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Additive cardiovascular effects of nicotine and ethanol
Author(s) -
Benowitz Neal L,
Jones Reese T,
Jacob Peyton
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1038/clpt.1986.200
Subject(s) - nicotine , ethanol , heart rate , blood pressure , pharmacology , vasoconstriction , medicine , rate pressure product , anesthesia , cardiology , chemistry , biochemistry
Ethanol and tobacco consumption are commonly associated. Both are risk factors for adverse cardiovascular events. To better understand the interactions, the influence of oral ethanol pretreatment (0.5 or 1.0 gm/kg over 60 minutes) on cardiovascular responses to and disposition kinetics of intravenous nicotine was studied in healthy volunteers. Ethanol increased heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and pressure‐rate product in a dose‐related manner. Nicotine had additive effects on heart rate and pressure‐rate product. It also decreased skin temperature, reflecting cutaneous vasoconstriction, but this effect was antagonized by ethanol. Ethanol did not affect metabolic clearance but increased CL R of nicotine by 25%. Additive cardiovascular effects of ethanol and nicotine could contribute to arrhythmias and sudden death in patients with coronary heart disease. It is unlikely that an effect of ethanol on nicotine metabolism is responsible for increased cigarette smoking while drinking ethanol. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1986) 40, 420–424; doi: 10.1038/clpt.1986.200