Total iv MEQ were not significantly reduced during the PACU stay in patients receiving nicotine ( median [ interquartile range ( IQR ) ] , 5.3 [ 0 , 10.0 ] mg for nicotine vs. 5.2 [ 0 , 12.7 ] mg for placebo , one-tailed P = 0.414 ) or for the first 24 h following PACU discharge ( 39.6 [ 20.0 , 52.5 ] mg for nicotine vs. 32.7 [ 20.3 , 51.3 ] mg for placebo , one-tailed P = 0.752 ) .