Skip to main content
Log in

Transdermal nicotine: reduction of smoking with minimal abuse liability

  • Original Investigations
  • Published:
Psychopharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cigarette consumption as well as the physiologic, performance and subjective effects of the nicotine patch were evaluated in ten subjects who smoked ad libitum while residing on a residential research ward for 30 days. Nicotine transdermal systems (“patches”) delivering a total of 0, 22 or 44 mg per 24 h were applied daily at a constant dose during each 7-day condition; the order of dosing conditions was varied according to a randomized, double-blind, crossover design. Nicotine patches significantly but modestly reduced spontaneous smoking and significantly increased venous plasma nicotine levels. Self ratings of patch liking, satisfaction with cigarettes and the ability to identify the patch condition did not change as a function of the nicotine dose, indicating minimal abuse liability. There were no consistent changes in the puffing pattern measures; however, in all patch conditions, subjects with extensive histories of illicit drug use smoked cigarettes faster than subjects with histories of occasional drug use. Small changes in resting heart rate, pulse and blood pressure occurred when the nicotine patch was worn. Thus large changes in venous plasma nicotine levels engender only modest changes in ad libitum cigarette consumption, measures of abuse liability and cardiovascular effects. These findings are consistent with the notion that the addictive and toxic effects of nicotine are partially determined by the rate of drug administration.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Benowitz NL, Jacobs P III (1990) Intravenous nicotine replacement suppresses nicotine intake from cigarette smoking. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 254:1000–1005

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebert R, McKendree E, McNabb M, Snow SL (1984) Effect of nicotine chewing gum on plasma nicotine levels of cigarette smokers. Clin Pharmacol Ther 35:495–498

    Google Scholar 

  • Eichelberg D, Stolze P, Block M, Buchkremer G (1989) Contact allergies induced by TTS-treatment. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 11:223–225

    Google Scholar 

  • Fagerstrom KO (1978) Measuring degree of physical dependence to tobacco smoking with reference to individualization of treatment. Addict Behav 3:235–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Fagerstrom KO, Sawe U, Tonnesen P (1992) Therapeutic use of nicotine patches: Efficacy and safety. J Smoking Related Dis 3:247–261

    Google Scholar 

  • Food and Drug Administration (1992) Drug Abuse Advisory Committee Twenty-Third Meeting, Rockville, MD. July 14. Miller Reporting, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Foulds J, Stapleton J, Feyerabend C, Vesey C, Jarvis M, Russell MAH (1992) Effect of transdermal nicotine patches on cigarette smoking: a double blind crossover study. Psychopharmacology 106:421–427

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraser HF, Van Horn GD, Martin WR, Wolbach AB, Isbell H (1961) Methods of evaluating addiction liability. (A) Attitude of opiate addicts toward opiate like drugs, (B) a short term direct addiction test. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 133:371–387

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartman N, Leong GB, Glynn SM, Wilkins JN, Jarvik ME (1991) Transdermal nicotine and smoking behavior in psychiatric patients. Am J Psychiatry 148:374–375

    Google Scholar 

  • Henningfield JE (1984) Behavioral pharmacology of cigarette smoking. In: Thompson T, Dews PB, Barrett JE (eds) Advances in behavioral pharmacology, vol 4, Academic Press, New York, pp 131–210

    Google Scholar 

  • Henningfield JE, Miyasato K, Jasinski DR (1985) Abuse liability and pharmacodynamic characteristics of intravenous and inhaled nicotine. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 234:1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Henningfield JE, Keenan RM (1993) Nicotine delivery kinetics and abuse liability. J Consult Clin Psychol 61:743–750

    Google Scholar 

  • Henningfield JE, London ED, Benowitz NL (1990) Arterial-venous differences in plasma concentrations of nicotine after cigarette smoking. JAMA 263:2049–2050

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurt RD, Langer GG, Offord KP, Kottke TE, Dale LC (1990) Nicotine replacement therapy with use of a transdermal nicotine patch. A randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial. Mayo Clin Proc 65:1529–1537

    Google Scholar 

  • Hwang SL, Walholtz M (1992) Heart attacks reported in patch users still smoking. Wall Street, June 19

  • Jasinski DR, Henningfield JE (1989) Human abuse liability assessment by measurement of subjective and physiological effects. In: Fischman MW, Mello NK (eds) Testing for abuse liability of drugs in humans, NIDA Research Monograph No. 92. DHHS Publication 59-1613, pp 73–100

  • Jasinski DR, Johnson RE, Henningfield JE (1984) Abuse liability assessment in human subjects. Trend Pharmacol Sci 5:196–200

    Google Scholar 

  • Jasinski DR (1977) Assessment of the abuse potentiality of morphine-like drugs (methods used in man). In: Martin WR (ed) Handbook of experimental pharmacology. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 197–258

    Google Scholar 

  • Keenan RM, Hatsukami DK, Pickens RW, Gust SW, Strelow LJ (1990) The relationship between chronic ethanol exposure and cigarette smoking in the laboratory and the natural environment. Psychopharmacology 100:77–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozlowski LT, Jarvik ME, Gritz ER (1975) Nicotine regulation and cigarette smoking. Clin Pharmacol Ther 17:93–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Luchessi CC, Schuster CR, Emley AB (1967) The role of nicotine as a determinant of cigarette smoking frequency in man with observations of certain cardiovascular effects associated with the tobacco alkaloid. Clin Pharmacol Ther 8:789–796

    Google Scholar 

  • Mulligan SC, Masterson JG, Devane JG, Kelly JG (1990) Clinical and pharmacokinetic properties of a transdermal nicotine patch. Clin Pharmacol Ther 47:331–337

    Google Scholar 

  • Palmer KJ, Buckley MM, Faulds D (1992) Transdermal nicotine: a review of its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, and therapeutic efficacy as an aid to smoking cessation. Drugs 44:498–529

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell MAH, Wilson C, Feyerabend C, Cole PV (1976) Effect of nicotine chewing gum on smoking behaviour and as an aid to cigarette withdrawal. BMJ 2:391–393

    Google Scholar 

  • US Public Health Service (1988) The health consequences of smoking. Nicotine Addiction. A report of the Surgeon General. US Department of Health and Human Services, US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pickworth, W.B., Bunker, E.B. & Henningfield, J.E. Transdermal nicotine: reduction of smoking with minimal abuse liability. Psychopharmacology 115, 9–14 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244745

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244745

Key words

Navigation