Scientists probe the mechanics of E-Cigarette withdrawal to find better quit strategies
NCT ID NCT06066996
First seen Jul 15, 2026 · Last updated Jul 16, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study investigates what happens when exclusive e-cigarette users stop vaping, focusing on withdrawal symptoms like cravings, mood changes, and sleep disruption. Researchers will give participants either a nicotine patch or a placebo patch to see how nicotine affects these symptoms. The goal is to better understand the withdrawal process and identify targets for future treatments.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- transdermal nicotine patch or placebo patch
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this research could identify specific targets for helping people quit e-cigarettes by managing withdrawal symptoms.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-phase study focused on understanding withdrawal, not testing a treatment. Results may not lead to practical interventions.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Early phase 1
The earliest testing in people: a first look at safety, in a very small group.
- Participants
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About 150 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Nov 2023
- Expected to finish
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Jun 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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21 to 55 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion criteria: 1. 21-55 years old 2. good general health as reviewed by study medical team 3. vital signs in normal range as reviewed by study medical team 4. negative urine test for illicit drug use (excluding THC) and negative breath alcohol test 5. daily use of a nicotine-containing e-cigarette for at least 6 months 6. no regular use of other tobacco products (e.g., smokeless products) for at least 6 months 7. urine cotinine \>100ng/mL (i.e., recommended cutoff for confirming current nicotine use) 8. exhaled breath carbon monoxide (CO) \<6ppm 9. Penn State E-cigarette Dependence (PSED) score \>=4, indicating mild dependence or greater 10. have an interest in reducing e-cigarette use Exclusion criteria: 1. psychoactive drug use (aside from cannabis, nicotine, alcohol, caffeine) in past month 2. current use of over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medications that may impact safety 3. use cannabis \>2 times per week 4. history of or current significant medical condition that would impact participation or safety according to the study investigators and medical staff 5. current psychiatric condition or substance use disorder (aside from tobacco use disorder) that would impact participation or safety according to the study investigators and medical staff 6. enrollment in another trial 7. positive pregnancy test 8. currently using a nicotine/tobacco cessation product 9. seizure disorder or traumatic brain injury (TBI)
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit
RECRUITINGBaltimore, Maryland, 21224, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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