Caffeine antagonizes EEG effects of tobacco withdrawal

Six current cigarette smokers and coffee drinkers were given combinations of 0, 150, or 300 mg caffeine and 0, 2, or 4 mg nicotine polacrilex following 12-h nicotine and caffeine abstinence. On one study day, subjects were allowed to smoke cigarettes and to drink caffeinated beverages and no drugs were given. Tobacco and caffeine abstinence impaired performance on the serial addition/subtraction and digit recall tasks; decreased scores on the MBG scale and ratings of "clear-headed" and "quick-witted"; and increased ratings of "irritability," "muscular tension," "headache," "drowsy," "clumsy," "feeble," and "dreamy." The deprivation caused characteristic EEG signs of nicotine withdrawal including increased theta power and decreased alpha frequency. These EEG effects were reversed by cigarette smoking and caffeine administration, but nicotine polacrilex was less effective. Deprivation-induced performance and subjective measures were not changed by administration of nicotine and caffeine combinations.