Nicotine therapeutic benefits

Studies, Surveys, Papers, and Case Studies

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Suggested studies to add to this page

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC526783/

Pain

2013 Nicotine is a pain reliever in trauma- and chemotherapy-induced neuropathy models

• Nicotine significantly reduced antiviral-dependent alterations of the nociceptive threshold.
• Moreover, nicotine decreased neuropathic pain induced by repeated intraperitoneal administration of the anticancer agent oxaliplatin (2.4 mg/kg), lowering the hypersensitivity to mechanical and thermal stimuli.
• Intraperitoneal nicotine administration controls neuropathic pain evoked by traumatic or toxic nervous system alterations. These results support the nAChR modulation as a possible therapeutic approach to the complex, undertreated chemotherapy-induced neuropathies.
• PDF Version
• Citation: Lorenzo Di Cesare Mannelli, Matteo Zanardelli, Carla Ghelardini, Nicotine is a pain reliever in trauma- and chemotherapy-induced neuropathy models, European Journal of Pharmacology, Volume 711, Issues 1–3, 2013, Pages 87-94, ISSN 0014-2999, doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2013.04.022.
• Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the Italian Ministry of Instruction, University and Research.
• Keywords: nAChR; Dideoxycytidine; Oxaliplatin; Antiviral; Anticancer, pain, chemotherapy, nicotine, neuropathy

2011 Randomised trial of intranasal nicotine and postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting in non-smoking women

• Intraoperative use of intranasal nicotine has a sustained opioid-sparing effect in non-smoking women undergoing gynaecological procedures and is associated with a higher frequency of nausea.
• PDF Version
• Citation: Jankowski, Christopher J.; Weingarten, Toby N.; Martin, David P.; Whalen, Francis X.; Gebhart, John B.; Liedl, Lavonne M.; Danielson, David R.; Nadeau, Ashley M.; Schroeder, Darrell R.; Warner, David O.; Sprung, Juraj Randomised trial of intranasal nicotine and postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting in non-smoking women, European Journal of Anaesthesiology (EJA): August 2011 - Volume 28 - Issue 8 - p 585-591 doi: 10.1097/EJA.0b013e328344d998
• Acknowledgements: The present work was supported solely by the Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.

2008 Transdermal Nicotine for Analgesia After Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy

• The preoperative application of a 7 mg nicotine patch resulted in a significant reduction in postoperative opioid consumption in nonsmoking men undergoing RRP in this study. Its use was generally well tolerated, but the maximum nausea scores were higher in patients who received nicotine.
• PDF Version
• Citation: Habib, Ashraf S., MBBCh, MSc, FRCA*; White, William D., MPH*; El Gasim, Magdi A., MD*; Saleh, Gamal, MD*; Polascik, Thomas J., MD†; Moul, Judd W., MD†; Gan, Tong J., MB, FRCA* Transdermal Nicotine for Analgesia After Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy, Anesthesia & Analgesia: September 2008 - Volume 107 - Issue 3 - p 999-1004 doi: 10.1213/ane.0b013e31816f2616

Parkinson Disease

2020 Dietary nicotine intake and risk of Parkinson disease: a prospective study

• At 26 year follow-up, women with greater dietary nicotine intake had a lower risk of Parkinson Disease (PD) than those with lower intake. Dietary nicotine intake was calculated based on consumption of peppers, tomatoes, processed tomatoes, potatoes, and tea.
• PDF Version
• Citation: Chaoran Ma, Samantha Molsberry, Yanping Li, Michael Schwarzschild, Alberto Ascherio, Xiang Gao, Dietary nicotine intake and risk of Parkinson disease: a prospective study, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 112, Issue 4, October 2020, Pages 1080–1087, doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqaa186
• Acknowledgements: Supported by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at the NIH grant 1R03NS093245-01A1 (to XG). The Nurses’ Health Study

is supported by the NIH through grant UM1 CA186107. The Health Professionals Follow-up Study cohort is supported by the NIH through grant U01 CA167552.

