title: Dexamethasone attenuation of the cortisol response to nicotine in smokers.
abstract: The effect of corticosteroids upon the cortisol response to nicotine from smoking was investigated in five heavy smokers. Corticosteroid activity was manipulated by administering dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid (1 mg orally, 14 h before), in a double-blind, placebo-controlled procedure. Testing took place in the middle of the day and involved the smoking of two high-nicotine (2.87 mg) research cigarettes over a 15-min period. The dexamethasone condition was characterized by a pronounced suppression of baseline plasma cortisol, as expected, and by a significant dampening of the cortisol response to nicotine, indicating diminished sensitivity to nicotine under conditions of enhanced corticosteroid activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor 48105.
authors.forename: O F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Pomerleau
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Pomerleau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D009538:Nicotine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone