Answer to Question 1
Within hours of the last cigarette, heavy smokers typically experience a craving for tobacco. In addition symptoms may consist of decreased heart rate, EEG slowing, irritability, increased hunger, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal disturbances, drowsiness, headache, and impairment of concentration, judgment, and psychomotor performance.
Answer to Question 2
One of the underlying motivating factors behind cocaine use may be endogenous depression or depression resulting from cocaine abuse. Since tricyclics may reduce the depression, they may reduce the motivation to use cocaine. Also, desipramine theoretically reduces the uptake of monoamines, similar to cocaine's actions, and thus may reduce the craving associated with reduced monoamine activity.
