ADD medication and vaping

[equazcion]

I'm starting this thread in an attempt to determine just how unique my situation is. If there are other people trying to do what I'm doing, we can start talking about it and sharing our experiences. And if not I can continue to feel alone and helpless. Woohoo!

If you don't want to read the whole megillah below, the punchline is that some ADD medication, Adderall in particular, increases a smoker's urge to smoke. This isn't a very documented side-effect the last time I checked, but acquaintances on Adderall have talked about it, it's been reported in several online forums, and there's been at least one controlled study. I'm trying to use vaping as a replacement, but so far it hasn't worked out so well.

I'm diagnosed with ADD for many years now, and have been prescribed Adderall for most of that time. It's worked out well, but one unfortunate side-effect on smokers is a much-increased craving.

Someone once described the effect as, "Once you start taking it, you smoke like it's your job." An apt analogy. I didn't notice just how diligently I was smoking at first, til I realized I was buying a new pack daily up from about every three days. So far the only way I've been able to curtail it is to lower my Adderall dose. I've reached a comfortable enough balance right now, having had years to find it.

Lately I've been fantasizing about quitting smoking altogether. Trust me when I say this will be utterly impossible without also quitting Adderall (not an option as my brain is useless, work-wise, without it) or finding some kind of cigarette replacement. I've tried vaping before, and again now, but each time I still feel the urge to smoke cigarettes, plus my focus is down when I don't smoke the real ones and I develop trouble sleeping.

I can only hypothesize:

• the craving is for something other than nicotine alone (my worst fear since it means vaping nor any nicotine replacement method will ever work this way)
• the continued craving for real cigarettes is purely psychological
• Adderall is an appetite suppressant, and hunger can manifest as a ciggy craving, with ciggs satisfying the feeling for a short time - so maybe I'm "subconsciously hungry" so to speak, but nicotine alone doesn't satisfy in that way.

Anyway I could probably write books on this but I think this is enough to at least show those in a similar situation that they're not alone and can speak up here, if there is indeed anyone else like that watching.

 

[robocig]

When I started taking Adderall I went from approximately 1 pack per week to a half pack per day almost overnight. I didn't realize it for about a month, but friends have had the same experience as I did on Adderall. I attempted quitting three times before I finally decided to try e-cigs.

Vaping has worked extraordinarily well for me as a replacement. My trouble in quitting before was that I enjoyed the actual action of smoking more than smoking itself. I find that I need to use liquids with a high nicotine content in order to get the sensation I need, but vaping provides the ritual of "smoking" that I craved so much. Finding the right liquid was kind of a struggle, but now that I've hit the proverbial "sweet spot" I haven't had any trouble.

Keep in mind that you may want to talk to your doctor about this as well- cigarettes can work as a kind of weird antidepressant. It's possible that using an antidepressant in conjunction with e-cigs could eliminate the problem of thinking you're "missing something" when you're vaping. I have a friend who quit completely by simply going on Wellbutrin.

 

[mohawkx]

One pack a day isn't so bad in the greater scheme of things. I smoked 1.5-2 packs a day for almost 50 years and never once had any adderall. BTW: I've never touched a cigarette once my gogo and riva hit the mailbox.

 

[tooloney]

I just noticed this thread today, and I do agree 100% with you that adderall,dexadrine,desoxyn all increase the desire to smoke. They also increase 10 fold the satisfaction you get from it, however I have found a good throat hit from vaping can bring back that oh so beautiful stimulant cigarette. I think it wouldve been really easy for me to quit smoking if i was never on the stimulants, but oh well.

Something I read, and I cant find the link now, mentioned that cigarette smoke contains some amount mao inhibitors which would most likely make the effects from the amphetamines stronger. This would explain the reason you dont always get quite the same satisfaction from vaping as you did from smoking.


EDIT: DO NOT take an mao inhibitor to increase the effects from adderall. it can be very bad.

Try to find something with a good throat hit, maybe higher voltage device, etc.... I think alot of my satisfaction for sure comes from getting "stuck in a loop" and the ritual of actually vaping.

 

[wdave]

I'm starting this thread in an attempt to determine just how unique my situation is. If there are other people trying to do what I'm doing, we can start talking about it and sharing our experiences. And if not I can continue to feel alone and helpless. Woohoo!

If you don't want to read the whole megillah below, the punchline is that some ADD medication, Adderall in particular, increases a smoker's urge to smoke. This isn't a very documented side-effect the last time I checked, but acquaintances on Adderall have talked about it, it's been reported in several online forums, and there's been at least one controlled study. I'm trying to use vaping as a replacement, but so far it hasn't worked out so well.

