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Transdermal nicotine for Tourette's syndrome
Author(s) -
Shytle R. Doug,
Silver Archie A.,
Philipp Mary Katherine,
McConville Brian J.,
Sanberg Paul R.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
drug development research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.582
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1098-2299
pISSN - 0272-4391
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2299(199607/08)38:3/4<290::aid-ddr18>3.0.co;2-2
Subject(s) - nicotine , transdermal , tics , tourette syndrome , haloperidol , medicine , anesthesia , drug , psychology , pharmacology , psychiatry , dopamine
The present review evaulates the therapeutic response to the transdermal nicotine patch (TNP) in Tourette's syndrome (TS) patients. Twenty TS patients (17 children and adolescents, 3 adults), in 18 of whom tic symptoms were not controlled with neuroleptics and 2 of whom were free of medication, were followed for various lenghts of time following the application of two TPs (each 7mg/24 hours). While there was a broad range in individual response, it was determined that each application of a single TNP produced a significant reduction in Yale Global Tic Severity Scale mean scores for an average duration of approximately 1 to 2 weeks post‐application. Individual case reports are discusssed as well as the possible therapeutic mechanisms of transdermal nicotine in reducing the symptoms of TS. Although our data should be viewed as preliminary until controlled studies are completed, the present open‐trial findings suggest that transdermal nicotine is an effective adjunct to neuroleptic theraphy of TS. Drug Dev. Res. 38:290–298. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.