Effects of transdermal nicotine on symptoms, moods, and cardiovascular activity in the everyday lives of smokers and nonsmokers with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to test the self-medication hypothesis by examining the effects of nicotine in the everyday lives of smokers and nonsmokers with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Fifty-two adults with ADHD (25 abstinent smokers and 27 nonsmokers) participated in a double-blind placebo controlled study with one nicotine patch condition and one placebo patch condition in counterbalanced order. Each condition continued for two consecutive days in which patches were administered each morning. The effects of nicotine on ADHD symptoms, moods, and side effects were assessed with electronic diaries. Cardiovascular activity was recorded with ambulatory blood pressure monitors and physical activity was monitored with actigraphs. Nicotine reduced reports of ADHD symptoms by 8% and negative moods by 9%, independent of smoking status. In addition, nicotine increased cardiovascular activity during the first 3 to 6 hours after nicotine patch administration. The results support the self-medication hypothesis for nicotine in adults with ADHD and suggest that smoking cessation and prevention efforts for individuals with ADHD will need to address both the symptom reducing and mood enhancing effects of nicotine.

Effects of nicotine on attention and inhibitory control in healthy nonsmokers.

“…Nicotine increased heart rate and mean arterial pressure to levels that are comparable to previous studies (Gehricke et al, 2009), and it increased reports of feeling a drug effect and disliking the drug effect. These measures increased within 60 min, and then decreased over the course of the session (Fig.…”

Environmental and Genetic Influences in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and its Comorbidities

“…Some authors find an association mainly between the HI subtype with SUD (76,79,80); others identified more SUD in the combined (CO) subtype (81). The IN subtype has mainly been associated with increased nicotine dependence (82)(83)(84)(85). However, more recently, a large epidemiological study of retrospectively recorded childhood/adolescent ADHD symptoms found no significant differences between the three ADHD subtypes and risk for SUD in adults (86).…”

Targeting the Nicotinic Cholinergic System to Treat Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Rationale and Progress to Date

“…Gehricke and colleagues [42] conducted a larger study in smokers (n=52) and non-smokers (n=27) with ADHD using an e-diary to collect self-ratings of ADHD symptoms. Subjects were treated for two days with double-blind 7 mg nicotine/placebo patch.…”