancy, of rats at least, by 20% and more. It enhances drive, libido and motivation; sharpens cognitive performance both subjectively and on a range of objective tests; serves as a useful adjunct in the palliative treatment of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease; and makes you feel good too. At dosages of below 10-15 mg daily, deprenyl retains its selectivity for the type-B MAO iso-enzyme. Nor does it tend to have the "cheese-effect"; tyramine is also broken down by MAO type-A. Deprenyl isn't addictive, which probably reflects its different delivery-mechanism and delayed reward compared to inhaled tobacco smoke. Whether the Government would welcome the billions of pounds of lost revenue and a swollen population of energetic non-taxpayers that a switch in people's MAOI habits might entail is unclear.

 

Re: Nortriptyline

Posted by JohnL on January 6, 2001, at 4:07:44

In reply to Zyban, posted by Sef on January 5, 2001, at 20:58:25

> Does anyone know if there is anything besides welbutrin (Zyban) for quitting smoking? It was the only thing that worked for me, but I had to stop taking it because I was having seizures. I've tried EVERYTHING else, the patch. nicorette gum. the nicotine inhaler, acupuncture (scary!), natural herbs and combinations there of, special diets, AND, cold turkey.
> I am currently on 30mg of Prozac and 100mg 3XD Neurontin. While on Zyban, I had discontinued the Prozac and had not yet been on Neurontin.

The tricyclic antidepressant Nortriptyline has been studied successfully for nicotine cessation. From my own personal experience I can tell you Nortriptyline made my cigs taste bad and I didn't crave them as much. Prozac will increase Nortriptyline's blood level considerably though when combined, even up to 3 or 4 weeks after stopping Prozac, so half-doses Nortriptyline would be prudent.
John

 

Re: Zyban

Posted by Sef on January 6, 2001, at 22:10:09

In reply to Re: Zyban, posted by dennis on January 5, 2001, at 23:41:22

> this is something I read a while ago on the internet, I dont know if it would be interesting to you or not?

Thanks Dennis, your info was very interesting. Do you think if I suggest trying this to my pdoc it is a medicine he would consider? Do you know if I would have to stop taking the prozac or neurontin first???

 

Re: Nortriptyline? Anyone else try this?

Posted by Sef on January 6, 2001, at 22:13:57

In reply to Re: Nortriptyline, posted by JohnL on January 6, 2001, at 4:07:44

> > Does anyone know if there is anything besides welbutrin (Zyban) for quitting smoking?
>
> The tricyclic antidepressant Nortriptyline has been studied successfully for nicotine cessation. From my own personal experience I can tell you Nortriptyline made my cigs taste bad and I didn't crave them as much. Prozac will increase Nortriptyline's blood level considerably though when combined, even up to 3 or 4 weeks after stopping Prozac, so half-doses Nortriptyline would be prudent.
> John

Thanks John...has anyone else out there had a similar experience with Nortriptyline???

 

Re: Zyban, Zippity

Posted by Sef on January 6, 2001, at 22:17:50

In reply to Re: Zyban » Sef, posted by ZippityDoDah on January 5, 2001, at 22:21:24

Dear ZippityDoDah,
Thanks Zip (may I call you Zip?)....I forgot to mention, already tried Xanax and Ativan. Thanks for your support!

Sef

 

Re: Zyban

Posted by dennis on January 6, 2001, at 23:09:33

In reply to Re: Zyban, posted by Sef on January 6, 2001, at 22:10:09

I really dont know anything about the drug in the article I posted, its a mao inhibitor so you probebly would have to stop the prozac and other drugs, I dont know if its a standard treatment option for nicotine addiction or not, I just read this website a while ago and remembered that part of it so I went back and copyed and pasted it. I did a quick search on the drug after posting my last response and I didnt see anything saying that this drug is used for nicotine addiction, so your guess is as good as mine, maybe you could print out my last post and show it to your doctor and see what he says? maybe the nortriptyline is a better option? sorry I cant be of any more help


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