Bipolar Support Group

Hello, first off I would like to say I am new here and looking for some support and some people to talk to about being Bipolar. No one in my immediate family is Bipolar, and as I'm sure you already know it is extremely difficult to talk to anyone who does not suffer from the illness because they just think of you as a nutcase.

My topic of discussion is the effects of smoking cigarettes on Bipolar Spectrum Disorder. I am 17 and Bipolar. I currently am not on any medications (I finally have an appointment with a psychiatrist on the 2nd of December). I smoke, on average, 6 cigarettes a day. It helps tremendously with my mood swings and anxiety. I find that if I do not smoke, I can't handle myself at all and I snap at every little thing. You may think that is from the nicotine withdrawal, however, you would be incorrect because I actually gave up smoking for an entire 3 months until I absolutely couldn't take it anymore. I read somewhere that cigarettes contain traces of lithium. Is this the reason they are so helpful to me? If I were prescribed lithium, would it have the same effect, only greater (hopefully), so I can finally quit smoking?

Any thoughts or comments at all would be greatly appreciated.

A lot of people with BP smoke why I'm not sure and who knows whats in tobacco except the tobacco co.s I'm on lithium and I'm still smoking so I don't know if that would work for you.

Welcome to the group. I'm glad you have joined! You have reached a place where there is plenty of support and you will love it. People here are so nice, comforting, caring, and understanding. We all are in the same boat, so we just talk about it and give each other suggestions or advice. I've never heard about there being a little bit of Lithium in the cigarettes, so I don't know that that is true. I smoke and have for years. A lot of people smoke who have mental illnesses. I think it kind of calms us down in a sense. I'm sure there has been a study on it somewhere. I'm looking forward to seeing you around!! Welcome to the group!

Welcome to the group. I smoke as well. But I smoked long before I was diagnosed bipolar. I started when I was around 14 or so, I think. I have quit several times, but always start again. Most days, I smoke a pack a day. More, if I'm really stressed about something. Less, if I'm super busy or somewhere where I can't smoke. I've never heard about lithium being in cigarettes. But there's so many different things in cigarettes, I guess its possible. But I doubt its enough to really have an affect like taking lithium as a medication would.

I took Wellbutrin for a while, which is sometimes used for patients to help them quit smoking, and I still continued to smoke. So, I don't think your theory about the lithium will cause you to quit smoking. Cigarettes are more addictive than crack (proven in lab studies).

I hope your appointment goes well.

Post edited by: proudmami01, at: 11/19/2010 08:07 AM

I smoke a lot as well - but I also smoked long before my diagnosis. I think it increased after I was diagnosed because I was so upset over being labeled Bi-polar.

I smoke and it is linked more to stress for me than anything else, I think. Sometimes I smoke just because I am bored, too. I quit last year for 6 months - until I was hospitalized. Really want to quit and stay quit!!!

Thanks to everyone for all the replies. ^_^ And thank you very much for the welcome, Joy75. I am glad I found a place with such caring people.

proudmami01, I took wellbutrin recently as well, but I had to stop taking it within a couple of days because my mood swings became massive and I couldn't calm myself down (most likely a switch into mania). I have had that problem with all anti-depressants I have tried. That doesn't happen to you?

Listen, if you're only smoking six cigs a day, kudos to you.

A physician told me if I could get to 7 I would be fine.

I've been bipolar diagnosed for forty two years. I've been

smoking 33 years, a late smoker, I gather. I have tried

everything in the world to quit but I do feel I'm helped

by smoking though I realize it's an expensive addiction.

When I first went on meds I had a verrry hard time finding

the right ones coupled with denial. Ive been on 2 lithium

at night 600 mg total and 1 750 effexor timed release pill

in morning though I have to sometimes add 37.5 once, twice

even three times a week now that I've been on these things

so long. I urge you to stick with something at least two

weeks before you reject same. I had such migraines I thought

I would die with effexor but stuck it out and glad I did.

website is www.angelfire.com/blues2/rlynnholt

Post edited by: rochellel, at: 01/02/2013 07:46 AM

What were you prescribed for the mania? Wellbutrin is for the depression.

I think smoking does something to the dopamin in our brains, which most of the antispych meds deal with. It apparently calms us for a short period, helps with anxiety. I am not sure but I think that is what my pdoc told me.