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5HT‐3 receptor blockade in nicotine withdrawal: Study with BRL 46470A
Author(s) -
Park S. B. G.,
Smith A. P.,
Cowen P. J.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/hup.470080507
Subject(s) - nicotine , lorazepam , placebo , psychology , crossover study , nicotine withdrawal , anesthesia , antagonist , medicine , pharmacology , psychiatry , receptor , alternative medicine , pathology
Sixteen healthy male volunteers who smoked at least 20 cigarettes a day and satisfied DSM‐IIIR criteria for nicotine dependence were recruited to investigate the possible effects of a selective 5HT‐3 receptor antagonist (BRL 46470A) on acute nicotine withdrawal. The study was of a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, four‐way crossover design using two doses of BRL 46470A (0.1 and 10 μg) and one dose of lorazepam (1 mg). Outcome measures included visual analogue ratings for nicotine withdrawal and a battery of psychological performance tests. Except for an effect of BRL 46470A (0.1 μg) to decrease subjective rating of confusion, none of the drug treatments attenuated subjective measures of nicotine withdrawal. Lorazepam significantly impaired performance on all three tests of neuropsychological function, but BRL 46470A was without effect on these measures.