I am in depression and a lot of exam stress as I am a medical pg aspirant and a doctor, I am using few medications, bupropion 300 mg, lamotrigine 200 mg, venlafaxine 37. 5 mg, aripiprazole 5 mg, pacitane 2 mg, rabeprazole and ondansetron, these r prescribed drugs by a psychiatrist but I myself take. Few medications since 4 years to help with my studies, stimulants (legal ones) to be specific, modafinil 200 mg, selegiline 5 mg, caffeine 220 mg, and the problem now is I never smoked in my life, although I used to drink one year before, only one year I used to drink, was a social occasional drinker and never had cravings and have been alcohol free since a year, but now although I never smoked before, I feel like smoking to relieve my stress despite taking so many drugs, I am still suffering, feel like crying and lack of motivation to study unless I take stimulants, so smoking cravings without even smoking ever before is my problem, I don't know why?, I was maybe a bit influenced by looking at movies and my friends all around me who smoke whenever they r stressed out, which helps with them actually, maybe I thought smoking a bit might relieve stress and make me motivated a bit so I start studying again, can any psychiatrist can help me with this problem? And explain why I am having cravings ?(note: the bupropion I am using is for depression not for smoking cessation), please help me find a solution, I would take a consult as well if somebody who r addiction specialist who can help me with my problem and explain what I am going thru, thank you.
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Dear lybrate-user, nicotine is a stimulant. Passive smoking also stimulates you. Thus you might have become dependent on nicotine and started craving for cigarettes. In bipolar depression, substance use disorders are comorbid very often. So, before you start having more problems with smoking along with depression, it is better to treat both simultaneously. Probably I will offer you met (motivational enhancement therapy) every week for 12 weeks. I don't charge for met. (you have to mention it in your consult) about other stimulants, let your psychiatrist offer whenever necessary.
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Hi You mentioned depression only. Doubts are like whether you are having a bipolar disorder or recurrent depression or a matter of addiction with depressive states. Whatever it is, a comprehensive psychotherapy including MET will be of great help to you.Can try some in online even but after a proper evaluation Bye, take care.
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Smoking does not help in relieving stress. It will just add on to your emotional health issues with illness of addiction. You may use nicotine replacement options like nicotine chewing gums or pestilles to curb your craving for smoking (after consultation with your psychiatrist) also please consume medicines as per the doses advised by your doctor. Regular physical exercise is very essential. Also please get in touch with counsellor for some counselling.
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Its probably due to social learning from your intimate environment where you would have seen people taking about/ experiencing stress and smoking simultaneously. Other probable reason is the use of stimulants which usually provokes tolerance with time and as you are taking stimulant at a fixed dose so the brain might have demanding for some stimulant and it knows that nicotine is one of them. I believe you are on a cocktail of medications both self prescribed and self medicated, the latter ones have significant addiction potential and taking them in long term contributes to other behavioral and mood disorders. It's in your best interest if you get your treatment optimised after sustained follow-up with a psychiatrist (may be guntur or vizag) and preferably inpatient after neet and aiims exam.
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