The role of nicotine as a determinant of cigarette smoking frequency in man with observations of certain cardiovascular effects associated with the tobacco alkaloid
The effect of intravenously administered nicotine upon smoking behavior was studied in smokers who were unaware of the nature of the administered drug and the true purpose of the study. Smoking behavior was not altered significantly when nicotine was administered in a dose of 1 mg. per hour for 6 hours. A significant decrease in smoking frequency was obtained when nicotine was administered at the rate of 2 to 4 mg. per hour. Recordings of systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and the elect1"Ocardiogram indicate that the physiological alterations in these parameters produced by smoking can be reproduced by parenteral nicotine.