• Keywords: dietary nicotine, Parkinson disease, neurodegenerative disease

2007 Nicotinic receptors as CNS targets for Parkinson’s disease

• Human and animal references
• Analyzes results showing that chronic nicotine treatment improved striatal integrity and function.
• PDF Version
• Citation: Quik M, Bordia T, O'Leary K. Nicotinic receptors as CNS targets for Parkinson's disease. Biochem Pharmacol. 2007 Oct 15;74(8):1224-34. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2007.06.015. Epub 2007 Jun 17. PMID: 17631864; PMCID: PMC2046219.
• Acknowledgements: This work was supported by NIH grants NS42091 and NS47162.

1996 Does nicotine have beneficial effects in the treatment of certain diseases?

• Nicotine may have therapeutic uses in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease.
• Drug companies have often refused to fund legitimate and valid research into the potential therapeutic use of nicotine owing to its association with smoking and its image of an abusable drug. Many in the health profession fail to acknowledge the evidence which suggests that nicotine may have potential therapeutic value.
• PDF Version
• Citation: Birtwistle J, Hall K. Does nicotine have beneficial effects in the treatment of certain diseases? Br J Nurs. 1996 Oct 24-Nov 13;5(19):1195-202. doi: 10.12968/bjon.1996.5.19.1195. PMID: 9006184.

1991 Beneficial effects of nicotine

• When chronically taken, nicotine may result in: protection against Parkinson's Disease (other diseases mentioned in study)
• PDF Version
• Citation: Jarvik ME. Beneficial effects of nicotine. Br J Addict. 1991 May;86(5):571-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1991.tb01810.x. PMID: 1859921.
• Acknowledgement: Supported by U. C. Tobacco-related Disease program, grant # RT87 and a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Psoriasis

2012 Can nicotine use alleviate symptoms of psoriasis?

• In light of recent data demonstrating that psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease, the possibility that novel anti-inflammatory treatments such as nicotine replacement therapy or analogues could have a beneficial effect on patients with psoriasis should be considered. This case described one such occasion in which it appeared that nicotine had a therapeutic effect on a patient’s psoriasis.
• PDF Version
• Citation: Staples J, Klein D. Can nicotine use alleviate symptoms of psoriasis? Can Fam Physician. 2012 Apr;58(4):404-8. PMID: 22611606; PMCID: PMC3325452.

Pyoderma Gangrenosum

2004 Successful treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum with topical 0.5% nicotine cream

• Two patients with pyoderma gangrenosum treated with topical nicotine 0.5% w/w cetamacrogol formula A cream are described here, both of whom had dramatic clinical resolution of their pyoderma gangrenosum.
• PDF Version
• Citations:Patel GK, Rhodes JR, Evans B, Holt PJ. Successful treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum with topical 0.5% nicotine cream. J Dermatolog Treat. 2004 Apr;15(2):122-5. doi: 10.1080/09546630310019364. PMID: 15204166.
• Keywords: Pyoderma gangrenosum — Topical nicotine cream — Treatment

1998 Nicotine for Pyoderma Gangrenosum

• Herein we describe a patient with pyoderma gangrenosum who responded twice to topical nicotine within 4 weeks and 3 months, respectively, without any adverse effects.
• PDF Version
• Citation: Wolf R, Ruocco V. Nicotine for Pyoderma Gangrenosum. Arch Dermatol. 1998;134(9):1071–1072. doi:10.1001/archderm.134.9.1071

1995 Successful treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum with nicotine chewing gum

• We used nicotine chewing gum for the treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum with remarkable results. We strongly suggest that nicotine chewing gum may not only be beneficial in treating pyoderma gangrenosum but may also be useful in treating other skin disorders with prominent neutrophilic infiltrations such as Behcet's disease, Sweet disease, allergic vasculitis, and recurrent oral aphthae, the last of which is known to respond to smoking.
• PDF Version
• Citation: Kanekura T, Kanzaki T. Successful treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum with nicotine chewing gum. J Dermatol. 1995 Sep;22(9):704-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1346-8138.1995.tb03904.x. PMID: 8537562.

