Study on E-cigarette Withdrawal and Nicotine Patches

This study is looking at how people experience withdrawal when they stop using e-cigarettes, and how nicotine might play a role. Researchers are testing two types of patches: a Transdermal Nicotine Patch (which contains nicotine) and a Placebo Nicotine Patch (which does not contain nicotine). They want to see how these patches affect withdrawal symptoms. You might be able to join if you are between 21 and 55 years old, in good general health, and have used nicotine-containing e-cigarettes daily for at least six months. The study will measure changes in withdrawal symptoms, urges to use e-cigarettes, and your mood to understand the effects. The current status of this study is unclear, and it plans to enroll 150 participants.

Study design
This is an interventional study with 150 planned participants. It uses a residential laboratory design where participants are assigned to one of three conditions: active nicotine patch, placebo patch, or no patch.
What's involved
You would stay in a residential unit for seven days (1 week) and stop using e-cigarettes. Measurements of withdrawal symptoms, urges, and mood will be taken at baseline and every 4 hours up to 16 hours.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Not specified.

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NCT06066996

Evaluation of the Electronic Cigarette Withdrawal Syndrome

Recruiting
EARLY_PHASE1Ages 21–55InterventionalBasic science
Johns Hopkins University
~150 participants
Updated 2026-07-15 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Transdermal Nicotine PatchPlacebo Nicotine Patch

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in Hughes-Hatsukami Withdrawal Scale
Measured over Baseline, every 4 hours up to 16 hours
+7 more outcomes measured
E-cigarette Use
Withdrawal
1 sites across 1 states
Maryland1
  • Justin Strickland, Ph.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Johns Hopkins University

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  • Change in Hughes-Hatsukami Withdrawal ScaleBaseline, every 4 hours up to 16 hours

    The Hughes-Hatsukami Withdrawal Scale consists of 13 items presented individually on a 100mm visual analog scale. Higher scores reflect higher withdrawal (worse outcome) \[range 0-32\]. Measures are taken at baseline, 8am, 12pm, 4pm, and 8pm every day during the seven day residential stay.

  • Change in Smoking urges as assessed by the Tiffany-Drobes Questionnaire of Smoking Urges (QSU) BriefBaseline, every 4 hours up to 16 hours

    The Tiffany-Drobes QSU Brief consists of ten items, each presented on the screen as a phrase centered above seven boxes ranging from (strongly disagree) to (strongly agree). Higher scores reflect higher withdrawal (worse outcome) \[range 0-70\]. Measures are taken at baseline, 8am, 12pm, 4pm, and 8pm every day during the seven day residential stay.

  • Change in Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)Baseline, every 4 hours up to 16 hours

    The PANAS consists of 20 items presented individually on a five-point Likert scale. Higher scores reflect more positive affect and negative affect \[range 0-50\]. Measures are taken at baseline, 8am, 12pm, 4pm, and 8pm every day during the seven day residential stay.

  • Change in Conners' Continuous Performance Task (CPT)Baseline, every 4 hours up to 16 hours

    On the CPT, participants respond to single letters appearing on their computer screen but are asked to refrain from responding to a specified letter(i.e., the letter X). Higher scores reflect more inattention. Measures are taken at baseline, 8am, 12pm, 4pm, and 8pm every day during the seven day residential stay.

  • Change in Memory as assessed by the N-BackBaseline, every 4 hours up to 16 hours

    On the n-back, participants decide whether each stimulus in a sequence matches the one that appeared "n" items ago. Higher scores reflect more accuracy. Measures are taken at baseline, 8am, 12pm, 4pm, and 8pm every day during the seven day residential stay.

  • Total sleep timeNightly up to seven days

    Total time sleeping in minutes measured using actigraphy and unobtrusive EEG.

  • Total time spent in Rapid eye movement (REM) sleepNightly up to seven days

    Total time sleeping in minutes in REM stage measured using actigraphy and unobtrusive EEG.

  • Wake after sleep onset (WASO)Nightly up to seven days

    Total number of minutes that a person is awake after having initially fallen asleep measured using actigraphy and unobtrusive EEG.