Why do cigarettes ease my depression for a few minutes?

[Lostandtired]

I have been on effexor, wellbutrin, lexapro, abilify and so on for years with no complete relief of my depression. The only thing that temporarily helps my depression and social anxiety is b vitamin injections (accidently realized this seeing a weight loss dr.) , adderrall, and smoking a cigarette. Weird I dont get addicted but I smoke to get a break from my darkness and hopelessness. My husband smokes regularly and he doesnt get the feeling I get. He is irritable and shows withdrawal symptoms wen he needs a cigarette. I dont ever crave cigarettes cause I go weeks without one but I do it because I feel normal for 5 to 10 minutes. Would it be safe to use a nicotine patch for my depression? IM DESPERATE and dealing with this is getting harder everyday. Thank you.

[jack_black]

Nicotine has beneficial effects on ADHD. Well studied, but obviously noone gives cigarets to kids to treat themself.

I have adult friend with ADHD who is addicted to nicotine and has been using patches and nicotine chewing gum for years.

Maybe you depression is undiagnosed ADHD?

I also experiment with B12 and other vitamins and there is clearly effect on my mood. Gluten free diet helps a lot, too.

The key to the general and mental health is to eliminated offending food and replenish missing vitamins/minerals before pumping toxic drugs in the system.

Sadly, the western medicine forgot about these simple things.

[Anneinside]

It is not surprising that you get the same effect from Adderall and nicotine. I have ECT and sometimes they give me nicotine IV to stimulate my system. It seems to be hard to get as they haven't used it in some time.  I think you would be better off with a nicotine patch as it doesn't have the tar in cigarettes that can hurt your lungs.

[nursegirl6572]

This is a really good question!!  I will second the advice you've received from Paxiled and Maddie.  While I'm sure DoctorGoddess has good intentions, none of us on an internet forum can tell you what you DO or don't have.

I would also be inclined to tell you to maybe give a nicotine patch a try, but what's curious to me is that the relief you feel post smoking is VERY short lived.  It would be sensible to think that perhaps the patch would provide a longer lasting relief, at a steadier state.  It's certainly a better option than actually SMOKING, which of course comes with it's dangers, carcinogens, etc.  The patch would be a safer way to introduce the nicotine into the body.  

What do you take Adderall for?  THAT may be a bigger cause of your depression relief than the smoking.  Adderall is a stimulant, an "upper" if you will, which absolutely lifts the mood for a lot of people.  

I think some trial and error here wouldn't be a bad idea.  I think to start a nicotine patch, though, you have to be cautious.  Without you being a regular smoker, you would want to start with the lowest strength, and that may STILL be too much for you, especially because it's a different delivery system (transdermal versus smoking it).  Have you ever looked into the e-cigarettes?  Perhaps that would be a way to get a minimal amount of nicotine, in a safer way?

Understand that I would never advocate smoking, it's just SO bad for us (and I'm a smoker, so yes, I'm a hypocrite, lol)...but I absolutely understand the need for finding something that works after years of unsuccessfully managing depression or anxiety, and you may be onto something for yourself.  I just think it's important for you to make sure that the Adderall isn't what's making you feel better before you try to go the nicotine route.

Do you have a psychiatrist?  Are you seeing a therapist?

[4Maddie44]

I agree with Paxiled, if smoking a cigarette helps, then carry on.  No harm in that.  Doctor Goddess certainly has some way out views.  I wonder if she has ever had depression.  I have taken anti depressants, and I am now not taking any.  They did not blunt me or give me a chemical labotomy, they helped me through the darkness of depression.  It is 8 months since I came off anti depressants, and I still get low at times.  Whatever helps us we should take.  Well I don't know where you will find a Shaman, but I think smoking a cigarette will be easier!!

I don't know about a nicotine patch, but it is worth trying if you think it would help.  I say worth trying anything.  I say go for it, because depression is a serious illness, and we need all the help we can get to deal with it.  

I take a lot of supplements, and took them during the times I was on anti depressants.  I would do anything, like you, to feel better.

Take care

[Paxiled]

Boy, the person above doesn't obviously suffer from emotional problems.  Hallucinogenics aren't for the anxious generally speaking.  Tobacco contains nicotine, which is just another drug like the antidepressants you take and affects some of the same neurotransmitters.  That's why it makes you feel good for a short amount of time, and also why it's addictive.  Native Americans didn't sit around smoking cigarettes, they used tobacco pure without commercial chemical applications and only for ceremonies.  And Native American society was a whole lot simpler than the mess we've created for ourselves, that's true, but it also had its insanity.  No human society has gotten it right yet.  Some Native Americans had great experiences on drugs and some freaked out, just like now.  But you don't live in that calm hunter gatherer society, you live here now.  I'd try and look into some non drug options, such as meditation, exercise, dietary changes and therapy to see why you think the way you do if medication isn't your thing.  And remember, any faith tradition you try, you have to believe in it for it to work.  If you don't, it doesn't, so it's kind of a mental illness in and of itself for many people.  I guess the bottom line is, whatever works for you.