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Specialty Chemistry Forums => Other Sciences Question Forum => Topic started by: Corvettaholic on April 26, 2004, 07:03:11 PM

Title: Why does nicotine do what it does?
Post by: Corvettaholic on April 26, 2004, 07:03:11 PM
I'm a smoker, and I don't want to be one anymore. I don't really understand how nicotine works, just that I always want it. What does it bond to in my head, and why does it take so long to go away?
Title: Re:Why does nicotine do what it does?
Post by: One Armed Scissor on May 14, 2004, 06:21:42 PM
Well, incotine in tobacco, like amphetamines, it is sympathomimetic. Thus, it substitutes itself into neuroreceptors that stimulate the sympathetic nervous system(fight or flight, e.g. responsible for heart rate speeding up, sweat production increase). It increases concentration and relieves tension and its effects include increased blood pressure.

I heard from my biology teacher that the body has specific nicotine neuroreceptors to allow nicotine bonding. That may be one of the factors involved in why humans are so addicted to this drug.