What Are the Immediate Effects of Nicotine?

Nicotine (chemical formula C10H14N2) is a naturally occurring oily liquid that is derived from the Solanaceae or tobacco family of plants. It is the active ingredient in tobacco products, including cigarettes, snuff and cigars, and constitutes approximately 0.6 to 3.0 percent of the weight of tobacco. According to "Drugs and Society," nicotine reaches the brain within 10 seconds of inhalation, leading to a range of acute and long-term effects. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nicotine inhalation due to cigarette smoking causes more than 400,000 deaths in the United States annually.

Physiological Effects

• Nicotine stimulates the production of adrenaline, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. Adrenaline increases the blood pressure and heart rate by 15 to 20 beats a minute. Other immediate physiological effects of nicotine ingestion include narrowing of the arteries, increase in the rate of respiration, decrease in the temperature of the skin, thickening of the blood, diarrhea and vomiting. Nicotine also suppresses the appetite, accelerates the metabolism and leads to a reduction in weight. It irritates the mucous membranes in the mouth and inhibits the formation of urine.

Psychological Effects

• The psychological effects of nicotine vary from person to person. Some report a heightened state of relaxation while others feel mildly agitated and restless. According to the book "How to Be a Fix-It Genius Using 7 Simple Tools," nicotine has paradoxical effects. It stimulates the central nervous system while having a calming effect on the individual. The book also notes that nicotine injections reduce aggression in animals. According to the "Handbook of Psychology: Health Psychology," nicotine, in general, has positive effects on cognitive functions, such as learning, attention and memory. Its administration improves information processing, vigilance and verbal recall. These effects are impaired if a user is deprived of nicotine.

Release of Neurotransmitters

• According to the book "100 Questions & Answers About How to Quit Smoking," nicotine affects the action of various neurotransmitters, including endorphins, serotonin, epinephrine, norepinephrine and acetylcholine. These neurotransmitters improve short-term attention, memory and learning, enhance pleasure, diminish pain response and improve concentration. Nicotine also affects the parts of the brain that are responsible for regulating the feelings of contentment and gratification. This effect is most likely responsible for the abuse potential of nicotine. One of the immediate effects of nicotine is the release of dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with addiction and pleasure.