A nicotine patch is a transdermal patch

Transdermal patch

A transdermal patch is a medicated adhesive patch that is placed on the skin to deliver a specific dose of medication through the skin and into the bloodstream. Often, this promotes healing to an injured area of the body. An advantage of a transdermal drug delivery route over other types of...

 that releases nicotine

Nicotine

Nicotine is an alkaloid found in the nightshade family of plants that constitutes approximately 0.6–3.0% of the dry weight of tobacco, with biosynthesis taking place in the roots and accumulation occurring in the leaves...

 into the body through the skin. It is used as an aid in nicotine replacement therapy

Nicotine replacement therapy

Nicotine replacement therapy is the remedial administration of nicotine to the body by means other than tobacco, usually as part of smoking cessation. Common forms of nicotine replacement therapy are nicotine patches and nicotine gum...

 (NRT), a process for smoking cessation

Smoking cessation

Smoking cessation is the process of discontinuing the practice of inhaling a smoked substance. This article focuses exclusively on cessation of tobacco smoking; however, the methods described may apply to cessation of smoking other substances that can be difficult to stop using due to the...

. The first published study of the pharmacokinetics of a transdermal nicotine patch in humans was authored by Jed E. Rose, Ph.D., Murray E. Jarvik, M.D., Ph.D. and K. Daniel Rose, M.D., in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence (vol. 13, pp.209-213, 1984). This was followed by publication of results of a study of smokers showing that a transdermal nicotine patch reduced craving for cigarettes (Rose JE, Herskovic JE, Trilling Y and Jarvik ME, Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, vol. 38, pp. 450-456, 1985). The University of California filed a patent application in April, 1985 that was granted in 1991 (U.S. Patent #4,920,989). However, a competing patent application, filed by Dr. Frank T. Etscorn III, was issued on July 1, 1986 (U.S. Patent #4,597,961). Subsequently, the U.S. Patent Office declared an interference action and, on September 29, 1993, issued a priority decision in favor of the Rose et al. patent.

Efficacy

Dozens of clinical trials have shown that the patch approximately doubles success rates over placebo treatment [Fiore MC, Jaén CR, Baker TB, et al. Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update. Quick Reference Guide for Clinicians. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service. April 2009].

Alternate uses

Nicotine patches are under study to help relieve the symptoms of post-surgical pain.

See also

• Murray Jarvik
  Murray Jarvik
  Murray Elias Jarvik was an American psychopharmacologist and academic who was among the first scientists to study d-lysergic acid, the precursor to LSD, and later became the co-inventor of the nicotine patch...
  
  
• Smoking cessation
  Smoking cessation
  Smoking cessation is the process of discontinuing the practice of inhaling a smoked substance. This article focuses exclusively on cessation of tobacco smoking; however, the methods described may apply to cessation of smoking other substances that can be difficult to stop using due to the...
  
  
• Nicotine replacement therapy
  Nicotine replacement therapy
  Nicotine replacement therapy is the remedial administration of nicotine to the body by means other than tobacco, usually as part of smoking cessation. Common forms of nicotine replacement therapy are nicotine patches and nicotine gum...
  
  
• Nicotine lozenge
  Nicotine lozenge
  A nicotine lozenge is a tablet that contains a dose of nicotine which dissolves slowly in the mouth to release the nicotine. The nicotine is absorbed through the lining of the mouth and enters the blood vessels...
  
  
• Nicotine gum
  Nicotine gum
  Nicotine gum is a type of chewing gum that delivers nicotine to the body. It is used as an aid in nicotine replacement therapy , a process for smoking cessation and quitting smokeless tobacco. The nicotine is delivered to the bloodstream via absorption by the tissues of the mouth.It is currently...
  
  
• Transdermal patch
  Transdermal patch
  A transdermal patch is a medicated adhesive patch that is placed on the skin to deliver a specific dose of medication through the skin and into the bloodstream. Often, this promotes healing to an injured area of the body. An advantage of a transdermal drug delivery route over other types of...
  
  
• Nicoderm CQ