Randomized, controlled trial of clonidine for smoking cessation in a primary care setting

Article Abstract:

Clonidine hydrochloride has been used to ease the withdrawal from the physiologic addiction to heroine and alcohol. Recent studies have suggested that clonidine may also be useful for ameliorating the withdrawal symptoms of tobacco addiction. Patients and staff were recruited from a family medicine center for the study; others who heard informally about the study were included if they met the requirements. Subjects were between 18 and 70 years of age and smoked at least one pack of 20 cigarettes per day. Pregnant women, individuals not able to read and write English and patients with high blood pressure (hypertension) treated with specific drugs (beta-blockers) were excluded from the study. All subjects met in small informal groups and were informed about clonidine. During the first week of the study, while continuing to smoke, the participants received either clonidine or an inert placebo. The dose of clonidine was gradually adjusted until a level of 0.2 mg twice a day was reached. One week later, the volunteers attended a meeting and discussed a pamphlet about smoking. The subjects quit smoking on the next day and continued to take either clonidine or placebo for three weeks. At four weeks, there was no significant difference between the placebo and clonidine-treated groups. The authors do not recommend clonidine to assist in cessation of cigarette smoking.

Care and treatment, Evaluation, Prevention, Smoking, Tobacco habit, Clonidine

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Dose-related effects of cigarette smoking on olfactory function

Article Abstract:

The sense of smell in man serves many useful functions: detecting environmental dangers, such as leaking gas, spoiled food, and smoke; determining the flavor of food and beverages; diagnosing certain nerve disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease; and providing some aesthetic pleasure. Although several studies have examined the relation between cigarette smoking and olfactory function (the ability to smell) the results of these studies are inconsistent. The effect of cigarette smoking on olfactory function was examined in 638 subjects, using the 40-odorant University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification test. Olfactory function was evaluated by the ability to identify correctly the source of certain odors. The results indicate that smoking decreases the ability to smell in both current and previous smokers. Among previous smokers, improvement in the ability to smell was associated with the duration of time after cessation of smoking habit. Current smokers were twice as likely to have disorders in smelling ability than persons who never smoked. Smoking seems to cause long-term but reversible effects on olfactory function. Previous studies which showed no relation between smoking and ability to smell may have included persons who previously smoked with nonsmoking subjects. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Analysis, Odors, Olfactometry

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