Haloperidol reduces smoking of both nicotine-containing and denicotinized cigarettes.
BACKGROUND
Studies with laboratory animals and humans suggest that dopamine may play a role in maintaining cigarette smoking behavior via its interactions with nicotine.


OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to replicate and extend previous findings showing that the dopamine D2 antagonist, haloperidol, produces blockade of smoking reward and compensatory increases in smoking.


METHODS
We studied 20 subjects in a 2x3 within-subjects design, with nicotine-containing or denicotinized cigarettes crossed with oral placebo, haloperidol 1 mg, or haloperidol 2 mg. Subjects attended six sessions during which they received one of the cigarette/drug combinations, and smoked under both controlled and ad libitum conditions. Cigarette and mood ratings and smoking behavior were assessed.


RESULTS
Haloperidol reduced the number of cigarettes smoked and the carbon monoxide boost associated with both types of cigarettes, at doses that did not appear to produce clinically significant behavioral effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Dopamine appears to play a role in mediating smoking behavior, but this may occur through a non-nicotine mechanism.
Brauer
L H
LH
Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Mayo Mail Code 392, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. braue010@tc.umn.edu
Cramblett
M J
MJ
Paxton
D A
DA
Rose
J E
JE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology
D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D009538:Nicotine; D006220:Haloperidol