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Psychopharmacological interactions between nicotine and ethanol.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Rose, JE; Brauer, LH; Behm, FM; Cramblett, M; Calkins, K; Lawhon, D
Published in: Nicotine Tob Res
February 2004

Epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory evidence has shown a positive correlation between cigarette smoking and ethanol use, and previous studies suggest some commonality in the neural pathways mediating effects of nicotine and ethanol. In this study, the subjective and behavioral interactions among nicotine, ethanol, and the nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine were investigated. The main objectives were to determine how the rewarding effects of nicotine might be modified by ethanol, and to compare the effects of ethanol with those of a nicotinic antagonist (mecamylamine). A total of 48 smokers who regularly consumed alcoholic beverages participated in four laboratory sessions presenting a 2 (nicotine vs. denicotinized cigarette smoke)x2 (10 mg oral mecamylamine hydrochloride vs. placebo)x2 (ethanol.5 g/kg vs. placebo) design, with ethanol as a between-subjects factor. Dependent measures included blood alcohol concentration (BAC), as assessed by breath alcohol detector; subjective drug effects; and rate of ad lib smoking during a 2-hr period. Results showed that peak BAC averaged.03 g/dl in the ethanol condition. Ethanol potentiated some of the subjective rewarding effects of nicotine, including smoking satisfaction, stimulant as well as calming effects, and relief of craving for cigarettes. During the ad lib smoking period, mecamylamine decreased satisfaction associated with the nicotine-containing cigarettes; mecamylamine also induced smoking but only in the placebo ethanol condition. These results highlight the potent interaction between ethanol and nicotinic systems, and suggest that ethanol can potentiate the rewarding effects of nicotine as well as offset some of the effects of a nicotinic antagonist.

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Published In

Nicotine Tob Res

DOI

ISSN

1462-2203

Publication Date

February 2004

Volume

6

Issue

1

Start / End Page

133 / 144

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Public Health
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Nicotine
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Status
  • Female
  • Ethanol
  • Electrocardiography
 

Citation

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Rose, J. E., Brauer, L. H., Behm, F. M., Cramblett, M., Calkins, K., & Lawhon, D. (2004). Psychopharmacological interactions between nicotine and ethanol. Nicotine Tob Res, 6(1), 133–144. https://doi.org/10.1080/14622200310001656957
Rose, Jed E., Lisa H. Brauer, Frederique M. Behm, Matthew Cramblett, Kevin Calkins, and Dawn Lawhon. “Psychopharmacological interactions between nicotine and ethanol.Nicotine Tob Res 6, no. 1 (February 2004): 133–44. https://doi.org/10.1080/14622200310001656957.
Rose JE, Brauer LH, Behm FM, Cramblett M, Calkins K, Lawhon D. Psychopharmacological interactions between nicotine and ethanol. Nicotine Tob Res. 2004 Feb;6(1):133–44.
Rose, Jed E., et al. “Psychopharmacological interactions between nicotine and ethanol.Nicotine Tob Res, vol. 6, no. 1, Feb. 2004, pp. 133–44. Pubmed, doi:10.1080/14622200310001656957.
Rose JE, Brauer LH, Behm FM, Cramblett M, Calkins K, Lawhon D. Psychopharmacological interactions between nicotine and ethanol. Nicotine Tob Res. 2004 Feb;6(1):133–144.
Journal cover image

Published In

Nicotine Tob Res

DOI

ISSN

1462-2203

Publication Date

February 2004

Volume

6

Issue

1

Start / End Page

133 / 144

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Public Health
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Nicotine
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Status
  • Female
  • Ethanol
  • Electrocardiography