Sarcoidosis

2013 Nicotine Treatment Improves Toll-Like Receptor 2 and Toll-Like Receptor 9 Responsiveness in Active Pulmonary Sarcoidosis

• The immune phenotype of patients with symptomatic sarcoidosis treated with nicotine closely resembled that of asymptomatic patients, supporting the notion that nicotine treatment may be beneficial in this patient population.
• PDF Version
• Citation: Mark W. Julian, MS; Guohong Shao, MD; Larry S. Schlesinger, MD; Qin Huang, MD; David G. Cosmar, BA; Nitin Y. Bhatt, MD; Daniel A. Culver, MD, FCCP; Robert P. Baughman, MD, FCCP; Karen L. Wood, MD, FCCP; and Elliott D. Crouser, MD - ORIGINAL RESEARCH DIFFUSE LUNG DISEASE| VOLUME 143, ISSUE 2, P461-470, FEBRUARY 01, 2013, DOI 10.1378/chest.12-0383
• Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the American Thoracic Society and the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research. © 2013 American College of Chest Physicians

Seizures / Epilepsy

2012 Resolution of epileptic encephalopathy following treatment with transdermal nicotine

• We report resolution of an epileptic encephalopathy by administration of transdermal nicotine patches in an adolescent with severe nonlesional refractory frontal lobe epilepsy. The 18.5‐year‐old female patient had refractory epilepsy from the age of 11. Recurrent electroencephalography (EEG) recordings showed mostly generalized activity, albeit with right frontal predominance. Almost all antiepileptic medications failed to provide benefit. She developed an encephalopathic state with cognitive decline. The nonlesional frontal lobe epilepsy and a family history of a cousin with nocturnal epilepsy with frontal origin suggested genetic etiology. Transdermal nicotine patches brought complete resolution of the seizures, normalization of the EEG, and a significant improvement in her thinking process and speech organization. Sequencing of the CHRNB2 and CHRNA4 genes did not detect a mutation. Transdermal nicotine patches should be considered in severe pharmacoresistant frontal lobe epilepsy.
• PDF Version
• Citation: Zerem, A., Nishri, D., Yosef, Y., Blumkin, L., Lev, D., Leshinsky‐Silver, E., Kivity, S. and Lerman‐Sagie, T. (2013), Resolution of epileptic encephalopathy following treatment with transdermal nicotine. Epilepsia, 54: e13-e15. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2012.03715.x
• Acknowledgments: We thank Dr. Marcio Sotero De Menezes for suggesting the nicotine patch treatment in our patient following resolution of epilepsy in his patient with a similar presentation.
• Key Words: Autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy, Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, Refractory epilepsy.

2003 Nicotine as an Antiepileptic Agent in ADNFLE: An N‐of‐One Study

• In this individual with refractory ADNFLE, nicotine had a therapeutic effect on seizures, and it may be useful to others with this disorder.
• PDF Version
• Citation: Willoughby, J.O., Pope, K.J. and Eaton, V. (2003), Nicotine as an Antiepileptic Agent in ADNFLE: An N‐of‐One Study. Epilepsia, 44: 1238-1240. doi: 10.1046/j.1528-1157.2003.58102.x-i1
• Acknowledgments: The Pharmacy Department undertook randomization and allocation of the trial phase. Nicotine patches and matching placebo patches were provided through SmithKlineBeecham Consumer Healthcare Australia. The patient was cooperatively conscientious in her documentation of seizures. Dr. Stephen Johnson provided helpful comments on nicotinic receptor pharmacology.

