glutamate - nicotine

[Timm]

before my diagnosis i was a smoker .

recently i learnt that Nicotine increases glutamate release.

2 months ago I wanted to smoke and I did that several times .

every time i smoke my all body but especially my legs started to shake terribly in an uncontrollable way which blocked me to walk for about 20 mins .

is that because of the excess glutamate release triggered by nicotine ? what'r your opinions ?

[MNDConnect]

Hi Timm,

Thank you for your forum post. We have passed on your query to our Research team, once we get a response from them we will let you know as soon as possible.

I do hope this is okay. Alternatively, if you would like to contact the Research team directly, they are available via email at [email protected]

Kind regards,
Prachi

[Timm]

Hi Timm,

Thank you for your forum post. We have passed on your query to our Research team, once we get a response from them we will let you know as soon as possible.

I do hope this is okay. Alternatively, if you would like to contact the Research team directly, they are available via email at [email protected]

Kind regards,
Prachi

it's better to wait for their response

thank you very much for your interest

[Timm]

hi
have you got any response ?

best regards

[MNDConnect]

I am very sorry, unfortunately we haven’t had a response from our Research team. I am chasing this up with them.

The Research team is a very small team and due to the high number of enquiries they receive, it might sometimes take longer than usual for them to respond.

I do apologise for this delay. As soon as we have a response from them, I will let you know.

Kind regards,
Prachi

[Timm]

thank you very much for your kind interest

best regards

[MNDConnect]

Hi Timm,

Please see the below response from our Research team:

Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in humans. There have been studies to suggest that nicotine increases glutamate release by attaching to the core neurons of the brain’s reward system, speeding up the release of dopamine (a neurotransmitter that plays a major role in the motivational component of reward-motivated behaviour) and preventing GABA, another neurotransmitter that produces a calming effect, from slowing down dopamine release. In smoking, this effect causes a person to crave nicotine – the addictive component of cigarette smoke – perpetuating the cycle.

It may be worth knowing that if someone is taking Riluzole, Riluzole is a glutamate mediator. Too much glutamate can put the body into a state of ‘sympathetic stress’ – leading to high levels of anxiety, fear, insomnia, restlessness and nervousness. Mixing the mediating effects of Riluzole with nicotine (which increases the level of the very thing the Riluzole is trying to decrease) could be the reason your physical symptoms that you have described may have occurred.

However, we are not medical professionals and any worrying symptoms should be discussed with a GP or neurologist.

I do hope this is helpful. Once again, apologies for the delay in getting back to you.

Kind regards,
Prachi

[Timm]

thank you very much for your interest .