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Increasing progesterone levels are associated with smoking abstinence among free-cycling women smokers who receive brief pharmacotherapy.

ABSTRACT: Preclinical and human laboratory research suggests that (a) progesterone may decrease drug reward, craving, and smoking behavior, and (b) estradiol may enhance drug reward and smoking behavior. A modest majority of treatment research examining the relationship between menstrual cycle phase and outcomes suggests that the luteal menstrual phase, with its uniquely higher progesterone levels, is associated with better cessation outcomes. However, no studies to date have examined the effects of naturally occurring variation in progesterone and estradiol levels on medication-assisted smoking cessation. The present study sought to fill this notable gap in the treatment literature.Weekly plasma progesterone and estradiol levels were obtained from nicotine-dependent female smokers enrolled in a 4-week cessation trial. Participants (N = 108) were randomized to receive a 4-week course of either varenicline (VAR) tablets and placebo patches or placebo tablets and nicotine patches. Plasma samples were obtained 1 week before their cessation attempt and weekly during medication administration. Abstinence was assessed weekly.Weekly hormone data replicated commonly observed menstrual cycle patterns of progesterone and estradiol levels. Importantly, increases in progesterone level were associated with a 23% increase in the odds for being abstinent within each week of treatment. This effect was driven primarily by nicotine patch-treated versus VAR-treated females.This study was the first to identify an association between progesterone level (increasing) and abstinence outcomes in free-cycling women smokers who participated in a medication-based treatment. Furthermore, the potential benefits of progesterone may vary across different pharmacotherapies. Implications of these findings for smoking cessation intervention are discussed.

SUBMITTER: Saladin ME

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4432400 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Increasing progesterone levels are associated with smoking abstinence among free-cycling women smokers who receive brief pharmacotherapy.

Saladin Michael E ME McClure Erin A EA Baker Nathaniel L NL Carpenter Matthew J MJ Ramakrishnan Viswanathan V Hartwell Karen J KJ Gray Kevin M KM

Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco 20150401 4

<h4>Introduction</h4>Preclinical and human laboratory research suggests that (a) progesterone may decrease drug reward, craving, and smoking behavior, and (b) estradiol may enhance drug reward and smoking behavior. A modest majority of treatment research examining the relationship between menstrual cycle phase and outcomes suggests that the luteal menstrual phase, with its uniquely higher progesterone levels, is associated with better cessation outcomes. However, no studies to date have examined ...[more]

PMID: 25762749

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Project description:IntroductionAlthough exogenous progesterone may hold promise as a treatment for nicotine use disorders, it is unclear whether it is similarly effective in males and females. This study examined the effects of progesterone on nicotine use disorder comprehensively using behavioral, psychological, and neural measures in male and female smokers exposed to brief abstinence.Aims and methodsThirty-three male and 33 female non-treatment-seeking smokers participated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study of 200 mg of progesterone or placebo daily over a four-day abstinence period. Smoking behavior and subjective effects of nicotine were assessed at baseline and after final drug administration. Nicotine withdrawal, smoking urges, mood states, and neural response to smoking cues were measured at baseline, after the first drug administration, and after the final drug administration.ResultsNo main effect of drug (progesterone vs. placebo) emerged for any outcome. Significant sex by drug interactions emerged for nicotine withdrawal (p = .020), perceived strength of nicotine (p = .040), and perceived bad effects of nicotine (p = .029). Males receiving progesterone reported worse nicotine withdrawal (p = .046) and a trend towards decreased bad effects of nicotine (p = .070). Males on progesterone also reported greater tension and anxiety relative to placebo (p = .021). Females on progesterone perceived nicotine's effects as being stronger relative to placebo (p = .046).ConclusionsProgesterone causes sex-dependent effects on smoking-related outcomes during brief abstinence. Specifically, progesterone in males may increase rather than decrease nicotine withdrawal and negative affect during abstinence, potentially hindering efforts to quit smoking.ImplicationsIn male and female smokers undergoing a brief period of abstinence, we examined the effects of progesterone on smoking outcomes. While progesterone had limited effects in female smokers, in males, it worsened nicotine withdrawal and negative affect. Our findings emphasize the importance of analyzing sex differences in future studies examining progesterone as a potential treatment and suggest that progesterone in males could potentially exacerbate aspects of nicotine dependence.Clinicaltrials.gov registrationNCT01954966. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01954966.

Project description:Introduction:Three-quarters of homeless people smoke cigarettes. Financial incentives for smoking abstinence have appeared promising in nonexperimental studies of homeless smokers, but randomized controlled trial (RCT) data are lacking. Methods:We conducted a pilot RCT of financial incentives for homeless smokers. Incentive arm participants (N = 25) could earn escalating $15-$35 rewards for brief smoking abstinence (exhaled carbon monoxide <8 parts per million) assessed 14 times over 8 weeks. Control arm participants (N = 25) were given $10 at each assessment regardless of abstinence. All participants were offered nicotine patches and counseling. The primary outcome was a repeated measure of brief smoking abstinence across 14 assessments. The secondary outcome was brief abstinence at 8 weeks. Exploratory outcomes were self-reported 1-day and 7-day abstinence from (1) any cigarette and (2) any puff of a cigarette. Other outcomes included 24-hour quit attempts, nicotine patch use, counseling attendance, and changes in alcohol and drug use. Results:Compared to control, incentive arm participants were more likely to achieve brief abstinence overall (odds ratio 7.28, 95% confidence interval 2.89 to 18.3) and at 8 weeks (48% vs. 8%, p = .004). Similar effects were seen for 1-day abstinence, but 7-day puff abstinence was negligible in both arms. Incentive arm participants made more quit attempts (p = .03). Nicotine patch use and counseling attendance were not significantly different between the groups. Alcohol and drug use did not change significantly in either group. Conclusions:Among homeless smokers, financial incentives increased brief smoking abstinence and quit attempts without worsening substance use. This approach merits further development focused on promoting sustained abstinence. Registration:ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02565381). Implications:Smoking is common among homeless people, and conventional tobacco treatment strategies have yielded modest results in this population. This pilot RCT suggests that financial incentives may be a safe way to promote brief smoking abstinence and quit attempts in this vulnerable group of smokers. However, further development is necessary to translate this approach into real-world settings and to promote sustained periods of smoking abstinence.

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Increasing progesterone levels are associated with smoking abstinence among free-cycling women smokers who receive brief pharmacotherapy.

Publications

Increasing progesterone levels are associated with smoking abstinence among free-cycling women smokers who receive brief pharmacotherapy.

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