Smoking & ADHD | ADHD Information

None of the ADHD meds have an anti-smoking effect. That's something you're going to have to do on your own. Being newly diagnosed with ADHD w/ Anxiety I have alot of Q's! I smoke alot mostly out of boredom and not knowing what to do with mysef, I've tried wellbutrin but did not find any positive results , can anyone tell me if any of the medications or just being on medications in general will help my smoking down?

Being new to the knowledge that you have ADD, you will no doubt go through a lot of different stages of learning about where you are and what you can do about it. This message board is a great place for info and support. But keep in mind that what works for one person may not work for another (medications being a prime example, different ones affect different people differently).

But one thing I am now realizing (and I think many people get to this point) is that we need to eventually take a very holistic approach. I do believe the best results come with a combination of therapy (or counseling/coaching), sometimes medication, a spiritual life (prayer/meditation), ADD-friendly diet, exercise, proper rest, controlling substance abuse (alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, etc.).  

Pursuing good health (physical, mental, and spritual) helps to give us the strength and the tools to deal with the ADD.

Hang in there!

I have virtually no hope of quitting smoking I think... I found out that I don't produce much of the chemical that is responsible for feelings of happiness, which you guessed it nicotine helps production of that chemical I'm lacking.

I was on a huge amount of the medicine that tries to do the same thing... I think welbutrin it was, but I think smoking or other tobacco works quicker which is my problem.

Kind of a bad loop I think... I wonder how many add'ers have the same problem.

It's suprising Wellbutrin did not work because Wellbutrine is a DA reuptake inhinitor + NE increase, ACh(n) antagonist. This means it should suppress habits like smoking and eating. The NE increase will give you more energey to excercise. Did you give it a good chance for all these attributes?

Since wellbutrin did not work for you, you will have to try an "exchange behavior method".

With smoking, persay you start excercising. The more you excercise and eat better, you will find smoking has no place in your life. Hence you eventually trade a bad habit for a good habit.

It appears to be more effective for people when they understand what it is they are trying to accomplish. In other words it's easy to tell somone to quit smoking and start excersing, but in reality it's darn near impossible.

 

 

 

Well as a fellow neebie and smoker, I am the same here. The wellburtin is not working from smoking less.  Like I have told my doctors.  I don't drink, do drugs, party or even stay calm.  I have 2 children and a husband with ADHD, and now me.  Heck I gotta do something or I would go insane.  Not saying I am not already there. Some adults with ADHD take antidepresants instead of stimulants.  Welbutrin is an antidepresant that is also used for quitting smoking (called Zyban).  Ya may wanna look into it.

Uh, sorry didn't read your email fully...lack of attention...impulsive answer...oops

 

[QUOTE=Chazinmo]

But one thing I am now realizing (and I think many people get to this point) is that we need to eventually take a very holistic approach. I do believe the best results come with a combination of therapy (or counseling/coaching), sometimes medication, a spiritual life (prayer/meditation), ADD-friendly diet, exercise, proper rest, controlling substance abuse (alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, etc.). 

Pursuing good health (physical, mental, and spritual) helps to give us the strength and the tools to deal with the ADD.

Hang in there!

[/QUOTE]

I agree, though I was a la naturale and am finally giving in to meds again in hopes that I can stay gainfully employed. Don't know if it falls into the same category as other compulsive problems, but I bit my nails from the time I was in my crib. Since I have been taking a liquid b complex, I have stopped doing that, but now am constantly picking at my skin. I look terrible...like a bird that is moulting.  And, I know I am being rude by doing it; I just have a real hard time not doing it, especially when I am reading things on the computer. I guess it's the hyper part? I feel like a hyper wagging dog, that if you held his tail still, the body would jump all over the place.

HELP!!!!!!!!! 

p.s. I am ALL about diet and exercise, but boy is it hard to stay on top of the good diet regimine.  Talk about the ultimate curse...eating well takes patience to prepare the food and consistency. I can't stand to go to the grocery store!!!  Aughghgh.
I can tell you that I have just started taking Adderall and I smoke. Now that I take it all I want to do is smoke!  apparently adderall inhibits the absorption of nicotine.....that may be why you're smoking more now....I dunno I quit smoking before I switched to addreall.....venturess2-

How has it been going with the quitting since you started Adderall? How long before you started taking had you quit?
Ventures- That was ulimately my question... But, it doesn't matter now, I have felt wretched on Adderall. Today is my last day. I am going to try Wellbutrin... That is supposed to help you quit- bonus! Hopefully it will work on everything I need it to.

Ksgcsg-  I quit at the end of April and I started taking Adderall in June.  I was on Ritalin before June but I was developing a tolerance and decided to change drugs.  I used the patch to quit....which was still not easy....I still crave but I feel like I'm in control now.

I really don't know if it would be more difficult to quit if you were on adderall which I think is what you may be thinking.....

hey room....i've been smoking kinda since i was 14 and it kind a helps me feel a lot better. i don't medicate with ritalin or any other kind of med. so when i smoke it helps me a little. i don't like it coz it makes me pale. i drink a lot of coffee too. i drink alcohol to help me enjoy myself otherwise i can't keep my mind quiet. anyone else in here have the same kindof feelin?I do tend to smoke more on Adderrall xr. My DR told me to try the patch, but that would take me coming to the fact that I don't want to smoke! I know, I know.... BAD CHOICE.... But like with any other addiction, everyone is different and they will come to terms when ready! Right? Right... As far as the picking of the skin, I think that may be one of the "tics" that is a side effect from the Adderrall. I know that now I am on it, I crack my knuckles constantly, and the DR said that THAT was considered a "tic". I thought that the "tics" they were talking about were more like twitches. Although some people DO get those kinds of tics, i have seen that others get the skin picking, biting nail, knuckle cracking behavior. How its a tic, I dont know. Seems more to me like obsessive behavior. Half the time I dont even realize Im doing it until someone grabs my hand and tells me to stop! But all in all, I have found it to be worth the tics that I have. I do so much better on my meds. I FINALLY HAVE A CLEAN HOUSE and my JOB IS IN TACT! I wouldnt trade the knuckle cracking in to be back where I was, thats for sure!