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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
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?
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 13, 2003, at 1:10:48
In reply to Smoking...effect on dopamine, posted by jlo820 on August 13, 2003, at 0:22:39
I'd say that nicotine most certainly has an effect on dopamine, considering that most (all?) reinforcing drugs someway or another end up affecting the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathways... but that's just an educated guess.
One thing I *can* tell you is that smokers have been shown to be at less risk of developing Parkinson's disease, which I assume means that cigarette smoking is somehow either neuroprotective to dopamine neurons, or that it helps keep dopamine levels high.
Posted by Ron Hill on August 13, 2003, at 17:32:43
In reply to Smoking...effect on dopamine, posted by jlo820 on August 13, 2003, at 0:22:39
> What effects does this have on neuro-transmitters, especially dopamine?
Here's one possible effect:
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 13, 2003, at 19:25:21
In reply to Re: Smoking...effect on dopamine » jlo820, posted by Ron Hill on August 13, 2003, at 17:32:43
I had completely forgotten that cigarette-smoking itself induces mild MAO-inhibition, thanks for posting that abstract. I assume that's probably why smokers have less risk of Parkinson's (decreased MAO-B activity, as with selegiline), and the MAO-inhibition as a whole possibly could also account for the small population of occasional smokers who smoke fine tobacco and cigars as a form of stress relief. I find this really interesting; I'm definitely going to read into this more.
Posted by Ron Hill on August 15, 2003, at 16:01:43
In reply to Re: Smoking...effect on dopamine » Ron Hill, posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 13, 2003, at 19:25:21
> I find this really interesting; I'm definitely going to read into this more.
Ame Sans Vie, please let us know if you find further information on this topic. Thanks!
-- Ron
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.
This is the end of the thread.
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