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Pharmacotherapeutic group: Drug used in nicotine dependence. ATC Code: N07B A01.
Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics: A sudden stop of smoking for long term smokers will experience the following withdrawal symptoms: urge or craving to smoke, dysphoria or depressed mood, insomnia, irritability, frustration or aggression, anxiety, difficulty in concentrating, restlessness or impatience, reduced heart rate, increased appetite or increase in weight, dizziness, cough, constipation, gum bleeding or mouth ulcers or swelling of the nasal passages and the back of the throat.
Clinical studies have shown that nicotine replacement products can help smokers quit or reduce their smoking by helping these withdrawal symptoms.
Patch treatment mimics the fluctuations of nicotine over the day in smokers, with no nicotine administration during sleep. Daytime nicotine patch treatment does not give the nicotine induced sleep disturbances seen with nicotine administration during sleep.
Pharmacokinetics: All patches are labelled by the average amount of nicotine absorbed by the average patient over 16 hours. The maximum level of plasma concentration after administration is reached after approximately 9 hours with the plasma peak is in the afternoon/evening when the risk of relapse is highest. The major eliminating organ is the liver. Progressive severity of renal impairment is associated with decreased total clearance of nicotine.
