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

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

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.

Methods

Weekly plasma progesterone and estradiol levels were obtained from nicotine-depen

SUBMITTER: Saladin ME 

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

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature