Is Nicotine a Nootropic?

Is nicotine a nootropic? Maybe you’ve seen a few headlines lately promoting nicotine as a popular nootropic or smart drug. Prior to this, most of us had thought of nicotine only in regard to cigarette smoking, its addictive qualities, and its effects on brain chemistry.

In truth, nicotine is considered a nootropic, and it does offer benefits for cognitive function. You might be surprised at the cognitive boost that nicotine provides. However, we can’t ignore the harmful effects of nicotine and tobacco use, especially when looking at the most common ways of getting nicotine into the body in the first place.

Nicotine as a Nootropic

Nicotine is possibly one of the oldest nootropics in the world. There’s archeological evidence to suggest that nicotine, or rather the tobacco plant that nicotine comes from, has been used as a nootropic (although the word “nootropic” is relatively new) since the first century B.C.[1]

Back then, nicotine’s effects were coming from pure tobacco; however, there are so many chemicals and known carcinogens added to tobacco products today that nicotine has developed a bad reputation. While cigarettes and vapes come with significant health risks, there are tobacco products with a lower dose that also don’t contain carcinogenic substances.

But, looking at just the pure form of nicotine, we find it’s a substance that fits perfectly into the category of nootropics.

Nicotine binds to nicotinic receptors in the brain. These receptors respond by producing acetylcholine, which is one of the most important nervous system messengers. In addition, nicotine is also known to increase dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that’s involved in everything from learning and memory to pleasure.

There’s a reason that nicotine can be so addictive, and the goal of using nicotine for nootropic purposes is to discover the lowest dose possible that generates these effects for an individual person without crossing the line into a higher dosage with addictive potential.

Benefits

When looking at the net positive and negative, nicotine comes out ahead as a decent nootropic – as long as it’s used properly, at lower doses, and through a method that doesn’t come with a long list of significant negative side effects.

Nicotine works by binding to some of the same receptors as other nootropics, offering the same effect on cognitive processes as other popular smart drugs.

A few of the known benefits of nicotine include:

• Offering a cognitive boost and enhanced mental performance
• Increased focus and making fewer mistakes
• Nicotine improves mood and increases the neurotransmitter dopamine
• Nicotine suppresses appetite and can aid in weight loss
• Can relieve the emotional burden of a mentally tiring task
• Longer working memory processes
• Ongoing research into nicotine’s potential for easing or preventing neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia [2]
• Has the potential to ease the symptoms of adult ADHD

If you’d like to dive more deeply into the use of nicotine for nootropic purposes, the American Psychological Association Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology has an interesting work titled “Acute Nicotine Reinforcement Requires Ability to Discriminate the Stimulus Effects of Nicotine” that goes more in-depth into dosing and discernable benefits. [3]

Health Risks of Nicotine

There are thousands of chemicals and compounds in a single cigarette, and while smoking tobacco isn’t the only way to get nicotine into your system, it is one of the most common. Along with this, we know that even second-hand cigarette smoke can increase the risk of respiratory infections, asthma attacks, stroke, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and lung cancer. [4] Carbon monoxide is just one example of what’s released into the air when you smoke.

If you smoke tobacco or use e-cigarettes, it is strongly encouraged that you quit. Nicotine addiction is very challenging to work through, and if you’re at risk of suffering from the addictive potential, you should carefully consider if the benefits of nicotine are worth the risks for you.

Most people who develop a tolerance to nicotine consume higher dosages than are necessary to achieve nootropic benefits. In studies, nonsmokers reacted positively to very small, safe dosages.

Due to the potential risks and methods of use, nicotine should not be used by anyone under the age of 18.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Quitting smoking isn’t easy, but it’s something that’s vitally important for your health. There are many safe, effective products that can help you cut ties with the tobacco companies forever.

Unfortunately, nicotine withdrawal symptoms are the exact opposite of the nootropic benefits, but once you work through the withdrawal, you can resume nicotine use at a much lower level.

Symptoms of withdrawal include [5]

• Nicotine cravings
• Irritability
• Anger
• Restlessness
• Lack of focus or concentration
• Sleep disturbances
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Changes in appetite

Safer Ways of Using Nicotine as a Smart Drug

If you choose to use nicotine products, there are several delivery methods available, each offering its own pros and cons. Because nicotine comes with a risk of tolerance, it’s best to use low doses and use nicotine occasionally rather than grow to depend on it daily.

We’ve personally not used nicotine as a smart drug, and we can’t recommend a specific dose. However, after doing a good deal of research and learning how others have used it, it seems that a dose of 1-2 mg of nicotine is what’s suggested by others for best results while keeping the risk of tolerance low. Additionally, high doses of nicotine increase the risk of other side effects.

• Cigarettes & Vapes – Arguably, the most common but also most dangerous method of consuming nicotine is through smoking cigarettes or vaping.

