Re: Which is the better nootropic?

Anders Sandberg (nv91-asa@nada.kth.se)
Mon, 25 Nov 1996 17:04:30 +0100 (MET)


On Sun, 24 Nov 1996, Kennita Watson wrote:

> Chris Hind writes:
> >Is caffine or nicotine a better nootropic?
>
> Caffeine (look it up), in my book. Both are alkaloids, but nicotine is
> much more toxic and much more addictive. One develops tolerance to both,
> though since I haven't tried nicotine I don't know how fast that one comes
> on.

According to what I have read (and heard), the nootropic effect of
nicotine appears as part of the addiction process (the number of
cholinergic receptors increase). This is bad news, since you have to
become addicted to get any benefits (yes, there are documented nootropic
effects; do a medline search!), and you also develops a tolerance (in
addition, even non-smoked nicotine is carcinogenous).

> Personally, I tend to avoid caffeine except in cases of emergency, too
> (I narrowly avoided a chocolate-covered espresso bean habit), just
> because of the tolerance effect. I want it to work when I need it.

True. As a complete caffeine-sugar addict, I sometimes try to take a break
from my daily Coca Colas just to increase their potency when I need them.

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