TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of paroxetine on physiological response to stress and smoking
AU - Kotlyar, Michael
AU - Al'Absi, Mustafa
AU - Thuras, Paul
AU - Vuchetich, John P.
AU - Adson, David E.
AU - Nowack, April L.
AU - Hatsukami, Dorothy K.
PY - 2013/4
Y1 - 2013/4
N2 - OBJECTIVE: Smokers often smoke during stressful events, which leads to large increases in cardiovascular measures such as blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). Because exaggerated cardiovascular response to stress is associated with cardiovascular disease risk, this study examined paroxetine's effect on the physiological response to combining stress and smoking. METHODS: Sixty-two participants completed this randomized, double-blind, crossover study in which BP, HR, plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol concentrations were measured at rest, while smoking, and during a speech and math task. Laboratory sessions occurred after 1 month of paroxetine and after 1 month of placebo. RESULTS: Significant increases occurred for all measures (except cortisol) during smoking, with further increases occurring during the speech task (time effect, p < .001). After 1 month of paroxetine, norepinephrine and HR values were lower and cortisol values were higher (versus placebo) throughout the laboratory session (treatment effect, p < .001). Treatment × time effects were observed for BP and HR (all, p < .01). For systolic and diastolic BP, a smaller increase (from baseline to measures during speech) was observed after paroxetine compared with placebo (both, p < .006). In both measures, the increase in response to smoking was similar for both treatments; however, the further increase during the speech was smaller when taking paroxetine (versus placebo). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that paroxetine affects physiological response to stress in smokers. Further research is needed to determine the impact of these results on cardiovascular health.
AB - OBJECTIVE: Smokers often smoke during stressful events, which leads to large increases in cardiovascular measures such as blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). Because exaggerated cardiovascular response to stress is associated with cardiovascular disease risk, this study examined paroxetine's effect on the physiological response to combining stress and smoking. METHODS: Sixty-two participants completed this randomized, double-blind, crossover study in which BP, HR, plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol concentrations were measured at rest, while smoking, and during a speech and math task. Laboratory sessions occurred after 1 month of paroxetine and after 1 month of placebo. RESULTS: Significant increases occurred for all measures (except cortisol) during smoking, with further increases occurring during the speech task (time effect, p < .001). After 1 month of paroxetine, norepinephrine and HR values were lower and cortisol values were higher (versus placebo) throughout the laboratory session (treatment effect, p < .001). Treatment × time effects were observed for BP and HR (all, p < .01). For systolic and diastolic BP, a smaller increase (from baseline to measures during speech) was observed after paroxetine compared with placebo (both, p < .006). In both measures, the increase in response to smoking was similar for both treatments; however, the further increase during the speech was smaller when taking paroxetine (versus placebo). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that paroxetine affects physiological response to stress in smokers. Further research is needed to determine the impact of these results on cardiovascular health.
KW - blood pressure
KW - catecholamines
KW - heart rate
KW - mental stress
KW - paroxetine
KW - smoking
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84876227057&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/PSY.0b013e3182898f6d
DO - 10.1097/PSY.0b013e3182898f6d
M3 - Article
C2 - 23504241
AN - SCOPUS:84876227057
SN - 0033-3174
VL - 75
SP - 236
EP - 243
JO - Psychosomatic medicine
JF - Psychosomatic medicine
IS - 3
ER -