Regarding MAOI's in cigarette smoke.

[Gautama]

I'm not a scientist. In fact, when I'm reading scientific journals or websites, I often need to have another tab open in order to translate what the hell they're saying. Even though it seems to have been known for years that cigarette smoke contains MAOI's, I just learned about it a few weeks ago. For some reason this topic intrigues me. My biggest question regarding these MAOI's is whether or not the amount contained in cigarette smoke can also serve as a mild antidepressant? I have yet to find a consensus regarding this question. Also, since most people start smoking when their brains are still developing, how (if at all) do these MAOI's affect our physiology?

I ask these questions because, when I was younger, I was diagnosed with ADD (back then it was just ADD) and I had been depressed most of my life. After I started smoking (16), though it never really occurred to me over my smoking "career", I wasn't as depressed. I figured maybe it was something I grew out of or it was just a phase. Maybe I was just angsty . Since I've quit smoking (5 weeks ago today, tyvm) I've noticed that I've been more depressed. I figured it was just the after effects from a 22 year addiction. But it seems to be something...more. Don't get me wrong, I'm not suicidal by any means. It's just that I don't feel "right", for lack of a better term. If what I'm thinking is correct, that smoking does inhibit sufficient MAO's to effectively duplicate antidepressants, than that would explain a great deal.

 

[NICnurse]

I remember reading about this a few years ago. Many here have hypothesized that there is an MAOI effect when smoking cigarettes. It also explains why some people have a difficult time mentally with quitting tobacco cigarettes completely. I think a lot of people that experience depression and mental health issues with quitting tobacco choose to vape the WTA juices as it offers the tobacco alkaloids that aids with depression and the lack of MAOI effects in traditional ejuices. It is more expensive, but a lot of people post their success and happiness with how they feel on the WTA juice.

Couple of links to check out:
http://vapelicious.com/wta-faq/
http://www.ecigjuicereview.com/p/what-i-think-of-wta-whole-tobacco.html

Given your history of depression and ADHD, this might be a viable option for you.

 

[dr g]

Depression caused by reduced MAOI effects is best treated with more LMAOs.

 

[suspectK]

ADD just means your brain knows there's something better you can be doing with yourself. The only thing real I've noticed with having 'ADD' is seeming to have a different reaction than others to depressive and stimulant substances.

MAOI's smoked are quick but short acting, but MAOI's aren't used nearly as much anymore for depression treatment. They do a lot more than affect the specific neural activity needed for treatment.

You can always experiment for yourself. Menthol is a MAOI. Try a couple of days without menthol, and then, go a few with it.

 

[XeniaMike]

Very interesting thread. That may explain a lot about how I've been vaping for nearly 9 months now and still occasionally have to 'break the glass' in an emergency and have a cig. I swear there's something in them besides nicotine my brain wants. I can go about 24 hours but the level of 'whatever it is' falls to a certain level and I'd chew my own arm off to get it.

 

[suspectK]

There's a lot of stuff in cigarettes that potentiate nicotine. Ammonia is added to nicotine in cigarette production. This turns nicotine into a freebase which gives it a better affinity for receptor bonding. Paired up with the several MAOI's with cigarette smoke and it is a rather different experience. That's why nicotine by itself is regarded as a rather low potentially addicting substance.

 

[Gautama]

I guess my "attention issues" show because now that I look back at it, stating that I have ADD has absolutely nothing to do with what I was trying to say . Menthol is an MAOI!? I had no idea. I'd always been a menthol smoker and prefer it (or at least a strong mint) in all of my liquids.

The way I understand it, the MAOI's in cigarettes have a strong synergy with other drugs that affect Dopamine as well (ever wonder why people REALLY want a cigarette while drinking). I know that nicotine has a rather short life span, but roughly how long do the MAOI's from cigarette smoke stay in your body?

 

[suspectK]

Since there are different MAOI's each one will have a different half life. The half life of the natural MAO A&B inhibitor, norharman?, is about 30 minutes, so about 2 hours there is practically 0-effectiveness of it. There are already MAOI's identical to the alkaloids of tobacco MAOI's in your body, so prolonged function of all of them will be determined by your body's production of such.

 

[BigBen2k]

I've been concerned about this too, but I've found no information on just how much MAOI is present (naturally) in tobacco.

I had an analog a day for 3 days last week, and all I got was a small but persistent headache (but it could just be dehydration).

But yeah, the (naturally present) MAOIs in tobacco make nicotine 8 times more addictive. I went shopping a few days ago, and I didn't even bring my e-cig with me (didn't feel the need).

Nicotine alone isn't more addictive than coffee (but try to stop me from getting my cup-o-joe, I dare you!)

 

[peterforpats]

I remember reading about this a few years ago. Many here have hypothesized that there is an MAOI effect when smoking cigarettes. It also explains why some people have a difficult time mentally with quitting tobacco cigarettes completely. I think a lot of people that experience depression and mental health issues with quitting tobacco choose to vape the WTA juices as it offers the tobacco alkaloids that aids with depression and the lack of MAOI effects in traditional ejuices. It is more expensive, but a lot of people post their success and happiness with how they feel on the WTA juice.

