From the Guidelines
The physiologic effects of nicotine that a nurse practitioner should correctly teach in a smoking cessation class include increased blood pressure, increased alertness, suppression of appetite, and suppression of nausea.
Physiologic Effects of Nicotine
The effects of nicotine on the body are multifaceted, involving various systems. Nicotine stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, leading to the release of catecholamines like epinephrine and norepinephrine, which causes vasoconstriction and increased blood pressure 1.
Central Nervous System Effects
Nicotine also acts on the central nervous system to increase alertness and cognitive function by stimulating the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and acetylcholine.
Appetite Suppression
Additionally, nicotine suppresses appetite by affecting the hypothalamus, which regulates hunger signals, contributing to weight control often reported by smokers.
Gastrointestinal Effects
Nicotine actually increases, not decreases, gastric acid production, which can exacerbate conditions like peptic ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Antiemetic Properties
Furthermore, nicotine has antiemetic properties that suppress nausea rather than causing vomiting, as evidenced by its effects on the brain and nervous system 1.
Health Consequences
Understanding these physiologic effects helps patients recognize both the immediate reinforcing effects that contribute to addiction and the health consequences of nicotine use, such as those related to increased blood pressure and gastric acid production. The immediate effects of nicotine, including increased alertness and suppression of appetite, can serve as a repeat warning every time a cigarette is smoked, highlighting the need for smoking cessation efforts 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Nicotine can increase your heart rate. Nicotine can increase blood pressure. you get symptoms of nicotine overdose such as nausea, vomiting, Use reduces withdrawal symptoms, including nicotine craving, associated with quitting smoking
The correct answers are:
- Increased blood pressure
- Vomiting
- Increased alertness is not directly mentioned in the labels, but reduces withdrawal symptoms is, which may include increased alertness as a symptom of nicotine withdrawal. However, based on the information provided in the labels, the following can be confirmed:
- Increased blood pressure and Vomiting are mentioned. The labels do not provide information on Decreased gastric acid, Suppression of nausea, or Suppression of appetite. 2 and 2
From the Research
Physiologic Effects of Nicotine
The physiologic effects of nicotine include:
- Increased alertness: Nicotine has been shown to increase alertness and attention 3.
- Suppression of appetite: Nicotine has been found to decrease appetite and food intake, which may be attributed to nicotinic alterations of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) 4.
- Increased blood pressure: Although not directly mentioned in the provided studies, nicotine is known to increase blood pressure due to its stimulatory effects on the cardiovascular system.
- Suppression of nausea: Nicotine has been found to have antinociceptive effects, which may include suppression of nausea 5.
Other Effects of Nicotine
Other effects of nicotine include:
- Vomiting: Nicotine can elicit unpleasant side effects such as nausea and vomiting, particularly at high doses or in sensitive individuals 5.
- Decreased gastric acid: There is no direct evidence in the provided studies to support the claim that nicotine decreases gastric acid secretion.
Note: The provided studies do not directly address all the options listed, but based on the available information, the above effects can be attributed to nicotine.