Effects of selegiline (L-deprenyl) during smoking and short-term abstinence.
BACKGROUND
Changes in dopamine level are thought to play an important role in both smoking reward and withdrawal symptoms during abstinence. Medications that modulate dopamine levels may have beneficial effects on both withdrawal symptom levels and on response to smoking lapses during abstinence.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of the selective MAO-B inhibitor selegiline on withdrawal symptoms, smoking behavior and smoking satisfaction ratings.


METHODS
Fifteen smokers received selegiline (10 mg/day) and placebo (in counterbalanced order) on Monday through Thursday of 2 study weeks, separated by a 2-week washout. During each study week, ad lib smoking sessions were scheduled to assess smoking behavior both before and after a brief period of abstinence. Subjective withdrawal symptoms and mood were measured daily, and a modified Stroop test sensitive to withdrawal was scheduled during the period of abstinence.


RESULTS
Selegiline decreased craving, especially during abstinence, and impaired performance on the modified Stroop test during subjects' attempts to abstain. Medication also reduced number of cigarettes smoked and smoking satisfaction ratings during the smoking sessions both before and after the brief abstinence attempt.


CONCLUSIONS
These results are consistent with an important role of dopamine in smoking behavior and abstinence. They suggest that pharmacological reduction of MAO-B levels during the early part of a quit attempt may aid in smoking cessation.
Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Bayview Medical Center, 5510 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224-6823, USA. ehoutsm@jhmi.edu
Elisabeth J
EJ
Houtsmuller
James A
JA
Thornton
Maxine L
ML
Stitzer
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012642:Selegiline / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012907:Smoking / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology
D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D012642:Selegiline; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase