A randomised double-blind crossover trial of the potential analgesic effect of a transdermal nicotine patch in non-smokers based on objective and subjective assessment

What Was Tested

This randomized controlled trial paper looks at Therapeutic nicotine (patch, non-peptide).

The results of studies of the analgesic effect of nicotine in humans are complex because these studies have included smokers with variable smoking histories.

The researchers measured minimum perceived current and pain threshold on the right hand and then evaluated the magnitude of pressure pain by using the Pain Vision PS-2100 (Nipro Co., Osaka, Japan) which helps in objective quantitative assessment of pain magnitude.

Who Took Part

The age groups tagged for this paper are adults, both men and women.

A TDN patch or placebo (drug-free bandage) was applied randomly on the anterior chest of non-smoking volunteers 1 h before the experiments.

At the same time, volunteers were asked to rate pain on a numerical rating scale (NRS).

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover study.

The participants were allocated by chance, so the Therapeutic nicotine (patch, non-peptide) group and the comparison group should start out alike.

As a double-blind Therapeutic nicotine (patch, non-peptide) study, the assignments were hidden from both participants and investigators until the end.

Some participants received a placebo instead of Therapeutic nicotine (patch, non-peptide), giving a reference point.

Each person switched between Therapeutic nicotine (patch, non-peptide) and the comparison at some point, usually with a gap in between.

This was a randomised double-blind crossover trial.

After estimating minimum perceived current, pressure pain was produced using a combination of 100-g discs and a rod.

Pain threshold is the compatible electrode current at which the volunteer feels the intensity of pressure pain.

Pain degree is calculated as (pain threshold-minimum perceived current)/minimum perceived current × 100.

Forty non-smoking volunteers were enrolled in this study.

What Was Measured

PubMed files the paper under topics including Administration, Cutaneous, Nausea, Nicotine, Nicotinic Agonists, Pain, Pain Measurement and Pain Threshold.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Therapeutic nicotine (patch, non-peptide).

The abstract goes on to report its results in about 3 sentences; this page does not restate them, so read the paper for the findings and their limits.

The publication is from 2011 (European journal of anaesthesiology), a journal based in England.

More context: the Therapeutic nicotine (patch, non-peptide) compound page, all human trials.