title: Subjective response to nicotine by menstrual phase.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The luteal menstrual phase might be a favorable time for smoking cessation when non-nicotine interventions (e.g. counseling, bupropion) are used, whereas the follicular menstrual phase appears favorable when nicotine interventions are used. Thus, there may be an interaction between menstrual phase and response to nicotine. We sought to examine the role of menstrual phase on response to nicotine during acute smoking abstinence.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this controlled cross-over trial, women completed two identical experimental sessions (follicular [F] vs. luteal [L] phase) after four days of biochemically-verified smoking abstinence. During the sessions, nicotine nasal spray was administered, and participants provided a series of subjective assessments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants (n=140) were 29.7±6.6years old and smoked 12.6±5.8 cigarettes per day. Compared to the F phase, the L phase was associated with a greater increase in stimulation (7.2±2.2 vs. 14.4±2.3, p=0.01, respectively) and greater decrease in urge to smoke (-13.6±2.3 vs. -21.1±2.5, p=0.02, respectively) after the first dose of nicotine. No other significant differences were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Out of 13 total measures examined at two different time points, we observed only two significant menstrual phase differences in the subjective response to nicotine. Therefore, these data do not provide strong evidence for a menstrual phase difference in the subjective response to nicotine. Additional research is needed to confirm this relationship and explore how non-nicotine smoking reinforcements (such as sensory sensations) may vary by menstrual phase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine & Community Health, Medical School, University of Minnesota, 717 Delaware Street SE, Room 422, Minneapolis, MN, USA 55414. Electronic address: alle0299@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Alicia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Biostatistical Design and Analysis Center, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lunos
authors.affiliation: Nicotine Psychopharmacology Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Heishman
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Sciences, Medical School, University of Minnesota, DuluthDuluth, MN 55812, USA.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: al'Absi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA.
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hatsukami
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine & Community Health, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA.
authors.forename: Sharon S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000187:drug effects*; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D009538:Nicotine
keywords: Addiction; Hormones; Menstrual cycle; Nicotine; Smoking