Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Spectral Confocal Imaging of Fluorescently tagged Nicotinic Receptors in Knock-in Mice with Chronic Nicotine Administration
Published on: February 10, 2012
[Nicotine. Influence on sleep and its relevance for psychiatry and psychotherapy]
A Jähne1, S Cohrs, A Rodenbeck
1Abteilung für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Freiburg, Deutschland. andreas.jaehne@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Background:
Nicotine, by its impact on several neurotransmitter systems, influences sleep. Sleep disturbance is a common symptom in different psychiatric disorders and there is a high prevalence of smoking in psychiatric patients.
Methods:
Systematic literature search.
Results:
Symptoms of insomnia are observed during nicotine consumption and its withdrawal. The effects of therapeutic nicotine substitution after smoking cessation on sleep are often masked by withdrawal symptoms. Depressive non-smokers experience an improvement of mood under nicotine administration and in turn, depressive symptoms and sleep impairment during nicotine withdrawal have a negative impact on abstinence rates.
Conclusion:
Sleep disturbance is a comorbid risk factor influencing abstinence during smoking cessation. In depressive patients the complex relationship between affect, sleep, nicotine consumption and its withdrawal should be carefully monitored. In such subgroups of smokers willing to quit this has to be taken care of in therapeutic interventions.
Related Concept Videos
Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Stimulants
Ganglionic stimulants activate NM nicotinic receptors in autonomic ganglia, falling into two categories: nicotine mimetics [e.g., lobeline, dimethylpiperazine, tetramethylammonium] and muscarinic receptor agonists [e.g., muscarine, methacholine]. The first category's action is rapid and blocked by nicotinic receptor antagonists, while the second category's action is delayed and blocked by atropine-like agents. Nicotine, an alkaloid, affects the heart rate by stimulating sympathetic or...
CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
Management of Insomnia
Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview
Sedative-hypnotics are categorized into barbiturates, benzodiazepines (BZDs), and non-benzodiazepines or Z-drugs. These drugs work by suppressing central nervous system activity, and this suppression is dose-dependent. Older sedative medications, like barbiturates, follow a linear curve in...
