Effects of naltrexone with nicotine replacement on smoking cue reactivity:preliminary results

Although several studies have examined the effects of opioid antagonists on smoking behavior, there have been no reports of the potentially therapeuti c combination of naltrexone and nicotine replacement therapy. The primary o bjective of the present study was to determine whether naltrexone reduced r eactivity to smoking cues among abstinent smokers treated with nicotine rep lacement. Twenty participants were instructed to abstain from smoking cigar ettes for 9 h while using nicotine replacement therapy. Participants were s ubsequently treated with either naltrexone (50 mg) or placebo before being exposed to smoking cues. Results indicated that the smokers who received th e placebo responded to smoking cue exposure with increases in urge to smoke and increases in negative affect. Participants who received naltrexone did not show any increase in urge or negative affect and showed a decrease in withdrawal symptoms after exposure to smoking cues. Although preliminary, t he findings suggest that naltrexone may work in combination with nicotine r eplacement therapies to block the effects of smoking stimuli in abstinent s mokers.