Effect of Nicotine on Chronic Pelvic Pain

Effect of Nicotine on Chronic Pelvic Pain

The purpose of this study is to test whether transdermal nicotine reduces pain among women with chronic pelvic pain.

Potential subjects are female non-smokers presenting to their physicians for treatment of chronic pelvic pain. When consented, the subjects fill out a questionnaire on demographic information and pain experience. The trial is conducted at home over three days. Each subject uses three different levels of nicotine (0mg, 5mg, and 10mg) administered in a random order; the study is double-blinded and patients act as their own controls. Subjects apply the placebo or nicotine patches in the morning and remove them in the evening when they fill out a pain diary for the day. During the study, patients will continue their typical course of pain medication and report pain medication use in the pain diary.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Chronic pelvic pain
• Aged 18-60 years
• Female

Exclusion Criteria:

• Uncontrolled hypertension
• Cardiovascular disease
• Current analgesic abuse
• Pregnancy
• Current usage of nicotine patch or gum
• Allergy to adhesive tape