Modeling Stress-Precipitated Smoking Behavior for Medication Development: Carvedilol

Rates of smoking relapse remain high, despite the wide availability of cessation aids (Allen, Bade, Hatsukami, & Center, 2008). Prior studies have found stress to be a leading factor involved in relapse to smoking (McKee et al., 2003; Buczek et al., 1999; Payne et al., 1991; Rose et al., 1983; Willner and Jones, 1996; Baer and Lichtenstein, 1988; Baer et al., 1989). Medications that reduce the effect of stress on smoking relapse may help increase rates of smoking cessation. The purpose of this human laboratory study is to examine whether Carvedilol (a noradrenergic antagonist) increases the ability to resist smoking, and decreases subsequent ad-lib smoking behavior. Using a between subjects design, daily smokers (n=40, 50%female) will be randomized to Carvedilol (0 vs. 50mg/day), and then will complete two laboratory sessions. Laboratory sessions examining the ability to resist smoking and ad-lib smoking following personalized stress or neutral imagery (order counterbalanced) Hypothesized results are whether Carvedilol compared to placebo will increase the ability to resist smoking and decrease the number of cigarettes smoked during the ad-lib period. This is an ongoing study and results are not yet available. Results of the present study will evaluate whether Carvedilol has efficacy for attenuating stress-precipitated relapse behavior. Discussion will consider findings in terms of research implications, limitations of the study, and directions for future research.

Supported by NIH/NIGMS SDSU MARC 5T34GM008303-22.