Beta-Adrenergic Modulation of Drug Cue Reactivity

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA · Oct 18, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring how two treatments—Propranolol (a medication that can help manage anxiety) and a nicotine patch (which helps deliver nicotine without smoking)—affect smokers' reactions to cues that make them think about smoking. The goal is to understand how these treatments may help people who struggle with tobacco use, but participants won’t be trying to quit smoking while in the study. Instead, researchers are focusing on how these medications change brain and behavior responses when participants are exposed to smoking-related triggers.

To be eligible for this study, you need to be a generally healthy adult aged between 21 and 60 years, who smokes at least five cigarettes a day for the past year. You should also be right-handed and able to understand English. Participants will attend several sessions where they will take the medications and undergo assessments, but they won’t be on these treatments for a long time. It’s important to note that certain health conditions and the use of other medications may prevent someone from joining the study, so it’s best to check with the research team if you have any questions about your eligibility.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Generally healthy
• • 2. Age 21-60
• • 3. Right-handed using a three-item scale
• • 4. Daily smoker of ≥ 5 cigarettes/day delivering 0.5 mg nicotine (FTC)
• • 5. Smoking regularly for ≥ 1 year, with stable smoking for the past 6 months
• • 6. Afternoon expired Carbon Monoxide (CO) concentration ≥ 6 ppm and/or morning urinary cotinine \>100 ng/ml
• • 7. Must identity at least 4 different smoking locations used in a typical week
• • 8. Able to read and understand English
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Inability to attend all required sessions
• • 2. Significant health problems that would preclude active participation
• • 3. Presence of conditions that would make MRI unsafe (e.g. pacemaker) or (e.g. weight and body shape)
• • 4. Current use of psychoactive medications/drugs as indicated by self-report or urine screen
• • 5. Positive breath alcohol concentration
• • 6. Pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant during the course of the study (females)
• • 7. Problems with vision that cannot be corrected with contacts or glasses
• • 8. Current regular use of smokeless tobacco, smoking cessation medications, or other nicotine containing products (e.g. electronic cigarettes)
• • 9. Current use of beta-adrenergic medications (e.g. beta-blockers) or other blood pressure medications
• • 10. Systolic blood pressure \< 90 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure \< 60 mmHg (sitting or standing)
• • 11. Abnormal EKG
• • 12. Presence of severe anemia
• • 13. Presence of electrolyte imbalance that could impact blood pressure
• • 14. Presence of any other contraindications for propranolol or nicotine patch (e.g. cardiovascular disease, bronchial asthma, prior allergic reactions, diabetes)