Tobacco

The
Pharmacological
Facts
Dr. Zulfiqar-Ul-Hassan
Assistant Professor
Department of Pharmacology
Lahore Medical & Dental College
 Tobacco
Tobacco has many ingredients

There are two Natural alkaloids

which are important 1.Nicotine 2.
Lobeline

There are 4000 other chemicals in

tobacco smoke of which 50 are
carcinogenic
 Nicotine
Nicotine is obtained from
leaves of Tobacco Nicotiana
tobacum.

It was first isolated by

Pesselt and Reiman in 1828
AD.
 Pharmacokinetics of
Nicotine
 Rapidlyabsorbed from
Respiratory tract, Buccal
mucosa and Skin.

 Average cigarette contains 8

to 9 milligram of Nicotine and
delivers 1 milligram
systemically to smokers.
 Pharmacokinetics of
Nicotine
80 to 90 percent of
Nicotine is altered in
body by liver, Kidney
and Lungs.

Significant portion is
 Pharmacokinetics of
nicotine

Half Life is two Hours.

Eliminated by Kidney.
 Pharmacological Actions
 It stimulates CNS followed by
depression

 In toxic doses death can occur due

to central paralysis.

 Stimulates sympathetic ganglia,

adrenal medulla causing increased
discharge of catacholamines.
 Pharmacological Actions
 In
GIT the stimulation is
parasympathetic combined
with sympathetic discharge,
produces nausea, vomiting
and diarrhea

 Salivary and bronchial

secretions are increased due
to irritant smoke.
 Tobacco Abuse
 Mostinfluential dependence
producing drug

 Highfailure rate amongst smoker

who try to quit smoking

 80% smokers express a desire to quit

 35% try to stop each year

 5% are successful in unaided

attempts to quit
 Tobacco Addiction
 Cigarette addiction is influenced by
multiple variables

 Nicotine produces reinforcement

 Itproduces central nervous system

effects in less than seven seconds

 Nicotinehas both stimulant and

depressant effects
 Tobacco Addiction
 Smoker feels alert and some muscle
relaxation

 Bloodlevels could disrupt the sleep

and the person can wake up during
the midnight

 Depressed mood is associated with

nicotine dependence but reason is
not known
 Withdrawal Symptoms of
Tobacco
 Irritability
 Impatience
 Hostility
 Anxiety
 Dysphoric and depressed mood
 Difficult in concentration
 Restlessness
 Decreased heart rate
 Increased appetite or weight gain
Treatment of the withdrawal
 Nicotine replacement

 Clonidine

 Fluoxetine
Thank You