EDIT – Something I forgot to mention which may add context is that after a period of abstinence I feel a sharp euphoric wave of dopamine which goes away within less than a few minutes and results in dysphoria, even with redosing.
Unlike cocaine, which I’m comparing since both are alkaloids, it seems to build a very unusually fast tolerance and any positive effects dissipate, unlike the latter.
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There are actually lots of reasons but I think that one one of the reasons that is most related to what is OP is asking is that nicotinic receptors rapidly desensitize and some internalize. What that means is the acute high levels of nicotine that would be generated by smoking or vaping would cause the actual nicotine receptors to stop functioning for a brief period of time or even to be reabsorbed into the cell such that nicotine has no place to work until these things come back on-line.
Also, nicotine does release dopamine within the ‘reward pathway’ but it doesn’t do it to the same degree along each of the nodes of that pathway.
Relative strength.
Nicotine’s impact on dopamine production in the brain is actually very mild. Euphoric states like we see with cocaine and amphetamine use are the results of considerably stronger chemical interactions in the brain – nicotine remains incredibly addictive though because a mild and consistent “high” still becomes incredibly difficult for the user to give up.
More to the point, the reward from smoking is often amplified by other activities and triggers – alcohol, caffiene, etc. all interact with nicotine and can reinforce dependence on the substance.
Nicotine’s addictive quality can’t be overstated but it actually isn’t a very strong drug – cocaine and amphetamines aren’t really comparable in regards to their impact on the brain.
As someone who has a cigarette or two once every few years – it *absolutely* affects me that way.
The first cigarette after a long break from them *is* euphoric.
I think we’re just good at building a tolerance/dependence on it.
Magical thing called “tolerance”, smoking does produce euphoria but only initially when you start. And it goes quick. The brain is amazing in that it can “turn off” indicating things to you that become “normal”. Also why drug addicts have to take more and more of the drug to get high, eventually going passed how much organs can tolerate and ending in OD.
Just to add to what has been said: Alkaloids are a huge, heterogeneous group of plant-made molecules. Comparing different effects of different alkaloids is similar to comparing different effects of different proteins or steroids. Yes, they are the same chemical class. No, their method of acting of the body is very different. Even though steroidal alkaloids are a more specific subgroup, the same is generally true.
Can you ask the question like ***IM*** 5?
Amphetamines very much do not consistently produce euphoria. That *first-got-diagnosed-with-ADHD* brightness lasted for maybe a week or two.
Tolerance brings the hum drums back.
Even caffeine produces euphoria if you quit long enough for your body to return to normal and then consume some again without any tolerance buildup.
I am working with pure nicotine… After small dose I feel very weak and bad overall. Nicotine as a pure co pound is rather bad for people who don’t smoke it.
They affect the dopamine system in different ways. Cocaine prevents natural dopamine from being broken down (effectively increasing the amount of dopamine) while nicotine indirectly affects dopamine pathways. Nicotine is also broken down far quicker in the brain than cocaine which is why the effects are shorter.
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