30.l. Mecamylamine and the Patch
Description
This article is from the Stop Smoking FAQ, by 70424.57@compuserve.com with numerous contributions by others.
30.l. Mecamylamine and the Patch
Another drug being tested in conjunction with the nicotine replacement
patch for use in smoking cessation is mecamylamine, a prescription drug
frequently prescribed for high blood pressure. A detailed summary of the
original controlled study, see Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. Vol. 56 no. 1 pp.
86-99; also available on the Internet from the Medline page. Here's the
short, layman's version: Source: The Mirkin Report #6455 (online)
"Jed Rose of Duke University has discovered that 6 weeks of taking a
nicotine skin patch with mecamylamine pills, a drug that blocks the effects
of nicotine, helped more than one third of smokers to stop smoking one year
later. In high doses, both nicotine and mecamylamine have horrible side
effects. High doses of nicotine cause high blood pressure, a fast thumping
heart beat and shakiness. High doses of mecamylamine cause shakiness,
dizziness, fainting, constipation and even convulsions. However, when the
two drugs are combined in low doses, people trying to stop smoking seldom
suffered side effects and many were not smoking one year later. The
recommended doses were standard nicotine skin patches daily and 2.5 mg of
mecamylamine twice a day."
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