Should a lack of focus and decrease in short term memory, and other mental decreases persist for 7 months after smoking cessatio
Posted by
jondoe999
I quit smoking on march 5, 2009. I am a 4th year student in a PharmD program. I had some compulsive behavours, obsessions, and went through dozens of hobbies during the first 2 months. I calmed down after that, but I have had an inability to retain information for any length of time, a loss of focus, and a general decrease in cognitive function. I have "frozen" completely during an exam twice in this time, but never before quitting smoking. I am 32 yo, smoked 2ppd x 15 years. I have 2-3 alcoholic beverages per year, as occasions demand. I did not use a medication to quit smoking. I have recently increased my caffeine intake drasticly to try to focus. I have not problems sleeping, and am not emotionally depressed at all. I had transient emotional issues during the first 2 months of cessation, but none since. I am not lethargic. I have a long term (6 years) monogamous partner and no sexual dysfunction. I have no insurance, am not on any medications, and have no diagnosed diseases, though I only go to the doctor for acute treatment. I have no known personal or family history of mental disorder. From the age of approximately 13 until 17 (coincident with onset of smoking), I experienced social withdrawal, fits of rage, some minor obsessive behaviors (unnecessary throat clearing, repetative light switch manipulation, crossing thresholds with a particular foot) and had intrusive thoughts, usually regarding numbers and percieved numeric patterns, once to the point of collapsing on a bed and crying myself to sleep. These all stopped shortly after I started smoking/turned 18. From the age of 21 to 24(approximate) I abused ephedrine (400mg/day) and alcohol (5-10 drinks per day), but stopped both spontaneously. I now drink 2-3 times per year, and not to excess.
My only current issue is a noticable slowing of cognitive function. I returned to school at the age of 29, have held a 4.0 gpa in pharmacy school, and am now earning C's. And that is with studying approximately 4 hours per day outside of school. My recall, retention, and processing are all decreased. Is it withdrawl symptoms after 7 months, or is this my baseline mental state without CNS stimulants?
Posted by jondoe999
I quit smoking on march 5, 2009. I am a 4th year student in a PharmD program. I had some compulsive behavours, obsessions, and went through dozens of hobbies during the first 2 months. I calmed down after that, but I have had an inability to retain information for any length of time, a loss of focus, and a general decrease in cognitive function. I have "frozen" completely during an exam twice in this time, but never before quitting smoking. I am 32 yo, smoked 2ppd x 15 years. I have 2-3 alcoholic beverages per year, as occasions demand. I did not use a medication to quit smoking. I have recently increased my caffeine intake drasticly to try to focus. I have not problems sleeping, and am not emotionally depressed at all. I had transient emotional issues during the first 2 months of cessation, but none since. I am not lethargic. I have a long term (6 years) monogamous partner and no sexual dysfunction. I have no insurance, am not on any medications, and have no diagnosed diseases, though I only go to the doctor for acute treatment. I have no known personal or family history of mental disorder. From the age of approximately 13 until 17 (coincident with onset of smoking), I experienced social withdrawal, fits of rage, some minor obsessive behaviors (unnecessary throat clearing, repetative light switch manipulation, crossing thresholds with a particular foot) and had intrusive thoughts, usually regarding numbers and percieved numeric patterns, once to the point of collapsing on a bed and crying myself to sleep. These all stopped shortly after I started smoking/turned 18. From the age of 21 to 24(approximate) I abused ephedrine (400mg/day) and alcohol (5-10 drinks per day), but stopped both spontaneously. I now drink 2-3 times per year, and not to excess.
My only current issue is a noticable slowing of cognitive function. I returned to school at the age of 29, have held a 4.0 gpa in pharmacy school, and am now earning C's. And that is with studying approximately 4 hours per day outside of school. My recall, retention, and processing are all decreased. Is it withdrawl symptoms after 7 months, or is this my baseline mental state without CNS stimulants?