Nicotine potentiates the effects of haloperidol in animals and in patients with Tourette syndrome.
Nicotine was found to markedly potentiate haloperidol-induced hypokinesia in rats. Nicotine alone was without effect. Subsequently, concurrent administration of 2 mg nicotine gum to 10 Tourette syndrome patients being treated with haloperidol produced a substantial decrease in tics and improvement of concentration and attention span. Nicotine gum alone was without effect. While 80% of children showed improvement with nicotine gum, 70% completely discontinued the gum because of side-effects, primarily involving nausea and bitter taste. Nicotine may prove useful for treating other neuroleptic responsive disorders, such as schizophrenia and Huntington's disease.
Sanberg
P R
PR
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH 45267-0559.
McConville
B J
BJ
Fogelson
H M
HM
Manderscheid
P Z
PZ
Parker
K W
KW
Blythe
M M
MM
Klykylo
W M
WM
Norman
A B
AB
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002375:Catalepsy / Q000139:chemically induced; D002638:Chewing Gum; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013981:Tic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology
D002638:Chewing Gum; D009538:Nicotine; D006220:Haloperidol