Nicotine is effective as a post-surgical pain reliever, according to researchers who presented their findings at a recent meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

HealthDay News reported Oct. 15 that Duke University researchers gave 7-mg nicotine patches to 90 non-smoking men who underwent prostate surgery. Those receiving the nicotine tended to self-administer less of a morphine painkilling IV drip than a group of men who didn't get the patch.

Scientists also reported few side-effects of administering nicotine to pain patients. However, others warned that nicotine is not a good treatment for chronic pain, and said it is still unclear just how nicotine works to dull pain.

Researchers said further study is needed on nicotine's painkilling effect on women and smokers.