Both of these methods of delivery are packed with chemicals, some of them being known carcinogens. We all know that the dangers of smoking include a significantly elevated risk of lung cancer and other diseases, and e-cigarettes are proving to not be any healthier. [6]

• Chewing Tobacco – While you’re not being exposed to smoke and chemicals through inhalation with chewing tobacco, this delivery method is not without its downsides.

According to the American Cancer Society Journals, the nicotine dose in chewing tobacco is significantly higher than through smoking – approximately 4.5 mg of nicotine compared to about 1 mg per cigarette [7]. Chewing tobacco is also associated with an increased risk of mouth, gum, cheek, esophagus, and pancreatic cancer.

• Nicotine Gum – Nicotine gum allows better control of dosage when taking nicotine, and it isn’t loaded with the same chemicals as cigarettes, vapes, and chewing tobacco. The typical dose of nicotine gum is 2- 4mg, so if you cut that into half or third, you have a more manageable and less risky nicotine dose.

Nicotine gum is available over the counter, but note that it’s likely to contain artificial sweeteners and a long list of other additives.

• Transdermal Nicotine – Nicotine patches are another option, and there are some that are available over the counter. The issue here is that you’re getting a slow but steady stream of nicotine throughout the day, which can be a good or bad thing depending on if you’re looking for short bursts of benefits or longer, more sustainable benefits that also come with an increased risk of dependence.

The half-life of nicotine is about two hours, but a slow-release nicotine patch ensures that your levels never drop too low. We’ve seen packages that say NOT to cut the patches into smaller pieces, but we’ve also seen where people have done it anyway without negative results. Our suggestion is to not take the risk – there are reasons consumers are warned not to do this.

It’s best to go with a patch offering a lower nicotine dose, especially if you’re not accustomed to a steady stream of nicotine in your system. Nausea and feeling generally unwell are common for people who use patches with more nicotine.

• Nicotine Lozenges – Lozenges are similar to gum in the amount of nicotine in them and the delivery method.

For a low-dose option, go with mini lozenges that contain 2 mg, and then consume only half for a 1 mg therapeutic lower dose.

• Nicotine Spray – Compared to the other delivery methods, nicotine spray is relatively new. It’s one of the faster-working nicotine products, and once you get the hang of using it, it’s also easier to control the dose.

Look for a product that offers the lowest dose possible, and use sparingly.

• Nicotine Inhalers – Inhalers shouldn’t be confused with vapes. They’re a little more challenging to find, but they offer a relatively pure form of nicotine at lower doses compared to the other products listed here.

FAQs

Is nicotine a cognitive enhancer?

Nicotine does offer cognitive benefits, but it must be used carefully to avoid side effects, including tolerance and risks to your health. Used in lower doses, nicotine may offer a range of cognitive enhancement benefits, including improved memory and focus, enhanced reaction time, and the release of dopamine.

How do you take nicotine as a nootropic?

Nicotine can be used as a nootropic for adults, but only in very low doses. Keeping the dose low is important for avoiding unwanted side effects. Over-the-counter nicotine products, such as nicotine gum which is used for smoking cessation, can be used, but the dose is usually cut in half to a third of what a person who is trying to quit smoking might use.

Does nicotine stimulate brain cells?

Nicotine creates a number of reactions in the brain, which include mechanisms that enhance focus and concentration, along with working memory and reaction time. It also stimulates the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Is nicotine a form of dopamine?

Nicotine itself isn’t a form of dopamine, but its effects on central nAChRs (nicotinic acetylcholine receptors) do cause the release of dopamine in the brain. Nicotine increases dopamine but isn’t a form of dopamine.

Key Takeaways

• Nicotine is considered a nootropic and may enhance cognitive performance in several areas
• Nicotine binds to a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, which in turn stimulates changes in memory, mood, focus, and more
• Tobacco smoking and tobacco chew are known to have very serious side effects, including increased cancer risk, and should be avoided – there are safer ways to use nicotine
• It is possible to develop tolerance to nicotine at higher doses

Sources

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3894096/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16220335/
3. https://psycnet.apa.org/manuscript/2020-80019-001.pdf
4. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/secondhand-smoke/health.html#:~:text=People%20who%20do%20not%20smoke,can%20suffer%20harmful%20health%20effects.&text=In%20adults%20who%20do%20not%20smoke%2C%20secondhand%20smoke%20exposure%20can,also%20result%20in%20premature%20death.
5. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/tobacco/withdrawal-fact-sheet
6. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/lung/basic_info/risk_factors.htm#:~:text=Cigarette%20smoking%20is%20the%20number,the%20risk%20for%20lung%20cancer.
7. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/tobacco-nicotine-e-cigarettes/how-does-tobacco-deliver-its-effects