I'm diagnosed with ADD for many years now, and have been prescribed Adderall for most of that time. It's worked out well, but one unfortunate side-effect on smokers is a much-increased craving.

Someone once described the effect as, "Once you start taking it, you smoke like it's your job." An apt analogy. I didn't notice just how diligently I was smoking at first, til I realized I was buying a new pack daily up from about every three days. So far the only way I've been able to curtail it is to lower my Adderall dose. I've reached a comfortable enough balance right now, having had years to find it.

Lately I've been fantasizing about quitting smoking altogether. Trust me when I say this will be utterly impossible without also quitting Adderall (not an option as my brain is useless, work-wise, without it) or finding some kind of cigarette replacement. I've tried vaping before, and again now, but each time I still feel the urge to smoke cigarettes, plus my focus is down when I don't smoke the real ones and I develop trouble sleeping.

I can only hypothesize:

• the craving is for something other than nicotine alone (my worst fear since it means vaping nor any nicotine replacement method will ever work this way)
• the continued craving for real cigarettes is purely psychological
• Adderall is an appetite suppressant, and hunger can manifest as a ciggy craving, with ciggs satisfying the feeling for a short time - so maybe I'm "subconsciously hungry" so to speak, but nicotine alone doesn't satisfy in that way.

Anyway I could probably write books on this but I think this is enough to at least show those in a similar situation that they're not alone and can speak up here, if there is indeed anyone else like that watching.

Well, nicotine is proven to keep a person more ALERT. Us computer programmers can attest to that.

Alertness is probably the reason nicotine is so addictive. So I'd think in your situation that it is the nicotine you crave.

Once I knew the alertness effect of nicotine, I began quetioning why the military would want to ban cigarettes...

HTH,
Dave

 

[daisyd]

There has been some talk about nicotine being used to treat ADD in the ADD/ADHD sub forum here. I am not ADD but I LIVE on caffine and nicotine (probably why I hated being pregnant. Babies I love, but pregnancy is not for me.) When I tried to quit before I literally could not focus either my brain, or even my eyes. My suggestion would be to up your nic and see if it helps. I'm no expert, but if you aren't already taking vitamins, that might help. I find the B vitamins to help with an overall feeling of wellbeing (Naked Juice is full of them. Too bad they're so pricey.) Most of what's in the homeopathic quit smoking remedies are vitamins. So make sure you're getting the vitamins you need.

 

[Mikkie]

I find this thread very interesting, and hope that there is some more input and perspective on this subject. I was diagnosed ADHD when I was in 2nd grade. I stopped meds in 9th grade, got back on in my senior year, and stopped again after graduation. When I picked up cigarettes, it was an almost immediate addiction. I always could feel my meds "messing" with my head, and smoking made that feeling go away, and still let me keep my focus. I've wanted to go back on adderall for a few years now, as I've noticed my ADHD affecting and hindering my advancement possibilities at work. I'm mediocre when I know I can be extraordinary. Now that I'm vaping exclusively, and after reading this thread, I'm worried the cravings might come back. Any additional research or links that anyone could provide, I'd really appreciate it.

 

[equazcion]

Just wanted to post a little update on my situation, sparked by Mikkie's post (to whom this might offer some hope): I don't want to jump the gun, but I've been vaping a lot since my original post and smoking half a regular cigarette 2 or 3 times a day, which is very much reduced from my usual habit. It's because for some reason cigarettes have begun tasting awful to me since vaping regularly -- they even make me feel sick.

I'm not sure why this is, or if it will last. I have a sneaking suspicion that there's something about vaping that causes this, and that may be why people have such success replacing tobacco with vaping -- it not only serves as an alternate nicotine source, but also makes your body repellant to cigarette smoke somehow. Maybe. Just a theory, and a very preliminary one at that.

It's not all good news though -- I'm experiencing upset stomach a lot. I'm hoping this is due to the sudden drop in my tobacco use -- as I've been smoking for over 10 years and maybe it's a shock to my system -- as opposed to a reaction to the vaping, since the former is more likely to subside over time.

As for my focus issue, it's too early to tell. I think I have my good and bad moments right now. I'm on 26mg juice, and am seeking higher. So far I see 36mg seems to be the highest. If anyone has recommendations for a good product/seller for high nic juice I'd love to hear (might be better to PM me with that though so as not to clog this thread with a tangent on juice recommendations).

Anyway just thought I'd share that.

PS. Since it was mentioned, I was on Wellbutrin once before and have just started it again, incidentally. The last time I was on it I unfortunately did not experience any reduction whatsoever in my cigarette cravings, so I doubt that's much a part of the effect I'm describing now.