Sleep Apnea

1991 Beneficial effects of nicotine

• When chronically taken, nicotine may result in: protection against sleep apnea (other diseases / issues mentioned in study)
• PDF Version
• Citation: Jarvik ME. Beneficial effects of nicotine. Br J Addict. 1991 May;86(5):571-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1991.tb01810.x. PMID: 1859921.
• Acknowledgement: Supported by U. C. Tobacco-related Disease program, grant # RT87 and a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Spinal Cord Injury

2008 Nicotine attenuates iNOS expression and contributes to neuroprotection in a compressive model of spinal cord injury

• Animal Study
• Primary impact to the spinal cord results in stimulation of secondary processes that potentiate the initial trauma. Recent evidence indicates that nicotine can exert potent antioxidant and neuroprotective effects in spinal cord injury (SCI).
• The results of the present study indicate that iNOS is induced in the early stages of SCI, leading to increased nitration of protein tyrosine residues and potentiation of inflammatory responses. Microglial cells appear to be the main cellular source of iNOS in SCI. In addition, nicotine-induced anti-inflammatory effects in SCI are mediated, at least in part, by the attenuation of iNOS overexpression through the receptor-mediated mechanism. This data may have significant therapeutic implications for the targeting of nicotine receptors in the treatment of compressive spinal cord trauma.
• PDF Version
• Citation: Lee, M.‐Y., Chen, L. and Toborek, M. (2009), Nicotine attenuates iNOS expression and contributes to neuroprotection in a compressive model of spinal cord injury. J. Neurosci. Res., 87: 937-947.doi.org/10.1002/jnr.21901
• Acknowledgements: This work was supported in part by the Philip Morris External Research Program and the Kentucky Science and Engineering Foundation.
• Key words: spinal cord injury; nicotine; neuronal nicotinic receptors; oxidative stress; inflammatory responses; nitric oxide synthase

Tourette Syndrome

2001 Transdermal nicotine and haloperidol in Tourette's disorder: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

• Transdermal nicotine (TNP) was superior to placebo in reducing behavioral symptoms when patients were receiving an optimal dose of haloperidol, when the dose of haloperidol was reduced by 50%, and when the patch had been discontinued for 2 weeks. These findings confirm earlier open-label findings and suggest that combining nicotinic receptor modulation and neuroleptics could be a therapeutic option for the treatment of Tourette's disorder.
• PDF Version
• Citation: Silver AA, Shytle RD, Philipp MK, Wilkinson BJ, McConville B, Sanberg PR. Transdermal nicotine and haloperidol in Tourette's disorder: a double-blind placebo-controlled study. J Clin Psychiatry. 2001 Sep;62(9):707-14. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v62n0908. PMID: 11681767.

1997 Nicotine for the treatment of Tourette's syndrome

• Within 24 hr of the application of a single 7-mg TNP (nicotine patch), the severity and frequency of tic symptoms is significantly decreased over baseline. This response is rapid, often reaching its maximum in the first 3 hr after application of a single patch. The duration of therapeutic effect of a single 7-mg TNP is variable and may last for about l-2 weeks.
• Application of a 7-mg TNP to children and adolescents with TS appears to be clinically safe, with transient side effects. However, no child under 8 years of age and weighing less than 25 kg was considered for TNP treatment.
• PDF Version
• Citation: Paul R. Sanberg, Archie A. Silver, R.Doug Shytle, Mary Katherine Philipp, David W. Cahill, Harold M. Fogelson, Brian J. McConville, Nicotine for the treatment of Tourette's syndrome, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Volume 74, Issue 1, 1997, Pages 21-25, ISSN 0163-7258, doi.org/10.1016/S0163-7258(96)00199-4.
• Acknowledgements-This review was supported, in part, by grants from the Tourette Syndrome Association, The National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke (ROl NS 32067sOlAl) and the Smokeless Tobacco Research Council.
• Keywords: Nicotine; Tourette's syndrome; tics; neuropsychiatric disorders

1996 Does nicotine have beneficial effects in the treatment of certain diseases?

• nicotine may have therapeutic uses in the treatment of Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome (TS).
• Drug companies have often refused to fund legitimate and valid research into the potential therapeutic use of nicotine owing to its association with smoking and its image of an abusable drug. Many in the health profession fail to acknowledge the evidence which suggests that nicotine may have potential therapeutic value.
• PDF Version
• Citation: Birtwistle J, Hall K. Does nicotine have beneficial effects in the treatment of certain diseases? Br J Nurs. 1996 Oct 24-Nov 13;5(19):1195-202. doi: 10.12968/bjon.1996.5.19.1195. PMID: 9006184.

