TRANSDERMAL NICOTINE AND DRUG CRAVING

The authors observed the effect of transdermally administered nicotine on the drug craving of 15 patients with nicotine dependence and recen t cocaine abuse. Transdermal nicotine and placebo patches were applied in a cross-over, double-blind design, and outcome was assessed by vis ual analog scales to measure drug craving Nicotine patches significant ly reduced craving for cigarettes without affecting cigarette use. The re was a nonsignificant trend for nicotine patches to reduce cocaine c raving more than placebo patches.