What is the major nicotine metabolite?

Unlock all questions

This demo includes only 20 questions. Upgrade to access hundreds of questions, flashcards, exam simulations, and disable ads.

Full question bankExam simulationsFlashcards
From $24.99Unlock all

Prepare for the Nicotine Dependence Drugs Test with challenging questions and detailed explanations. Master the subject with flashcards, quizzes, and in-depth knowledge. Get ready to succeed!

Multiple Choice

What is the major nicotine metabolite?

Explanation:
Nicotine is quickly processed in the liver, mainly by the enzyme CYP2A6, converting it to cotinine. This pathway yields cotinine in large amounts, and cotinine stays in the body much longer than nicotine—its half-life is around a day. That combination of high production and prolonged presence makes cotinine the dominant nicotine metabolite and the standard biomarker for tobacco exposure. Other nicotine-derived compounds, like nornicotine and anabasine, appear in smaller amounts, and nicotine itself is cleared relatively fast, so it isn’t the major metabolite.

Nicotine is quickly processed in the liver, mainly by the enzyme CYP2A6, converting it to cotinine. This pathway yields cotinine in large amounts, and cotinine stays in the body much longer than nicotine—its half-life is around a day. That combination of high production and prolonged presence makes cotinine the dominant nicotine metabolite and the standard biomarker for tobacco exposure. Other nicotine-derived compounds, like nornicotine and anabasine, appear in smaller amounts, and nicotine itself is cleared relatively fast, so it isn’t the major metabolite.

More Multiple Choice Questions
Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy