Do adolescent smokers experience withdrawal effects when deprived of nicotine?

Abstract

This is the first controlled prospective study of the effects of nicotine deprivation in adolescent smokers. Heart rate and subjective withdrawal symptoms were measured over an 8-hr period while participants smoked normally. Seven days later, participants were randomized to wear a 15-mg (16-hr) nicotine patch or a placebo patch for 8 hr, and they refrained from smoking during the session. Those wearing the placebo experienced a decrease in heart rate across sessions and an increase in subjective measures of nicotine withdrawal. Those wearing the active patch also reported significant increases for some subjective symptoms. Expectancy effects were also observed. The findings indicate that adolescent smokers experience subjective and objective changes when deprived of nicotine. As in previous research with adults, expectancies concerning the effects of nicotine replacement also influenced perceptions of withdrawal.

Altered reward value of carbohydrate snacks for female smokers withdrawn from nicotine

“…Increased carbohydrate snacking, which elevates brain tryptophan influx and serotonin synthesis (Fernstrom and Wurtman, 1971) may represent a form of substance selfadministration that is reinforced by positive mood changes (Spring et al, 1987). Consistent with that interpretation are findings indicating that dysphoric mood and carbohydrate snacking during nicotine withdrawal are reduced by agents that enhance serotonergic neurotransmission (Bowen et al, 1991;Covey et al, 2002;Killen et al, 2001;Spring et al, 199 1).…”

Withdrawal from chronic nicotine in adolescent and adult rats

“…Additionally, Killen et al (2001) recently reported that nicotine replacement therapy fails to attenuate withdrawal symptoms in adolescents, findings that contrast with reports of the effectiveness of these treatment approaches in adults (Rose et al, 1985;Fagerstrom et al, 1993).…”

“…Moreover, it remains to be seen whether the elevated cotinine levels during withdrawal in the adolescent rats in the present experiment would also be seen in human adolescents. To the extent that elevated cotinine is also evident during withdrawal in human adolescents, however, this could contribute to the general failure of nicotine replacement therapy to reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms in adolescent smokers (Killen et al, 2001). …”

Effects of Acute Tobacco Abstinence in Adolescent Smokers Compared with Nonsmokers

“…The efficacy of nicotine patch treatment, which is known to be effective for smoking cessation in adult smokers, has been less conclusively established with adolescent smokers [12,13,14]. Moreover, Killen et al have demonstrated that administration of the nicotine patch did not prevent development of all nicotine withdrawal symptoms in adolescents [7]. Preclinical studies indicate that nicotine use resulted in differential patterns of changes in both behavioral and brain development/synaptic function outcomes in adolescent compared with adult rats [15] and that these differences extend to the evaluation of nicotine withdrawal [16].…”

“…Prospective studies of tobacco abstinence in adolescent smokers which suggest that these young smokers experience increases in subjective withdrawal symptoms and changes in objective physiological responses associated with tobacco deprivation (i.e. increases in craving, anxiety, and restlessness, and decrease in heart rate) [7]. Adolescents trying to quit smoking frequently report urges to smoke, irritability, and difficulty concentrating [8].…”