Alicia M Allen1, Samantha C Friedrichsen2, Nicole Petersen3, Sharon S Allen4. 1. Department of Family & Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, 3950 South Country Club Drive, Suite 330, Tucson, AZ 85714-2238, USA. Electronic address: aliciaallen@email.arizona.edu. 2. Professional Data Analysts, Inc, 219 Main Street SE, Suite 302, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA. Electronic address: sfriedrichsen@pdastats.com. 3. Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA. Electronic address: npetersen@ucla.edu. 4. Department of Family Medicine & Community Health, Medical School, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware Street SE, Room A682, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. Electronic address: allen001@umn.edu.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Approximately half of premenopausal women who smoke cigarettes also use hormonal contraceptives, with most using oral contraceptives (OCs). While research on the effects of endogenous hormones on smoking-related outcomes continues to expand, little is known about the influence of OCs on similar outcomes. We sought to explore differences in the subjective response to nicotine by OC use after stratifying by testing condition (e.g., smoking status). METHODS: Participants were regular (≥5 cigarettes/day) smokers, classified into OC and naturally cycling (NC) groups. All participants completed four total lab sessions by smoking status (ad libitum smoking, acute smoking abstinence) and anticipated progesterone level (low progesterone week (LPW), high progesterone week (HPW)). Each lab session included self-administration of intranasal nicotine (Time 0 min), assessment of subjective response via the Subjective State Scale (-30 and + 5 min). RESULTS: Compared to the NC group (n = 28), the OC group (n = 14) was younger (26.2 ± 1.1 versus 24.2 ± 1.1; p < 0.001) and had a lower Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence score (3.4 ± 0.5 versus 2.6 ± 0.5; p = 0.011). Progesterone-to-estradiol ratios varied significantly by group at three of the four time points (p < 0.05). During ad libitum smoking, the OC group had significantly lower craving after nicotine administration than the NC group (1.93 ± 0.33 versus 2.89 ± 0.23; p = 0.024). No other significant differences in subjective response were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Despite significantly different hormone levels, group differences in subjective response to nicotine were relatively few. Additional research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms involved in these observations, as well as explore how they may influence cessation in women.
INTRODUCTION: Approximately half of premenopausal women who smoke cigarettes also use hormonal contraceptives, with most using oral contraceptives (OCs). While research on the effects of endogenous hormones on smoking-related outcomes continues to expand, little is known about the influence of OCs on similar outcomes. We sought to explore differences in the subjective response to nicotine by OC use after stratifying by testing condition (e.g., smoking status). METHODS:Participants were regular (≥5 cigarettes/day) smokers, classified into OC and naturally cycling (NC) groups. All participants completed four total lab sessions by smoking status (ad libitum smoking, acute smoking abstinence) and anticipated progesterone level (low progesterone week (LPW), high progesterone week (HPW)). Each lab session included self-administration of intranasal nicotine (Time 0 min), assessment of subjective response via the Subjective State Scale (-30 and + 5 min). RESULTS: Compared to the NC group (n = 28), the OC group (n = 14) was younger (26.2 ± 1.1 versus 24.2 ± 1.1; p < 0.001) and had a lower Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence score (3.4 ± 0.5 versus 2.6 ± 0.5; p = 0.011). Progesterone-to-estradiol ratios varied significantly by group at three of the four time points (p < 0.05). During ad libitum smoking, the OC group had significantly lower craving after nicotine administration than the NC group (1.93 ± 0.33 versus 2.89 ± 0.23; p = 0.024). No other significant differences in subjective response were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Despite significantly different hormone levels, group differences in subjective response to nicotine were relatively few. Additional research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms involved in these observations, as well as explore how they may influence cessation in women.
Authors: Marilyn E Carroll; Wendy J Lynch; Megan E Roth; Andrew D Morgan; Kelly P Cosgrove Journal: Trends Pharmacol Sci Date: 2004-05 Impact factor: 14.819
Authors: Matthew J Carpenter; Michael E Saladin; Ashley S Leinbach; Steven D Larowe; Himanshu P Upadhyaya Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2008-03 Impact factor: 2.681
Authors: Teresa R Franklin; Ronald Ehrman; Kevin G Lynch; Derek Harper; Nathan Sciortino; Charles P O'Brien; Anna Rose Childress Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2008-03 Impact factor: 2.681