> a deficiency in nicotinic receptors (where supplementing nicotine is really a solution!)
My doctor actually recommended nicotine for that exact reason. My family's history with heavy tobacco use combined (my father in particular) and my experiences with nicotine in the past were positive, so the doctor suggested trying a strong nicotine patch for a while. It worked reasonably well, and more importantly it didn't have the (many) problems the usual SNRI or NDRI. Nicotine definitely does have its own problems, but it's an interesting option that deserves more research.
(We had also discussed briefly the idea of trying a very small dose of one of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitors used for Alzheimer's, but eventually decided against it, because they can be somewhat dangerous drugs.)
For decades, research on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors was limited (probably tanks to the tobacco industry). Research in this area is improving a lot, but it will take time to make up for the lost time.
My doctor actually recommended nicotine for that exact reason. My family's history with heavy tobacco use combined (my father in particular) and my experiences with nicotine in the past were positive, so the doctor suggested trying a strong nicotine patch for a while. It worked reasonably well, and more importantly it didn't have the (many) problems the usual SNRI or NDRI. Nicotine definitely does have its own problems, but it's an interesting option that deserves more research.
(We had also discussed briefly the idea of trying a very small dose of one of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitors used for Alzheimer's, but eventually decided against it, because they can be somewhat dangerous drugs.)
For decades, research on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors was limited (probably tanks to the tobacco industry). Research in this area is improving a lot, but it will take time to make up for the lost time.