1996 Case study: long-term potentiation of neuroleptics with transdermal nicotine in Tourette's syndrome

• Sixteen Tourette's syndrome patients, aged 9 to 15 years, whose symptoms were not controlled with neuroleptics, were followed for various lengths of time after the application of one 7 mg transdermal nicotine patch (TNP) for 24 hours. While there was a broad range in individual response, application of the TNP produced significant reductions in Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) scores relative to baseline, with an average duration of effect lasting between 1 and 2 weeks. Side effects, for the most part, were transient.
• Eleven patients had greater percentage changes after the second TNP than after the first TNP
• PDF Version
• Citation: Silver AA, Shytle RD, Philipp MK, Sanberg PR. Case study: long-term potentiation of neuroleptics with transdermal nicotine in Tourette's syndrome. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1996 Dec;35(12):1631-6. doi: 10.1097/00004583-199612000-00015. PMID: 8973070.

1992 The effects of nicotine plus haloperidol compared to nicotine only and placebo nicotine only in reducing tic severity and frequency in Tourette's disorder

• In this study, nicotine markedly potentiated haloperidol effects in treating TD, and showed lesser effects on TD when used alone.
• PDF Version
• Citation: McConville BJ, Sanberg PR, Fogelson MH, King J, Cirino P, Parker KW, Norman AB. The effects of nicotine plus haloperidol compared to nicotine only and placebo nicotine only in reducing tic severity and frequency in Tourette's disorder. Biol Psychiatry. 1992 Apr 15;31(8):832-40. doi: 10.1016/0006-3223(92)90315-q. PMID: 1643197.
• Acknowledgements: Supported in part by grants from the Smokeless Tobacco Research Council, Inc., the Tourette Syndrome Association, and Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals. The authors thank Roger Stuebing, B.S.M.E., M.S.I.E., and Sunny Y. Lu, M.D., Ph.D. for statistical advice and Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals for supplying both Nicoreue® gum and placebo nicotine gum.

1991 Beneficial effects of nicotine

• When chronically taken, nicotine may result in: protection against Tourette's disease (other diseases mentioned in study)
• PDF Version
• Citation: Jarvik ME. Beneficial effects of nicotine. Br J Addict. 1991 May;86(5):571-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1991.tb01810.x. PMID: 1859921.
• Acknowledgement: Supported by U. C. Tobacco-related Disease program, grant # RT87 and a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

1989 Nicotine and cannabinoids as adjuncts to neuroleptics in the treatment of tourette syndrome and other motor disorders

• Chewing nicotine gum produced striking relief from tics and other symptoms of Tourette syndrome not controlled by neuroleptic treatment alone. It appears that the use of nicotine or cannabinoids may greatly improve the clinical response to neuroleptics in motor disorders.
• PDF Version
• Citation: D.E. Moss, Patricia Z. Manderscheid, S.P. Montgomery, Andrew B. Norman, Paul R. Sanberg, Nicotine and cannabinoids as adjuncts to neuroleptics in the treatment of tourette syndrome and other motor disorders, Life Sciences, Volume 44, Issue 21, 1989, Pages 1521-1525, ISSN 0024-3205, doi.org/10.1016/0024-3205(89)90444-X.
• Acknowledgements: Supported in part by NIMH (RR 08012) and NIDA. Levonantradol and fluphenazine HCL were generous gifts from Pfizer Pharmaceuticals (Groton, Conn.) and E.R. Squibb and Sons (Princeton, N.J.), respectively.

Weight Loss / Appetite Control / Metabolism / Obesity

1991 Beneficial effects of nicotine

• When chronically taken, nicotine may result in reduction of body weight
• PDF version
• Citation: Jarvik ME. Beneficial effects of nicotine. Br J Addict. 1991 May;86(5):571-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1991.tb01810.x. PMID: 1859921.
• Acknowledgement: Supported by U. C. Tobacco-related Disease program, grant # RT87 and a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.