Couple of links to check out:
Whole Tobacco Alkaloids (WTA e-Liquid) FAQ | VapeliciousVapelicious
E Cig Juice Review: What I think of (WTA) Whole Tobacco Alkaloids

Given your history of depression and ADHD, this might be a viable option for you.

the only two vendors are aromaejuice.com and wholecig.com. and yes, WTA has been the difference for me(and a lot of other folks). at the very least it can be a transition vape until you wean off it to regular juice, or in my case, an everyday all the time vape. I couldn't have quit without and it has been over nine months without a cig or the desire for one. while it is more expensive than regular e-juice it is still cheaper than cigs and totally worth it for me. anyone who is being drawn back to analogs for whatever reason should try wta first before going back. that's my opinion and I am sticking to it.......

 

[suspectK]

Alkaloids vary from plant to plant, and you're not going to find the nutritional information on tobacco in order of quantity.

 

[DC2]

Menthol is a MAOI.

Do you have any links to information regarding that?
In my four years on this forum I have never seen that said before.

 

[Oomee]

ADD just means your brain knows there's something better you can be doing with yourself...kinda goes the same way with depression.

What The '''''' ???

I will refrain for blasting or reporting you in the hope that the explanation is valid.

 

[DC2]

If you want to learn about the MAOIs and WTAs then this has been a must-read for years...
Whole Tobacco Alkaloids

 

[suspectK]

Real quick pull so I don't forget..
"Glucuronidation and oxidative metabolism of nicotine to cotinine are both inhibited by menthol, an additive to mentholated cigarettes, thus increasing the half-life of nicotine in vivo.[28]" [Wikipedia nicotine]

 

[Oomee]

You cannot edit and pretend that you didn't post that SuspectK .

 

[suspectK]

Yeah, I did post it, but after considering it, I removed it. Go to bluelight or somewhere if you want to get into a neurology debate. It didn't offend me, but it's hard to offend myself that's 'diagnosed' with depression and ADD when it's coming from my own brain. Obviously it rubbed you the wrong way, so I'm sorry. I'll leave it at that without polluting a thread with something a bit outside the topic range of ECF..again bluelight.ru if you want to continue.

 

[Gautama]

I've been concerned about this too, but I've found no information on just how much MAOI is present (naturally) in tobacco.

I had an analog a day for 3 days last week, and all I got was a small but persistent headache (but it could just be dehydration).

But yeah, the (naturally present) MAOIs in tobacco make nicotine 8 times more addictive. I went shopping a few days ago, and I didn't even bring my e-cig with me (didn't feel the need).

Nicotine alone isn't more addictive than coffee (but try to stop me from getting my cup-o-joe, I dare you!)

BINGO! That's something else I was curious about. Whether or not BT introduced the MAOI's or if they were a natural byproduct.

 

[Oomee]

Yeah, I did post it, but after considering it, I removed it. Go to bluelight or somewhere if you want to get into a neurology debate. It didn't offend me, but it's hard to offend myself that's 'diagnosed' with depression and ADD when it's coming from my own brain. Obviously it rubbed you the wrong way, so I'm sorry. I'll leave it at that without polluting a thread with something a bit outside the topic range of ECF..again bluelight.ru if you want to continue.

OK .
Here's a bit of life advice from someone who had two good friends take their own life through depression .
Never assume that just because something doesn't offend you, it won't offend others .

I could say much, much more , but I won't .
It will be for the best that I put you on ignore , as some things in your responding post tells me I will be more than irked if I don't .

 

[djsvapour]

I'm not a scientist. In fact, when I'm reading scientific journals or websites, I often need to have another tab open in order to translate what the hell they're saying. Even though it seems to have been known for years that cigarette smoke contains MAOI's, I just learned about it a few weeks ago. For some reason this topic intrigues me. My biggest question regarding these MAOI's is whether or not the amount contained in cigarette smoke can also serve as a mild antidepressant? I have yet to find a consensus regarding this question. Also, since most people start smoking when their brains are still developing, how (if at all) do these MAOI's affect our physiology?

I ask these questions because, when I was younger, I was diagnosed with ADD (back then it was just ADD) and I had been depressed most of my life. After I started smoking (16), though it never really occurred to me over my smoking "career", I wasn't as depressed. I figured maybe it was something I grew out of or it was just a phase. Maybe I was just angsty . Since I've quit smoking (5 weeks ago today, tyvm) I've noticed that I've been more depressed. I figured it was just the after effects from a 22 year addiction. But it seems to be something...more. Don't get me wrong, I'm not suicidal by any means. It's just that I don't feel "right", for lack of a better term. If what I'm thinking is correct, that smoking does inhibit sufficient MAO's to effectively duplicate antidepressants, than that would explain a great deal.

Fascinating. I always presumed I used cigarettes for both nicotine and anti-depressant qualities.
When I took SSRIs (years ago) I didn't smoke. It was easy.
When I took up vaping, I got a bit depressed.
I haven't gone back to SSRIs, so I am a little lower than I have been a certain times in my life.

t.b.h. I don't look into these things or google anything. SSRIs made me a zombie. I am who I am.