Plasma levels of metabolites of catecholamine in nicotine-dependent patients treated with varenicline.
Nicotine Tob Res
; 14(4): 486-9, 2012 Apr.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22006914
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Our hypothesis is that varenicline decreases the plasma levels of catecholamine metabolites; such a decrease is associated with the main mechanisms of smoking cessation and leads to a depressive state. To confirm the hypothesis, we investigated the association of plasma homovanillic acid (HVA) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) levels in patients with nicotine dependence in comparison with nonsmokers.METHODS:
To confirm the hypothesis, we investigated the association of plasma HVA and MHPG levels in patients with nicotine dependence in comparison with nonsmokers. In addition, we also examined the plasma HVA and MHPG levels before (T0) and 8 weeks after the varenicline treatment (T8).RESULTS:
Seventeen of 20 smokers (85.0%) stopped smoking during the 12 weeks of treatment. Plasma HVA levels and MHPG levels in the patients at T0 (HVA 5.1 ± 2.1 ng/ml, MHPG 2.2 ± 0.6 ng/ml) were significantly higher than those of the control group (HVA 3.0 ± 1.0 ng/ml, MHPG 1.6 ± 1.4 ng/ml; HVA p = .0012, MHPG p = .0069). In this study, the plasma HVA and MHPG levels were not changed after treatment with varenicline, although the smokers had already quit.CONCLUSIONS:
These results suggest that varenicline sustains higher catecholamine levels. The findings that the treatment with varenicline did not decrease the plasma levels of catecholamine metabolites can explain why none of the smokers had become depressed after the varenicline treatment.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Asunto principal:
Quinoxalinas
/
Tabaquismo
/
Benzazepinas
/
Fumar
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Catecolaminas
/
Cese del Hábito de Fumar
/
Agonistas Nicotínicos
Límite:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Nicotine Tob Res
Asunto de la revista:
SAUDE PUBLICA
Año:
2012
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Japón