Smokers

[rd42]

I just quit smoking, 17 hours and 48 minutes ago.
Have any of you been through this?
Did you notice a positive/negative change in your symptoms?

Nicotene Therapy (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/specials/washington_2000/651500.stm)

New trials have shown that nicotine may be effective in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and Tourette's syndrome.

AAAS Expo
The preliminary studies were both revealed at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and follow earlier studies showing benefits from the tobacco-derived drug in Alzheimer's patients.

Paul Newhouse, at the University of Vermont College of Medicine, looked at the effect of nicotine on Parkinson's patients.

"We saw small effects immediately, but they were more significant later on," he said. "Even patients who were already optimally treated with existing Parkinson's drugs got some benefits."

[rd42]

17 hours and 52 minutes ago.

[chksix]

Nice to meet you rd42. Haven't been inclined to give up my "camels" just yet, partly because they definitely stimulate the release of whatever little dopamine I have left. Just wanted to say hi and encourage you to stick with your resolve. I do, however, have a little theory about "why" smoking is so addictive. Since the days of cave men, and even as recent as the days of Daniel Boone, the smell of "sweet" smoke has evoked a very powerful sense of security for humans. It typically translates to a "camp-fire"--meaning food, rest, warmth, companionship, etc. These are all very addictive, even necessary, things to which it is in our nature to cling to. Of course, too much of even a good thing can be bad. Good luck in kicking it.